Posts By: Brent White

Blackberry’s Rich Patents

Posted by & filed under Data security, Financial Reporting and Analysis.

Description: Blackberry has announced the sales of the bulk of its remaining patents related to its communications technology. Catapault IP Innovations has purchased this intellectual property for $600 million in a combination of cash and promissory notes. As Blackberry has moved itself from a mobile device company to a cybersecurity business, fans of the legendary… Read more »

Good Times for Job Hunters

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers.

Description: The Canadian economy continues to provide opportunity for job seekers. According to Statistics Canada, January showed 874,000 job openings. This number is down a bit from September, but still a very favourable statistic for potential employees. The Bank of Canada has stressed that the positive job market trend is one reason it is considering… Read more »

Auto-file for Tax Returns?

Posted by & filed under Canadian Government, Personal Tax.

Description: The C.D. Howe Institute released a report last week questioning the very idea that most Canadians should have to file an annual income tax return with the federal government. The report, Automatic Tax Filing: A Challenging Idea for Canada, compared our Canadian tax system to those of other OECD nations, looking at the feasibility… Read more »

Gas Going Up

Posted by & filed under Auditing, Canadian Economy, Student life.

Description: It keeps on going. Going up that is: the price of gasoline. You are probably among the many Canadians giving a second look at the price on the pump when you’ve been filling your vehicle with fuel. Though gas prices dropped to almost ridiculous lows in the early shutdown phase of the pandemic, prices… Read more »

Microsoft Acquires Activision

Posted by & filed under Financial Accounting, Student life.

Description: Big Tech giant Microsoft wants to grow bigger. Tuesday of last week Microsoft announced it is acquiring video game maker Activision in a cash deal totaling almost $69 billion. Activision’s products offer an advantage to Microsoft in the emerging virtual world. Some U.S. regulators are signalling, however, that they may take a hard look… Read more »

Should Salary Info be Open?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers.

Description: When you find out a colleague who is bringing in less revenue to the company is making more money than you, that can sting. That’s exactly what happened to Jen Aitchison one night when she was out with some co-workers for a couple of drinks after work. Some, like HR professional Allison Venditti, argue… Read more »

Reitmans Out of Protection

Posted by & filed under Advanced Accounting, Corporate Strategy.

Description: Fashion chain Reitmans is exiting creditor protection after 20 months. The company, with HQ in Montreal, has paid its creditors roughly $95 million, about 1/2 of the amount owing based on public disclosures provided by the monitor Ernst & Young Inc. in September 2020. Between its Reitmans brand and its related stores, RW&CO and… Read more »

Taxing the Unvaxed

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Personal Tax, Student life.

Description: Desperate times call for desperate measures. With unvaccinated citizens having a much higher probability of being hospitalized by contracting Covid-19 than vaccinated citizens, the Government of Quebec responded this week by announcing its intent to begin assessing penalties upon the unvaccinated. Premier Legault said $50 or $100 would not be enough. It remains to… Read more »

Netflix Rising

Posted by & filed under Financial Reporting and Analysis, Marketing & Strategy.

Description: If you’re a Netfllix subscriber, get prepared to dig a bit deeper into your pocketbook. The monthly rate for the two-stream plans in Canada are heading to $16.49 from the current price of $14.99. Netflix asserts that the increase will help the company provide a “better experience” in a market that seems to be… Read more »