Canadian decision makers in Police, Fire, and Paramedic met with ICT vendors at the second annual First Responder Vendor Outreach Forum to solve Canada's interoperability crisis. Accordingly, these presentations focus on the ICT challenges, successes, needs, and business opportunities with Canada's first responder communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and nationally.

Keynote speaker presentations from Colin Lloyd, Executive Director of Operations with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and Kevin Wittmeier, Network Services, Glentel are included along with presentations from speakers representing the following organizations:
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
Alberta First Responders Radio Project
Alberta Health Services
Alberta Police Integrated Information Initiative
Calgary Fire Department
Calgary Police Service
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
Canadian Interoperable Technology Interest Group
Canadian Police ...

Ottawa, ON, Washington, D.C., Dec xx, 2009…
CATAAlliance, Canada’s largest high tech association
today launched an advocacy Campaign to eliminate
cross-border tax laws that are blocking much-needed
venture capital from reaching cash-starved Canadian
high-tech companies.

“Our under-capitalized companies are trying to compete
against U.S. firms that have about three times their
funding,” said CATA President John Reid. “In the
meantime, we are making American venture capital firms
go through a thorn wall of red tape, in the shape of a
“Section 116” clearance certificate.

A “Section 116” clearance certificate from one of 45
Canadian government offices that grant it is required
for every investor in a US venture fund, and many funds
have dozens or even hundreds of investors. A single
stock deal can literally require hundreds of
applications and hundreds of signatures. One US
venture capital firm in a single transaction had to
obtain almost 900 signatures in connection with a
Section 116 ...

Shaping concrete business and technology opportunities for the networked vehicle based on original collaborative research by executive experts as a contribution in re-inventing the automotive sector

fmi: http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr01230901.html

Ottawa, December 17, 2008...Canada's largest high tech trade association, CATAAlliance, announced the launch of a New Group Benefits Insurance Program, employing state of the art techniques to provide companies with value, and savings.

According to CATA President John Reid, "The Group Benefits solutions were developed with major underwriters (see below) and are very much part of CATA's commitment to seek out innovative technologies, resources and approaches that support more competitive business structures." He added, "Whether you have a small or large staff, providing the appropriate benefits and incentives is critical to your compensation program."

fmi: http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr12170801.html

CATAnet TV productions is now offering two video productions that address
emerging issues and concerns and provides guidance on how companies can
best address recent changes to the SR&ED program.

Key questions and areas of interest addressed include:

In Part One: SR&ED Tax Credit – Changes (five minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rSe52ttnRU

What Changes have been made to the SR&ED Tax Credit Program?
What are the Key Differences that Applicants will notice?
How do these Changes Affect Eligibility?
Would you call this a Disconnection from Innovation Support?
What Actions should the Stakeholders take?
In Part Two: SR&ED Tax Credit – Guidance (four minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT_w9SVKC5M

Could you explain the New T661 Form?
What are your impressions of the New On-Line Assessment Tool?
Could you provide some practical tips for Claimants?

fmi:
http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr12150801.html

MATT HARTLEY Globe and Mail Update (December 11, 2008 at 11:09 AM EST)

http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr12090801.html
(full release)

Canada's tech sector is calling on Ottawa to create a $60-billion infrastructure stimulus package to kick-start the economy and create jobs.

Thursday morning the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) – an industry group representing about 33,000 technology companies – announced they were lobbying the federal government to create an infrastructure stimulus fund that mirrors the $500-billion (U.S.) plan laid out by the incoming administration of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama.

“Our view is that ... the government's legitimate role in this cycle we're in is to try and offset the downturn through expenditures,” CATA president John Reid said in an interview.

fmi:
http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr12120801.html

This SR&ED Alert concerns intelligence that we have gathered regarding adverse changes to Canada’s SRED Tax Incentive program, de facto changes being implemented without any industry input. We are asking for your immediate intervention and engagement in protecting the integrity of the SR&ED program, critical to the success of the Government’s efforts to support business in these difficult times.

The concern is that the positions and guidance that the CRA will be putting forward to the community as their new operational practices reflect, at best, highly subjective positions and guidance. Unfortunately, these seem to be attempts to codify the highly restrictive positions and practices that have been associated with the most restrictive, problematic and difficult administrative periods of the program.

For details, please request a briefing paper of current CRA positions and practices from CATA President John Reid, at email, jreid@cata.ca with SR&ED Alert in the Subject Line. Russ Roberts, CATA Sr. ...

Shenzhen, China – The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance received an International Partnership Award at the China International Optoelectronics Exposition this weekend in recognition of its long-standing dedication and support in the delivery of five consecutive Canadian Pavilions at this world-class trade event, now celebrating its tenth anniversary.

CATA's Vice-President of Research and Canadian Executive Champion for China, Kevin Wennekes, was on-hand to receive the award at the gala opening ceremony.

"This award is a reflection of the years of hard work and commitment to excellence demonstrated by our CATAChina team, and clearly indicates that we're succeeding in our goal of creating greater awareness and a competitive advantage for Canadian businesses seeking to enter the China market," says Mr. Wennekes.

fmi: http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr09070801.html

Beginning with Terrace Matthews, one of Canada's top entrepreneurs, CATA will feature a series of short interviews on what it will take to move Canada from 14th to first place in Innovation and Competitive Performance.

Please take one minute to view CATA's introduction to the Innovation Nation program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTF8rlppR3g

Compiled and edited by IT World Canada's John Pickett, this extensive survey contains input from over 3,200 technology professionals and hiring managers including first hand information on what IT professionals are looking for in an employer and what causes them to leave.

The Salary Survey provides salary and compensation data based on location, industry, years of experience, and job function as well as trend information.

Some of the many key points it covers are:
• Essential salary data by title, company size, industry and region
• Interpretation, trending and recommendations to support your salary and hiring plans
• Key job satisfaction drivers
• Who's looking for a new job? Why?
• What do job seekers value when searching for a new job?

CATA members save $100!

To view excerpts from this year's executive summary and to order, send a request by email to cmalette@cata.ca

-Submission to Finance
-Program Improvements: CRA Responses
-CATAnet TV on SR&ED
-Open Mike Conference Call, and the
SR&ED Best Practices Forum
-SR&ED Alert

CATAAlliance: Follow-up Submission to Finance

In our pre-budget submission, CATAAlliance called for clearer legislation in the following areas:

--definition of SR&ED,
--treatment of contracts and for more reasonable application of
--the 18 month filing deadline, as well as,
--requirements for how a claim can be supported.

The Budget focused on administrative solutions not on how the budget could be clarified to help both CRA and their clients.

Members can review the detailed Pre Budge submission at:

http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr11150601.html

Read More:
http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr07210801.html

Ottawa, July 17 2008 - A survey being launched today will help better identify Aboriginal and Minority businesses in Canada, gain an understanding of private/public sector diversity procurement practices, and provide guidance in the development of a national diversity procurement portal.

The Business Drive for Diversity Study is a collaborative effort led by the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) and the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC), supported by survey sponsor, Cisco Systems Inc. Canada.

You should immediately respond if you are:

--An Aboriginal Business Owner
--A Minority Business Owner
--A procurer of Aboriginal and Minority Business products/services (incl. commercial firm, government institute, university/college, non-profit organization)

Read More:
http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr07170801.html

Trend indicator: Internet overtakes TV spending in some markets

OTTAWA July 11, 2008 - The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance's drive to provide social networking education and access as an essential component of a successful business model for Canadian companies, has core Web 2.0 companies flocking to the association. Internet related organizations like CIRA, Helix Communications, FuseTalk, Market2World, More 411 Inc., TANJss, Go Phones, Octopus IP Communications Inc., Igloo, Iotum, and Shift Networks have recently joined Canada's largest high-tech trade association and its extensive network of 30,000 high-tech leaders. CATA is an advocate of social networking sites as a tool to increase a business's global reach.

"Markets are now conversations," said Barry Gander, Executive Vice President, CATA. "Engagement has become the mantra of today's corporate sales model. In the U.K., these 'Web 2.0' techniques have become so prevalent that the Internet is expected to overcome television as the biggest advertising ...

High Tech Community Backs Ottawa Mayor’s Task Force Report on e-Government: Canada’s largest high-tech association urges citizens to get involved, give input; creates social network powered by IGLOO Software

Ottawa, Ontario, June 17, 2008 -- The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) today praised a City of Ottawa Task Force report advocating the strategic leveraging of Information Technology (IT) to improve access to city services and lower the cost of service delivery.

“This is an extremely important report,” said CATA Executive Vice President Barry Gander. “Our mantra is: ‘First the city, then the country’. We confirmed in our TechAction Town Hall program that cities are the engines of our nation -- they contain 95% of all businesses and 80% of its population. In today's 'smart' economy, it is more important than ever that our cities have the best possible foundation to interact -- to share and coordinate the ideas, cultures and enterprises that drive the country. The Task Force on e-Government ...

OTTAWA, June 9 – CATA is joining forces with leading trade publishers and other technology thought leaders in a new venture aimed at creating a national problem-solving dialogue on key IT issues.

The IT Forum Exchange Network, or ITFX Network, today announced that it has embedded a set of discussion forums on issues such as Green IT, Unified Communications and Investment and Go-to-Market activity linking portals operated by leading trade publications, IT industry associations and social media sites.

fyi:

http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr06090802.html