Posts By: Brent White

Bitcoin Bubble?

Posted by & filed under Financial Accounting.

Description: Bitcoin, perhaps the most widely known of the crypto-currencies, has been all over the map in terms of value, with many highs and lows over its relatively short life. But in recent days Bitcoin has been soaring in value, rising over $11,000 per unit last week. Despite this possible bubble, central bankers are providing… Read more »

Dropped calls, Pheonix falls

Posted by & filed under Auditing.

Description: Well, that’s one way to handle your backlog of calls: simply drop them. This past week the Auditor General of Canada reported his Office’s findings regarding the poor job that the Canada Revenue Agency does in handling calls from Canadian citizens. In addition, the report said that there is no quick fix in sight… Read more »

AG and Premier collide

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Canadian governments.

Description: Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil questioned the findings of provincial Auditor General Michael Pickup regarding a shortage of physicians in Nova Scotia. The Premier appeared to be saying that Mr. Pickup had strayed into the policy field in his audit of doctor shortages in Nova Scotia. He noted that if the Auditor… Read more »

RBC goes AI

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Canadian Economy.

Description: Last week this blog noted how Montreal is moving ahead with the aerospace industry. This week, Montreal is in the spotlight again. RBC is investing in an AI (artificial intelligence) laboratory in Montreal, building on its business efforts with this technology in Edmonton and Toronto. Date: November 21, 2017 Source: ctvnews.ca Link: http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/rbc-looks-to-get-smart-with-montreal-artificial-intelligence-lab-1.3687375 Discussion… Read more »

Loblaws Delivers

Posted by & filed under eCommerce.

Description: About a month ago, this blog addressed Loblaws plans to cut costs by laying off 500 administrative staff. This week Loblaws took another step down the cost-cutting road by announcing that it would close 22 money losing stores. But, it’s not a total retreat.  The company also announced it was starting up a delivery… Read more »

. . . With electric trucks!

Posted by & filed under Canadian Economy, Sustainable Development.

Description: In the same week Loblaws  announced that it was starting up a delivery service for online orders, it also surprised us with another future looking move by stating an intention to purchase Tesla’s electric trucks. The trucks are expected to hit the road in 2019 and will help move the giant grocer ahead in… Read more »

Aerospace booming in Quebec

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Financial Accounting.

Description: Not that long ago Bombardier appeared in some trouble and was cutting staff. But this week Bombardier disclosed plans to hire 1,000 additional workers over the next 18 months. And it’s not just Bombardier with good news for Quebec workers. Aerospace Montreal, an industry promoter, predicted over 30,000 aerospace jobs would need to be… Read more »

Points card combo

Posted by & filed under Financial Accounting, Student life.

Description: If you are a dedicated points saver, you are probably carrying an array of plastic cards in your wallet or apps or your phone to ensure you don’t miss out on opportunities to earn free stuff from participating merchants. This week you may have welcomed the announcement that Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart are… Read more »

Moving along the merger

Posted by & filed under Advanced Accounting.

Description: It takes a while to bring two giants together. The planned merger of agricultural companies Agrium and Potash Corp has been ongoing for over a year. The latest hurdle has been cleared by Agrium’s sale of an Idaho phosphate producer for $100 million dollars, a move which was designed to ease the approval of… Read more »