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Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce
924 The East Mall Toronto ON M9B 6K1
Tel: 416-224-0090 

Fax: 416-916-0086. 
E-mail: iccc@iccconline.org 

Website: www.iccconline.org

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a partnership between the two organisations to work together to increase awareness and use of Intellectual Property by Canadian businesses and innovators doing business, or planning to do business in India.

The CIPO is a Special Operating Agency (SOA) of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). CIPO is responsible for the administration and processing of the greater part of intellectual property in Canada. CIPO’s areas of activity include trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies. Its mandate is to deliver high quality and timely IP services to customers and to increase awareness, knowledge and effective use of IP by Canadians.

The ICCC will host a series of conferences and workshops to encourage Canadian businesses and SMEs to trade with India, and CIPO will participate in the events to raise awareness of the importance of developing, protecting and leveraging IP assets to remain competitive in a global economy.

Mr. Kanwar Dhanjal, President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), signed the MoU on behalf of the Chamber during a recent trip to Ottawa in late March. Mr. Pradyuman Jhala and Mr. Rakesh Joshi, members of the board of directors, and Mr. Pawan Chankotra, COO, ICCC, accompanied Mr. Dhanjal on this trip. The ICCC delegation also held a series of officials meetings with high-ranking officials of the diplomatic corps and federal ministers and members of parliament.

ICCC board with HE Swarup	ICCC board with Minister Chagger
ICCC board with MP Sahota	ICCC team with MP Saroya

The ICCC board members kicked off the Ottawa visit with a high-powered meeting with India’s High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Vikas Swarup. During the meeting, the board members discussed the different ways in which both the Indian High Commission in Ottawa and the ICCC could work together to promote bilateral relations between Canada and India. The High Commissioner promised to provide all necessary support to the different councils of the ICCC across Canada.

HE Vikas Swarup expressed a keen desire to leverage the strengthening relations between Canada and India in the education sector considering that students from India contribute over $3 billion to the Canadian economy. He also said that when it will be signed, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would be an important bridge builder for businesses in both countries to rapidly expand cooperation.

The ICCC board also met Members of Parliament Bob Saroya and Ruby Sahota. During the meeting with Bob Saroya, the ICCC board mooted the idea of a panel discussion comprising four or five Members of Parliament to talk about issues of relevance to the membership of the Chamber. Such a direct conversation between policy makers and business owners would go a long way in enabling understanding the needs of small business owners. And during the meeting with Ruby Sahota, the board members discussed the direct conversation between policy makers and business owners to understand the needs of the businesses.

During the meeting with Minister Bardish Chagger, the ICCC board discussed the different ways in which it could cooperate with the ministry to promote small business interests in the changing economic outlook in North America. “We discussed the different ways in which we could cooperate with the minister’s endeavour to create more opportunities for small businesses to start promoting manufacturing in Canada and to promote exports to strengthen trade ties with other countries,” Kanwar Dhanjal said.

The board members also discussed the holding of a Hard Hats Tour for ICCC members to Communitech at University of Waterloo and sought the minister’s assistance in facilitating services and developing strategic partnerships relation with Communitech. 

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) in association with the Chartered Professionals Accountants (CPA) of Ontario organised a workshop on ‘Individual Pension Plans: A Response to an Evolving Tax Framework for Business Owners’ on March 21, 2018 at the ICCC’s office in Toronto.

Professional financial advisors and business owners eager to understand the tax implications of the new federal tax proposals and planning of pension in the wake of these proposed changes attended the program. Robert Rubino and Suzanne Schultz, both CPAs from the RBC Royal Bank, made the presentations.

Carmen Jacques, Manager, Student Recruitment, CPA Ontario, introduced the speakers and Kanwar Dhanjal, President, ICCC, welcomed the participants to the workshop. Ajay Tandon, VP, Program and Events, was the master of ceremonies for the evening. ICCC directors Naresh Chawda, Pramod Goyal, Abu Becker, Pradyuman Jhala were present at the workshop along with former ICCC Presidents Sanjay Makkar and Dharma Jain.

Rubino is with RBC Dominion Securities as an Investment Advisor. His planning and advice is structured to complement Public Accountants in their pursuit to plan efficiently for Corporate Clients. Suzanne Schultz is the Vice President and Estate Planning Specialist at the RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Ltd.

In her presentation on wealth management strategies in the light of the federal budget, Suzanne Schultz discussed the proposed changes in the tax measures for small businesses. Her presentation touched upon how the Federal Budget proposals may affect passive saving in a corporation, the possible solutions to help business owners save for retirement.

She listed the progression of the history of the new proposals which began in the 2015 election platform to target unfair tax advantages afforded business owners and following which the federal government sought consultations with the public in July 2017, which was followed by the December 2017 legislation on income sprinkling. Feb 2018 Passive investment proposal announced (much less onerous than July paper)

She claimed that income in a corporation subject to the small business deduction is taxed at preferential tax rates. If the net income is then used to invest passively, the business owner would have much more to invest than an individual would have.

Starting in 2019, if a corporation earns more than $50,000 in passive income in a year, the small business deduction will begin to be clawed back.  Reduction of $5 for every $1 of passive income above $50,000.  Full claw back once income reaches $150,000.Passive investment income for this purpose will include rents, royalties, interest, portfolio dividends (foreign and Canadian), taxable capital gains.

Income sprinkling rules – the big picture. The December proposals will limit income splitting using private corporation shares in certain cases. Kiddie tax (high tax rates) has applied to dividends paid to minor children for many years now. New Tax on Split income (like kiddie tax) will apply to a related shareholder over age 17 with some exceptions.

In his presentation on Individual Pension Plans, Rubino delineated the different options that both individuals and corporates have of planning pension and managing all aspects of wealth.  He said that planning of pensions should be part of managing all aspects of wealth for both an individual and corporate entities. Individual pension plans could be company sponsored – multiple companies may sponsor a single IPP or a registered plan which complies with pension and fiscal laws and regulations.

Rubino listed the eligibility of the applicants, which included incorporated business owners 37 + years of age, incorporated Professionals who are receiving T4 income, senior executives who are looking to plan for the future. He explained that the reasons to establish the plan could be subject to the new passive income rules, diversify the retirement strategy, significantly increase retirement savings, attain a planned capital accumulation for retirement, corporate tax deduction – retain small business tax rate. Rubino also listed the many advantages of a pension plan, which include the plan being creditor proof, assisting in succession planning, assist in sale of business, retain lifetime capital gains exemption, diversifying the retirement strategy.

Participants at the workshop

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce
924 The East Mall Toronto ON M9B 6K1
Tel: 416-224-0090. 

Fax: 416-916-0086. 
E-mail: iccc@iccconline.org 

Website: www.iccconline.org

Hon Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism in the federal government was the chief guest at the program. She is a minister in Canada’s first government that has an equal number of men and women ministers. Minister Chagger emphasized the role of women in the wholesome development of the society and encouraged women to break self-imposed shackles and seize the moment to express their identity. She proudly said that she was the first women house leader in the House of Commons and credited Prime Minister Right Hon. Justin Trudeau for engaging more women leaders in the government.

Darlene Carreau, the Director General of Business Services at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), delivered the keynote address of the evening. Since December 2015, Darlene Carreau has been serving as the Director General of Business Services at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). Ms. Carreau enlightened the participants in the program on how to trade mark one’s professional property such as logos.

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Toronto hosted a business reception in the honour of Hon. Narendra Singh Tomar, India’s Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Mines earlier this week.

The Hon. Minister is visiting Canada to participate in the annual PDAC International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange held in Toronto. The Hon. Minister is leading a high-powered delegation comprising India’s public sector mining companies as well as senior-level government of India officials of the rank of Additional and Joint Secretaries.

The reception was attended by the Indo-Canadian business community of the Greater Toronto Area and the Indian diplomatic corps. His Excellency Vikas Swroop, the High Commissioner of India in Ottawa was present, as was the Consul General of India in Toronto Dinesh Bhatia.

Speaking on the occasion Hon. Minister Tomar said that the mining sector is a priority area for the BJP government in New Delhi and the use of latest technology will bring further transparency and better monitoring in the mining sector.

He emphasized that the Modi government has already accomplished a lot so far but there is always more scope for doing better and fast work, as contribution of the mineral sector towards the growth of the GDP is significant and has to be improved further in collaboration with the States.

He said, with the Amendment in the MMDR Act in 2015, the Auctions of mines so far has led to an additional revenue of over ₹ 122 billion accruing to the States during the life span of the mines in 50 years. 

In addition, the amount collected in the DMF funds in the Districts affected by the mining activities is over ₹100 billion, which will be spent in the development of these districts and the people of these districts.

His Excellency Vikas Swroop in his brief speech said that the recent visit by Canada’s Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau to India, and the joint statement issued on the occasion of his visit by Canada and India emphasizes the significance that both countries accord to the bilateral ties. 

He lauded the role that the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce has been performing in fostering bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Consul General Dinesh Bhatia in his remarks said that Canada and India can help each other in the mining sector by utilising existing synergies in the sector. Canada can provide both investment avenues for Indian companies as well as technological knowhow to Indian companies in the sector. 

He listed the minerals in which Canada leads the world, and said that India, in its quest of rapid development, needs all these minerals.

Kanwar Dhanjal, President of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), in his remarks, said that In the mining sector, our journey of cooperation began a decade ago when during India and Canada Foreign Office Consultations held in Ottawa in December 2008, the Indian side conveyed its interest for a broader MoU on Mining between the two countries.

The specific areas of interest for India include potash, urea, gold, diamonds, oil and gas, uranium, clean coal technology, mining prospecting technology, etc. A MoU between the India’s ministry of mines, and Canada’s department of natural resources, concerning cooperation in the field of earth sciences and mining was signed in 2010 in Toronto.

He added, “Over the last decade, several significant developments have occurred in the mining sector both in Canada and in India, and it would be necessary to keep in mind these developments while charting the future course of cooperation between our two economies in this sector. The Indian mining sector is being developed in a sustainable manner, with special attention being given to the needs of the indigenous people on whose traditional lands mining activities are to occur.”

Several past presidents of the Chamber and member of the incumbent board were present at the event.

Mumbai: February 20, 2018 ● Delhi: February 22, 2018

Kanwar Dhanjal, President, ICCC, expressed immense satisfaction at the response the ICCC received in enrolling entrepreneurs and professionals as delegates to participate in the Business Forums. "It shows the tremendous enthusiasm that the private sector has for the potential prospects of trade and commerce between Canada and India," Mr. Dhanjal said.

A majority of the ICCC's board of directors are participating in the business forums in the two cities. The ICCC has been working actively to promote the Prime Minister's India trip and has also recruited delegates for the two forums. In doing so, the ICCC has succeeded in fulfilling its mandate of fostering bilateral economic relations between Canada and India and to concomitantly create business and professional opportunities for its members and stakeholders. Over the last year and more, the ICCC has organised a series of events that focus on promotion of bilateral trade and services. This includes the recently-held ICCC Winter Expo as well as the Canada-India Business Symposium held in 2017. 

Canada and India enjoy a special relationship that is based on a common democratic values and burgeoning economic trade that has been growing exponentially during the last decade. Since September 2016, there have been eleven ministerial visits to India, including, most recently, a trade mission led by Minister of International Trade Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Hon. Navdeep Bains, and Minister of Transport Hon. Marc Garneau, in November 2017.

Canada-India relations have been on an upward trajectory with both the Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Trudeau keen to foster a more meaningful relationship that goes beyond the optics. While it is not certain that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection agreement will be finalized during PM Trudeau's visit, there is heightened expectation that the trip will lead to more intense commercial and economic ties, with the private sector playing an important role in the process. 

An indication of the strong ties was evident in January 2018, when the Indian government's union cabinet chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada for cooperation in the field of Science & Technology.  The MoU will provide a mechanism and help to foster scientific cooperation between R&D and academic institutions of India and Canada.

An innovative model of R&D cooperation between India and Canada will be implemented under a MoU concluded by the Department of Science and Technology with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. Under this MoU, the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnership to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS) programme will be supported to promote India-Canada multidisciplinary research partnerships. 

The R&D projects will be aimed at accelerating social transformation by providing solutions through application of science and technology. The participants will include researchers from scientific organizations, academia and R&D laboratories from India and Canada. Identified areas of mutual cooperation include safe and sustainable infrastructure and integrated water management. This will help to develop institutional networking and support the establishment of connections between scientific organizations, scientists and specialists of India and Canada.

How can we accelerate the growth of the Canadian economy and improve the prosperity of all Canadians over the coming 10 to 15 years?

That was the question posed by Canada’s Minister of Finance when he convened the Advisory Council on Economic Growth in early 2016. The Council’s mission is to examine the long-term potential of Canada’s economy and, based on its findings, to make recommendations for improving the prospects for inclusive economic growth.

The Council is convinced the formula that drove the past growth of the Canadian economy—and supported steady improvements in our standard of living—is unlikely to be sufficient for the future. Like many other advanced economies, Canada faces the pressure of an aging population, technological disruption to many sectors of the economy, and the rapid shift of global economic power to Asia.

Current trends suggest that annual GDP growth in Canada will average only 1.5 percent over the next 50 years—half the rate of the past 50. Left unchecked, the slower pace of growth would have a profound impact on the prosperity of Canadian families and the outlook for them and their children.

This does not have to be the case.

Canada’s numerous natural advantages, coupled with the opportunities created by a rapidly changing world, offer the potential to stimulate new waves of investment, innovation, and job creation, unlocking a new formula for growth and prosperity. The challenge that the Council set for itself was to identify bold solutions that could jolt the economy, stimulate inclusive growth, and help raise the quality of life for all Canadians, targeting a $15,000 increase in median annual pre-tax household income above current projections by 2030.

This document lays out a third release of Council recommendations for resetting the country’s long-term growth trajectory for the benefit of all Canadians. In October 2016, the Council released its initial findings and its first wave of three recommendations. They included increasing investment in infrastructure, a plan for raising foreign direct investment in Canada, and a set of proposals for attracting the immigrant talent Canada will need to fuel its growth.