NEW YORK- Amid concern over rising gas prices and interest rates, consumer confidence dropped sharply in May after holding steady in April, according to the most recent results of the RBC CASH (Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household) Index, which measured the attitudes of 1,000 Americans this week. Economic attitudes weakened across the board, with consumers increasingly viewing the current economy negatively and displaying growing pessimism about the future. As a result, the RBC CASH Index for May, released today by RBC Financial Group, stands at 67.1, compared to 89.4 in April.
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TORONTO - Cyberplex Inc. announced May 4, financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2006. Sales for the three month period ended March 31, 2006 were $1.21 million, down from the $1.39 million generated in the previous quarter and lower than the $2.26 million recorded during the same period a year ago.
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QUEEN'S PARK - Progressive Conservative Party Leader John Tory today said the Premier must fight for a strong Ontario as part of a strong Canada, not in isolation from the rest of the country.
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TORONTO - Future public health physicians of Ontario are asking the provincial government to commit to an action plan for the implementation of the Capacity Review Committee's final report released today. "Since 2002, the provincial government has commissioned ten reports to determine how local public health can be strengthened," says Dr. Vinita Dubey, a future public health physician.
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NEW YORK- Amid concern over rising gas prices and interest rates, consumer confidence dropped sharply in May after holding steady in April, according to the most recent results of the RBC CASH (Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household) Index, which measured the attitudes of 1,000 Americans this week. Economic attitudes weakened across the board, with consumers increasingly viewing the current economy negatively and displaying growing pessimism about the future. As a result, the RBC CASH Index for May, released today by RBC Financial Group, stands at 67.1, compared to 89.4 in April.
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The Environmental Protection Agency has approved controversial plans to grow genetically-modified potatoes in Co Meath.
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The conditional permission granted for the import of genetically modified foods in the new foreign trade policy, unveiled by the commerce ministry in the first week of April, has created more problems than it sought to address on this controversial issue.
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- Revenue Increases 30% to a Record $15.3 Million; Company Achieves Revenue Diversification Goal -

TORONTO, On May 4 Tucows Inc. reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 ended March 31, 2006. "The first quarter of 2006 was marked by strong performance, including record revenue, which was driven by the contribution from the acquisition of the Critical Path Hosted Messaging assets to now manage over 2 million mailboxes, higher domain name registration transactions and growth in our other Internet services. We also saw growth in adjusted EBITDA of 48%," said Elliot Noss, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tucows Inc.
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There’s no better way to spend a summer than following a dream and showcasing your hometown. At least that’s Thomas Gofton’s view. Beginning May 23, the third-year psychology and theatre studies student begins production on his debut film, Four Aces, which is set in Guelph and features the University of Guelph as one of its main backdrops.
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Toronto - "NUVA Technologies Inc. has developed patent pending, digital signage viewer recognition, tracking and reporting software called Avitar which accurately verifies each viewer and provides total traffic count reporting, effectively proving an advertisement's value thereby creating the ultimate closed-loop marketing," says Randy Reaney, President of NUVA Technologies Inc..
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Daniel Kaufmann, director of the World Bank Institute on Governance, suggests that offering incentives rather than punishing wrongdoers was the best way to increase transparency, writes The Bangkok Post online.
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There is a direct link between freedom of the media, and the ability of countries to eradicate poverty, Daniel Kaufmann, Director of Global Programs and Governance for the World Bank Institute, said at a conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, reports the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.
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ITHACA, NY - The National Agricultural Biotechnology Council (NABC) will hold its 18th annual meeting at Cornell University, on the Ithaca and Geneva campuses, June 12-14. The meeting, entitled "Agricultural Biotechnology: Economic Development through New Products, Partnerships and Workforce Development," will address the role universities, and state and federal governments play in developing and moving research into the marketplace.
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TORONTO - Finance Minister Flaherty's first budget is music to the ears of Canada's 82,000 registered charities, with the announcement that the capital gains on donations of publicly traded securities to charitable organizations and public foundations will be tax free.
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In January, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) proposed changes to patent rules that would restrict the number of claims examined in a single application and limit inventors’ rights to file continuation applications.
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Despite higher revenues along with an improved profit margin in 2004, the advertising and related services industry in Canada continues to face challenges that have kept a lid on growth.
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Guelph’s mayor, Kate Quarrie, welcomes yesterday’s federal budget as good news for Guelph and Canadian cities in general. “We see this budget as a promising step toward establishing better funded communities,” says Mayor Quarrie. “I think it’s evidence that Ottawa is paying attention to issues that affect Canadians close to home – issues such as infrastructure, public transit, the mediation of brownfields, and social housing.
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Samsung Launches Next-Gen Sports Cams

Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. has announced the next-generation of its popular Sports Camcorders. Geared toward sports enthusiasts and active individuals, these camcorders allow for hands-free operation via an external lens that can strap securely around  the arm or head.  The new generation models, which include the 512MB X205L and the 1 GB X210L, boast 25 per cent longer recording time, 30 per cent longer battery life, and sleeker design in comparison to the first-generation SC-X105L.
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Food industry urges caution on biofuel promotion plan
By Ahmed ElAmin

A plan to increase biofuel production could lead to an increase in prices for agricultural ingredients, in particular rapeseed, the bloc's food industry association warns in a position paper. The concern is expressed in a position paper published by the Confederation of the food and drink industries of the European Union (CIAA), which is calling for a careful monitoring of the effects of the plan on agricultural supplies and prices.
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CBC Radio One Jumps on Podcasting Bandwagon

CBC Radio One has announced that, in response to public demand, it will now be offering a number of its programs as podcasts online offered as a supscription, or downloaded individually for free.  Programming will include the  best of editions from The Current, Dispatches, Definitely Not the Opera, Ideas, Outfront, and As It Happens , plus highlight packages of regionally-based radio programs. 
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Vermont: Sign seed bill

The Legislature has passed a reasonable bill safeguarding Vermont farmers from neighbor-against-neighbor warfare over genetically modified seed. The bill would place responsibility for damage caused by the seed where it belongs — with the companies that are selling it.
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Belkin Unveils Wireless Networking Line

Belkin has unveiled a wireless networking line that allows users to share an Internet connection wirelessly while running several applications simultaneously off one router.  With the N1, users can stream HD video, listen to digital music, play online games, transfer photos and home videos, shop online and surf the Web, e-mail and chat, and handle multiple VoIP calls, all at the same time and, according to Belkin, without any connection drops.
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Toronto's April resale housing market stays strong

TORONTO - The resale housing market remained strong in April as 8,361 homes changed hands during the month, Toronto Real Estate Board President John Meehan announced today. The month's results represent the third- best April ever, though activity moderated by five percent compared with April of last year.
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"Export-driven economic growth in Latin America in recent years has failed to generate sufficient jobs, improve wages, or reduce poverty in the region, the United Nations' International Labor Organization (ILO) said in a report on Tuesday," reports Reuters.
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TORONTO - Ontario's municipal governments see promise in the Harper Government's first Budget. The Budget includes a commitment to work with provinces and territories over the next year on the fiscal imbalance. It also fulfills commitments to a total of $7.1 billion in federal funding support for municipal infrastructure over the next 4 years.
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First Conservative Budget Falls Short in Boosting Canadian Productivity

OTTAWA – The first federal budget by the new Conservative government is a step in the right direction to boosting productivity and prosperity for Canadians, but lacks key measures which would achieve the greatest gains. “Finance Minister Jim Flaherty clearly recognizes that to ensure long-term prosperity, Canada needs to increase our productivity,” said federal budget analyst Richard Monk, Vice Chair of Certified Management Accountants of Canada (CMA Canada).
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AUCC welcomes budget measures for universities and research

OTTAWA -- The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada welcomes the measures in the federal budget targeted at postsecondary education and university research, as well as the new government’s recognition of the importance of research to increasing Canada’s productivity and Canadians’ standard of living.
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REALTORS(R) Welcome Federal Tax Cuts

OTTAWA - Canada's real estate industry says the tax cuts outlined in the 2006 Federal Budget will ease the tax burden on individual Canadians, and reduce some costs associated with buying and owning a home. "These tax cuts will put money back in the pockets of Canadian families and will help increase consumer confidence about making big ticket purchases, such as buying, furnishing, or renovating a home," says Pierre Beauchamp, Chief Executive Officer of The Canadian Real Estate Association.
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Ontario Still Seeking Fairness From Federal Government

TORONTO - The federal government has presented a budget that raises more questions than answers in meeting Ontario's priorities and addressing the fiscal imbalance, says Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
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Budget a 'patchwork foundation' to Harper's aboriginal agenda

NIPISSING FIRST NATION - First Nations had been expecting some key financial deliverables arising from the November First Ministers' Meeting including financial commitments to address the elimination of poverty, aboriginal health care, drinking water quality and substandard infrastructure, and housing.
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Ernst & Young's budget analysis now online

OTTAWA - Ernst & Young's annual in-depth analysis of today's federal budget is now online. The Minister announced that the budget is balanced, spending is focused, and taxes will go down for all Canadians. Numerous personal and business tax changes are proposed.
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Federal budget spells bad news for federal public services

TORONTO - The Harper government's first federal budget provides more questions than answers about its impact on services to Canadians, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada. In its pre-budget submission, PSAC had argued that demands for public services are growing as the population ages and as more and more people locate to larger cities and communities. The union urged the government to reconsider premature tax cuts.
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Hewitt Research Advisory Budget Summary Report

The 2006 Federal Budget was announced on May 2, 2006. It contains several measures of interest in the pension and benefits areas. DB Pension Plan Funding Changes Many Defined Benefit (DB) pension plans have been struggling with increasing deficits, and higher funding requirements and accounting charges, as a result of low interest rates and the impact of investment returns.
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Federal Budget short-changes Canadian Children

TORONTO - Educators, parents, and school trustees are disheartened to learn that the Federal Budget has scrapped the previous child care agreements made with provincial governments. Failing to uphold the federal-provincial child care agreements, the Prime Minister and his government have chosen to forego a once-in-a-generation opportunity to give our children the kind of start that assures their readiness to succeed in school and in life.
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CAUT says Harper budget charts wrong course for education

OTTAWA - Canada's universities and colleges will be worse off as a result of the first Harper budget."We're shocked that the Harper government has cut half a billion dollars out of the post-secondary education funding committed by the previous government," said Greg Allain, President of the Canadian Association of University Teachers.
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Restaurant and bar owners welcome GST cut

TORONTO - The one-point cut to the goods and services tax announced in today's federal budget is welcome news for Canadian consumers and the small business owners that operate the majority of bar and restaurant businesses in Canada, says the 31,000-member Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA).
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Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada say No child care in today's Budget

OTTAWA - The Federal Budget contains nothing for child care today and no plan for tomorrow, says the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC). Families that can't find child care now are going to find the search harder. Some children may lose the early learning and child care they have and parents will find paying for child care just as difficult.
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Federation of Canadian Municipalities say Budget delivers good news to Canada's cities and communities, says FCM President

OTTAWA - This is a statement released May 2 by Federation of Canadian Municipalities President, Guelph Councillor, Gloria Kovach following the tabling of the federal Budget."This Budget delivers good news for Canada's municipal sector and for all Canadians. It lays out a blueprint for relations among all orders of government that is both respectful of jurisdictions and pragmatic.
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CME's say Budget good news for Canada's largest business sector

OTTAWA - It's not going to address the critical issue of competitiveness overnight, but Budget 2006 will provide some bottom-line help to Canadian manufacturers and exporters."This is encouraging -- a better budget for business than we have seen in the last five years," said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. "While it falls short of CME's standard for tax competitiveness, it does include measures that will have a real benefit for business."
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United Steelworkers say First Conservative budget fails working families

TORONTO - United Steelworkers' National Director Ken Neumann said late Tuesday that Canadian working families have been collectively short- changed by the first Conservative budget. "Rolling back the first halting steps toward a national child care program and replacing it with a few bucks for babysitting hurts more families than it benefits," said Neumann.
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Canadian Federation of Students say Federal Budget Ignores Student Debt

OTTAWA - The Harper Government's first federal budget will do very little to provide relief for students and their families who are struggling with escalating fees for post-secondary education. Although the budget contains minor tax changes for students, it will not fundamentally improve access to post-secondary education according to the Canadian Federation of Students.
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Budget Sends Right Signals - Canadian Chamber of Commerce

OTTAWA - May 2, 2006 federal budget delivered the right message in key areas as the government made good on its promises to implement fiscal measures and expense management initiatives that are conducive to Canada's future economic well-being. In large part, Canadian business can endorse this budget, stated the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
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Federal Budget confirms commitment to public transit

TORONTO - The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) is very pleased that today's budget confirms the federal government's commitment to meaningful and sustainable investment in public transit.
"The creation of a Public Transit Capital Trust is a welcomed initiative," says CUTA President and CEO Michael Roschlau. "The further strengthening of federal infrastructure investment programs included in the budget will create the funding certainty needed to make long term decisions."
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Association of Fundraising Professionals New Budget Will Increase Charitable Giving

OTTAWA-- The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) today applauded the federal government's move to eliminate the capital gains tax on gifts of appreciated securities, a provision included in the 2006 budget.
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Canadian Distilled Spirits says Conservative Budget to Cost Manufacturing Jobs

TORONTO - The Canadian Distilled Spirits Industry predicts significant job losses across the country as a result of the punitive new federal alcohol excise rates proposed in today's federal budget. The first Conservative Party Canadian federal budget in over a decade proposes an increase of nearly 6% in excise duties applied to spirits while reducing comparable rates on wine produced from Canadian grapes and beer produced by smaller producers.
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Heritage Canada Foundation disappointed in federal budget

OTTAWA - Canada's national voice for the conservation of historic places expressed disappointment that the federal government has yet again missed an opportunity to encourage investment in Canadian communities. For decades, the Heritage Canada Foundation and its partners in architecture, urban planning and municipal affairs have asked for changes to the federal tax system that would encourage Canadians to rehabilitate deteriorating heritage buildings.
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Forest Industry Applauds Budget: "Measures will maintain the momentum", says President

OTTAWA - The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today welcomed initiatives in today's Budget which included measures to improve the general investment climate in Canada as well as a strong commitment to addressing the specific challenges facing Canada's forest products sector.
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- a new partnership & a new home!

"Economic growth in Asia this year should hit seven percent -- the same as in 2005 -- but the region could be threatened by high oil prices, tighter financial markets and bird flu, the International Monetary Fund
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TORONTO - The Ontario Municipal Water Association (OMWA) is warning Queen's Park that proposals to create a provincial Water Board, as well as establish local water companies across the province, could ultimately lead to the privatization of Ontario's publicly-owned water infrastructure. "The private sector could end up owning our water systems if the provincial government adopts these misguided recommendations," said Rosemary Kelleher-MacLennan, Chair of the OMWA, at the association's annual meeting May 1, 2006.
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TORONTO - With summer around the corner, many Canadians still appear to be waiting to make their summer travel plans, while Americans plan to book earlier than last year. According to a recent Ipsos- Reid survey, one-third (34 per cent) of Canadians are already planning a trip this summer, not including cottage visits and visits to family members.
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TORONTO - Survey results released May 2 by MSN Canada show that on average, Canadians connect with about 23 different people every day. Monday is by far the busiest day of the week for communicating (32 per cent), followed by Saturday (18 per cent) and Friday (17 per cent).
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"High prices for aluminum and excellent operating performances across most of our businesses combined to make this an outstanding quarter for Alcan" said Dick Evans, President and CEO. "By any measure, earnings for the period were the highest in the company's history," he noted.
"The underlying fundamentals of the aluminum industry are currently robust and should remain solid over the balance of the year. With continued focus on operating excellence and financial discipline, I am confident that Alcan is well positioned to reap the benefits," he added.
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TORONTO - Sixty-one (61) per cent of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) say the pension crisis in Canada is widespread and likely to persist beyond the next few years, a dramatic increase compared to just two years ago, according to survey findings released today by The Conference Board of Canada and Watson Wyatt Worldwide.
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WINNIPEG - Interested in investing in developing countries? International Development Days 2006 will show you how to tap into a wealth of opportunities around the globe. Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency, is pleased to present International Development Days 2006 at the Fairmont Winnipeg Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba from May 3 - 5, 2006.
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KITCHENER - ARISE Technologies Corporation, announced May 1 its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The net loss for the year ended 2005 was $1,808,244 compared to $1,967,423 for 2004. The working capital deficit as at December 31, 2005 was $2,402,217 compared to $1,513,497 at December 31, 2004.
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Multi-million Dollar Commitment Focuses On Quality Home Care Support

TORONTO - The McGuinty government is investing $117.8 million to improve home care and community support services this year, and announcing a comprehensive plan to address the recommendations from Elinor Caplan's review of Community Care Access Centres (CCACs), Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced May 1, 2006.
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OTTAWA - The Canadian Institute of Forestry is encouraging the Government of Canada to develop a clear strategy on how they will work with Canadians to implement a climate change action plan that will successfully meet Canada's Kyoto commitments and sustain our forests and resources.
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A University of Saskatchewan research team has discovered what it calls a "super gene" that makes crops more resistant to heat, cold and drought. lt also gets plants growing faster.
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One of the University of Guelph’s most prominent graduates, world-renowned economist John Kenneth Galbraith, died Saturday at age 97. Known for his humanitarian approach to economic and political thinking, Galbraith was a Harvard University professor and served as an adviser to Democratic presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.
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Comprehensive, senior-level projects display a wide range of skills and applications. What you know is important, but how you use it is everything.
Senior-level Conestoga College students from more than a dozen programs will demonstrate and explain their comprehensive projects in a trade show/information fair setting on Friday, May 5 at Conestoga's Doon campus in Kitchener.
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Waterloo - DALSA Corporation, an international high performance semiconductor and electronics company, after having undertaken a careful study of the Asia-Pacific markets, has decided to establish a new business unit, DALSA Asia-Pacific, to focus and participate in these fast emerging markets.
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Toronto – MTV announced that it will broadcast The 2006 MTV Movie Awards in Canada on Thursday, June 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, hosted by movie starlet Jessica Alba. MTV in Canada joins 170 other countries around the world broadcasting the two-hour event, which is at the vanguard of pop culture with its irreverent categories such as “Best Kiss,” “Best Villian” and “Breakthrough Performance.” Broadcast in 23 languages, The 2006 MTV Movie Awards will be seen in more than 480 million households.
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OTTAWA - The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts are pleased to announce the winners of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture.The following built projects and the architects responsible will be honoured:
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Michigan Senate approves bill on genetic modification

LANSING - The Michigan Senate signed off on legislation Thursday that aims to block local regulation of genetically modified crops.

The bill, which heads to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, would pre-empt local governments in Michigan from adopting ordinances that regulate or ban the planting of seeds, including genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
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TORONTO - In its May 8, 2006, edition (on newsstands Monday, May 1), TIME Magazine unveils its annual list of the most influentia people in the world over the past year - the TIME 100. The list profiles the lives and ideas of the world's most influential people and is split into five categories: Leaders & Revolutionaries, Builders & Titans, Artists & Entertainers, Heroes & Icons, and Scientists & Thinkers.
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ST. LOUIS - The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) on April 28, 2006 announced that more than nine out of 10 growers are aware of and effectively complying with Insect Resistance Management (IRM) requirements as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These findings are based on 2005 on-farm assessments along with an independent survey conducted on behalf of the Agriculture Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee (ABSTC).
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WATERLOO - On May 1, Four University of Waterloo faculty members, researching such diverse areas as multimedia communications, computer simulation, entrepreneurship and social relationships, have been named recipients of Canada Research Chairs by the federal government.
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WATERLOO REGION – The Ontario government is continuing to reduce wait times in five key areas ¾ cancer surgery, cardiac procedures, hip and knee joint replacements, cataract surgery and MRI/CT exams – with an investment of $10,717,123 for regional hospitals, John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre announced April 28 on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.
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