Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 146, Number 51: GOVERNMENT NOTICES

December 22, 2012

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

CANADA PENSION PLAN INVESTMENT BOARD ACT

Coming into force

Notice is hereby given that approval of the Regulations Amending the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Regulations (Miscellaneous Program), as published in Vol. 144, No. 26 of Part Ⅱ of the Canada Gazette (SOR/2010-284), was received from at least two thirds of the participating provinces having in total not less than two thirds of the population of all the participating provinces on August 1, 2012, and that consequently the amendments came into force on that date, pursuant to subsection 53(4) of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act.

WAYNE FOSTER
Director
Financial Markets Division

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DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

CUSTOMS TARIFF

Proposed amendments to Canada’s General Preferential Tariff

Introduction

Further to the Economic Action Plan 2012 commitment to review Canada’s preferential tariff regime for developing countries, the Government of Canada is seeking views on proposed changes to the General Preferential Tariff (GPT).

Background

In the early 1970s, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recommended that developed economies grant autonomous and non-reciprocal tariff preferences to developing countries in order to increase their export earnings, promote their industrialization and promote their economic growth. Most developed economies, including the United States, the European Union (EU) and Japan, have preferential tariff regimes for developing countries, although these vary considerably with respect to countries and products covered.

Canada’s preferential tariff treatment for developing countries, the General Preferential Tariff (GPT), was implemented in 1974. Under the GPT, Canada currently offers duty-free or preferential market access to imports of most products from 175 designated beneficiaries (see www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/ tariff-tarif/2012/01-99/countries-pays-05-eng.pdf for a list of current beneficiaries and www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2012/menu-eng.html for more details on products covered by the GPT). In 2011, imports under the GPT treatment totalled $15.2 billion. As provided for under the Customs Tariff, the GPT is set to expire on June 30, 2014.

The global economic landscape has changed considerably since 1974, including significant shifts in the income levels and trade competitiveness of certain developing countries. To respond to these changes in the global economic landscape and to ensure that this form of development assistance is aligned with Canada’s development policy objectives, Economic Action Plan 2012 announced that the Government was undertaking a comprehensive review of the GPT.

Guided by the objectives of the review outlined in Economic Action Plan 2012, as well as the original policy intent of the GPT to encourage imports from developing countries as a means to promote their economic growth and export earnings, the Government is seeking views on proposed changes to the various elements of the GPT.

Proposed changes
Country coverage

In order to reflect the significant shifts in the income levels and trade competitiveness of certain developing countries, it is the Government’s intention to modify the list of beneficiary countries by withdrawing GPT treatment from countries that

  • Are classified for two consecutive years as high income or upper-middle income economies according to the latest World Bank income classifications; (see footnote 1. or
  • Have a share of world exports that is equal to or greater than 1% for two consecutive years according to the latest World Trade Organization trade statistics. (see footnote 2).

Based on the above criteria, it is the Government’s intention to withdraw GPT eligibility from the following countries, effective July 1, 2014:

  • Algeria
  • American Samoa
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Antilles, Netherlands
  • Argentina
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Equatorial Guinea (see footnote 3)
  • French Polynesia
  • Gabon
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • Jamaica
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Macao
  • Macedonia
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives (see footnote 4)
  • Mariana Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Namibia
  • New Caledonia and Dependencies
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Qatar
  • Russia
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Suriname
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela
  • Virgin Islands, U.S.A.

Imports from the countries listed above which are entitled to other preferential tariff treatments, (e.g. under free trade agreements) will continue to be eligible for tariff preferences under those tariff treatments.

Based on the intended changes noted above, the following countries would remain GPT beneficiaries after June 30, 2014:

Product coverage

Currently, the GPT offers duty-free or preferential tariff rates (i.e. lower than the standard Most-Favoured-Nation — MFN — rates) on more than 80% of tariff items. Notable exclusions from product coverage include most apparel, footwear and certain agricultural products.

In light of proposed changes to country coverage, changes may also be considered to product coverage. The Government is seeking the views of interested parties on this issue.

Rules of origin

Rules of origin set out the level of content originating from a GPT-eligible country that a product must contain in order to benefit from the preferential tariff treatment under the GPT. The current rules of origin stipulate that to qualify for GPT treatment, at least 60% of the value of a product must contain inputs originating in one or more GPT beneficiaries or from Canada. For more details, see www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d11/d11-4-4-eng.html.

As part of its review, the Government is seeking views on whether these rules of origin remain appropriate.

Safeguards

The GPT safeguard mechanism provides a process by which tariff preferences under the GPT could be withdrawn if it is determined that imports under the GPT injure, or threaten to injure, domestic industry. Through this process, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal conducts investigations into domestic producers’ written complaints of serious injury, or threat thereof, from imports under GPT rates and provides recommendations to the Minister of Finance regarding the withdrawal of GPT benefits. For more details, see www.citt.gc.ca/safeguar/index_e.asp.

The Government is seeking views on whether this mechanism should be formally incorporated into law in order to increase predictability and transparency for stakeholders.

Expiry date and future reviews

The GPT is currently legislated in the Customs Tariff on a 10-year cycle, and is set to expire on June 30, 2014 (previously renewed in 1984, 1994 and 2004). As part of its review, the Government is seeking views on whether country coverage should be amended on an annual basis according to the economic criteria set out in the “Country coverage” section above, and whether the GPT should be legislated on a permanent basis.

Next steps

The Government will take into consideration the comments submitted by interested parties as part of its review of the GPT. Any changes stemming from this review will be publicly announced in advance of the proposed implementation date of July 1, 2014.

How to comment

Interested parties wishing to comment on the proposed changes to the GPT amendments should submit their views in writing by February 15, 2013.

Comments should be sent to the following address:

General Preferential Tariff Consultations
Department of Finance
International Trade Policy Division
L’Esplanade Laurier, East Tower, 14th Floor
140 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5
Fax: 613-992-6761
Email: Tariff-Tarif@fin.gc.ca

General inquiries can be directed to Tariff and Trade Policy, Department of Finance, Tariff-Tarif@fin.gc.ca.

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DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY

RADIOCOMMUNICATION ACT

Notice No. SMSE-018-12 — Consultation on Spectrum Utilization Policies and Technical Requirements Related to Backhaul Spectrum in Various Bands, Including Bands Shared With Satellite, Mobile and Other Services

The intent of this notice is to initiate, through the release of the above-mentioned document, a public consultation on a wide range of policies, technical requirements and other aspects related to backhaul spectrum.

Discussion

In light of anticipated growth in new broadband mobile data applications, increased capacity and traffic requirements by Internet service providers and wireless carriers, Industry Canada has been approached by the wireless industry to increase the amount of spectrum for backhaul purposes. Through the release of the consultation paper, the Department is initiating a consultation on the possible provisioning of additional backhaul spectrum and the modernization of policies and technical frameworks to ensure increased utilization and efficiencies of the radio spectrum.

The Department is seeking comments on the current and future use of specific frequency bands to accommodate backhaul systems, as well as on potential changes to the policy framework and technical characteristics to increase flexibility and promote spectrum efficiency across all fixed backhaul frequency bands.

As this consultation encompasses specific and general backhaul spectrum issues, all fixed operators, manufacturers of wireless radio equipment and other stakeholders are encouraged to read the consultation document and to submit a reply to questions of interest to them.

Submitting comments

Respondents are requested to provide their comments in electronic format (WordPerfect, Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF) to the following email address: Spectrum.Engineering@ic.gc.ca, along with a note specifying the software, version number and operating system used.

Written submissions should be addressed to the Manager, Fixed Wireless Systems, Industry Canada, 300 Slater Street, 19th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C8.

All submissions should cite the Canada Gazette, Part Ⅰ, the publication date, the title and the notice reference number (SMSE-018-12). To ensure consideration, parties should submit their comments no later than April 22, 2013. Soon after the close of the comment period, all comments received will be posted on Industry Canada’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web site at www.ic.gc.ca/spectrum.

The Department will also provide interested parties with the opportunity to reply to comments from other parties. Reply comments will be accepted until May 24, 2013.

Following the initial comment period, the Department may, at its discretion, request additional information if needed to clarify significant positions or new proposals. In such a case, the reply comment deadline would be extended.

Obtaining copies

Copies of this notice and of documents referred to herein are available electronically on Industry Canada’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web site at www.ic.gc.ca/ spectrum.

Official versions of Canada Gazette notices can be viewed at www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/index-eng.html. Printed copies of the Canada Gazette can be ordered by telephoning the sales counter of Publishing and Depository Services at 613-941-5995 or 1-800-635-7943.

November 30, 2012

MARC DUPUIS
Director General
Engineering, Planning and Standards Branch

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BANK OF CANADA

Statement of financial position as at November 30, 2012

(Millions of dollars) Unaudited
ASSETS
Cash and foreign deposits   7.0
Loans and receivables
Securities purchased under resale agreements —  
Advances to members of the Canadian Payments Association
6.8		  
Advances to governments —  
Other receivables 4.7  
    11.5
Investments
Treasury bills of Canada 18,736.7  
Government of Canada bonds 55,993.7  
Other investments 345.4  
    75,075.8
Property and equipment   185.5
Intangible assets   54.1
Other assets   44.4
    75,378.3
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Bank notes in circulation   60,904.8
Deposits
Government of Canada 12,056.5  
Members of the Canadian Payments Association 232.3  
Other deposits 1,188.3  
    13,477.1
Liabilities in foreign currencies
Government of Canada —  
Other —  
    —
Other liabilities
Securities sold under    
repurchase agreements —  
Other liabilities 555.6  
    555.6
    74,937.5
Equity
Share capital 5.0  
Statutory and special reserves 125.0  
Available-for-sale reserve 310.8  
Actuarial gains reserve —  
Retained earnings —  
    440.8
75,378.3

Effective January 1, 2011, the Bank of Canada adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

I declare that the foregoing return is correct according to the books of the Bank.

Ottawa, December 12, 2012

S. VOKEY
Chief Accountant

I declare that the foregoing return is to the best of my knowledge and belief correct, and shows truly and clearly the financial position of the Bank, as required by section 29 of the Bank of Canada Act.

Ottawa, December 12, 2012

M. CARNEY
Governor

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