Skip to main content

Featured

Markets Rally on Iran Peace Hopes and SpaceX's Historic IPO

Global markets were broadly higher on Friday as two big stories dominated trading: growing optimism that the United States and Iran are close to a peace deal, and the long-awaited Nasdaq debut of SpaceX — the largest initial public offering in history. Oil prices fell sharply on the geopolitical news, which helped ease inflation fears and gave stocks an additional lift heading into the weekend. 🇨🇦 Canada — TSX The S&P/TSX Composite Index is trading higher Friday, building on Thursday's recovery after a volatile stretch tied to Middle East tensions. The TSX shed roughly 0.8% on Wednesday, touching a three-week low near 34,151, as U.S.–Iran hostilities escalated and the Bank of Canada held its key rate steady at 2.25% — as widely expected. Thursday's session reversed some of those losses as Trump called off a planned strike and signalled a deal was within reach, pushing TSX futures higher. Energy stocks remain in focus: with oil now retreating, Canadian producers like Cenov...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

Canadian Manufacturers of COVID-19 Protective Equipment Sue Ottawa for $5 Billion in Damages

 

Canadian manufacturers who produce masks and other protective equipment to combat COVID-19 are pursuing legal action against the federal government, seeking more than $5 billion in damages. Their claim alleges that Ottawa misled them regarding the purchase and promotion of their products.

In a statement of claim filed in Federal Court, the companies and their industry association assert that the government made “negligent misrepresentations” that led them to invest in personal protective equipment innovations, manufacturing, and production. These misrepresentations spanned a three-year period starting in March 2020. The companies and the Canadian Association of PPE Manufacturers contend that the government provided misleading information about markets, direct assistance, flexible procurement, and long-term support.

The Canadian government had communicated through an initiative called Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19 that there would be new measures to directly support businesses in rapidly scaling up production or retooling their manufacturing lines. However, despite identifying masks and respirators as vital items for an airborne pandemic, the government did not contract with the Canadian companies, invoking a national security exception for procurement. Furthermore, in June 2021, the government allegedly promised a 10-year contract with the industry association and businesses to compensate for not purchasing protective equipment from domestic firms.

The companies claim that these misrepresentations resulted in approximately $88 million in investment losses and a further $5.4 billion in projected lost market opportunities over a ten-year period. They emphasize that this promise came from the highest levels of the Canadian government and was propagated across all relevant departments.

As the court case proceeds, the federal government will have an opportunity to respond to these unproven allegations. The manufacturers’ “special relationship” with the government, born out of a duty of care to small- and medium-sized businesses, underscores the significance of this legal battle.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment