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The economy of the province of Ontario

economyOntario is the most populated and economically productive province in Canada. It has a population of around 13 million with Toronto (2, 600, 000) and Ottawa (880, 000) being the largest cities. In 2004, Ontario accounted for half of all Canadian manufacturing. Businesses providing services to these cities will be in high demand. Ontario is modernizing like all of Canada. There is more wealth available to start a number of great businesses. Small businesses create the most jobs in Ontario. Ontario has a very strategic location near the United States, close to the Great Lakes and in the more temperate southern climate of Canada.

Northern Ontario is known for its extensive mining resources. There are more than 30 metallic groups represented, including gold, platinum, copper and nickel. In Southern, Ontario, petroleum, salt, gypsum and lime are mined. In 2008, these mining figures were worth $10 billion. The Royal Canadian Mint has an Ottawa location to take advantage of is precious metal resources. The Silver Maples of the Canadian Mint are becoming very popular with a fineness of .9999. This is one of the highest quality coins in the world. Employment in the natural resources, hotels and food services has increased in 2011.

Ontario has the largest numbers of farmers by province. Many individual rural farms are being converted into urban farming and corporate ownership. The automobile industry accounts for the largest portion of the Ontario economy. The Great Lakes are a convenient conduit for car manufacturing. As American manufacturing has declined, it has effected Ontario. Machinery, electronics and plastic are the other primary exports for Ontario. Ontario is becoming more service- oriented. Professional, scientific, technical and utilities have experienced a collapse in employment opportunities.

Financial, insurance and real estate sectors have seen a decline in employment opportunities. While the United States and the United Kingdom have gone through real estate collapses, Canada has not experienced the same. Some economists are worried about a potential housing downturn for Canada. All sectors go through this boom / bust cycle as real estate prices escalate. More loan officers are employed during the up cycle, and the payday loan market in Ontario is in a strong growth phase right now even with the recent crackdowns. These jobs are lost when the land prices go down.

The Toronto Star recorded a slow growth rate of less than 1% for Fourth Quarter 2012. In 2007, Ontario inflation was 1.8%. Unemployment is rising to about 8.5% for the province. Moody’s downgraded Ontario’s economic outlook from stable to negative in December 2011. Renewable and sustainable systems are considered to be the biggest opportunities for job growth.

Government budget cuts may lead to fewer public sector jobs according to the Drummond Report. Lower tax rates for the previous decades in Canada have created a strong foundation for future growth. The balance sheet of Canada is strong. StatCan notes that 98% of Ontario businesses employ fewer than 100 employees. Small companies remain the incubator for the majority of jobs. Examples of these entrepreneurial sectors include bio- technology, renewable energy, software development, media and clothing. High literacy rates are attractive for nascent businesses.

Why Now Is The Best Time To Book A Hotel

Hotel-ReceptionTimes are different, and that means booking a hotel has gone completely digital. The world of technology has become so advanced, that booking a hotel a year from now is not something to laugh at, because it’s completely doable. Narrowing down how to pick a hotel service is a big problem, there are literally new companies online and offline that are popping up every day, just to get your business. For instance, sites like Priceline and Trip advisor has been around for years, but what do they offer?

Priceline is all about has the style of an auction house, basically you name the price of the hotel your willing to pay for, and you either win or lose that bid. The great thing is that you will get multiple offers from hotels that want your business. When it comes to Trip advisor it’s all about reviews. You can get reviews and ratings on multiple hotels. There is nothing better than firsthand experience when it comes to picking out a hotel, so what better place to go to, than Trip advisor. Finding a hotel these days saves you a bundle of money, because with the economy being in such peril, hotels are dying for your business. So book one now while it’s still affordable.

Clearing Up the Confusion of Personal Finance

 

With so many things going on in the economy right now, most people aren’t sure whether it’s safe to invest or to buy a house or pay off their loans. The business community can sometimes give mixed signals about what the average person should and shouldn’t do.

For one thing, the economy is steadily repairing itself, so interest rates are expected to go up. This means that aspiring home owners should take the chance to buy property now. Some industry leaders are saying that there’s a chance prices could go down, but the long term outlook points to steadily rising interest rates.

Those that were affected by the financial crisis a few years ago may have to deal with bad credit ratings. While credit counselors can help steer people into getting back on track, they aren’t actually necessary. Those with bad credit can start building up their rating again by paying back their liabilities on time and at the right amount.

Some college goers are now deferring their education because of the steep fees. Some also argue that the value of a diploma has become diluted over the years. This shouldn’t be an excuse for not going to school as most businesses still agree that the number one requirement they still look for in applicants is a college degree.

 

Waiting out a Video Game’s Launch Day

 

Over the years, video game companies have succeeded in creating unparalleled hyped when it comes to releasing their games. It’s gotten to a point where the launch day becomes an occasion for partying and general merry making. Hardcore gamers will usually snatch up the first version of their favorite game, but this isn’t a rule that everyone else should follow.

For one, most games will experience a few bugs here and there with their initial release version. This can be frustrating to first time gamers, so it’s sometimes better to wait a few more months before buying into the hype. Launch prices can also be fairly steep. A few weeks after the initial marketing blitz, retailers will usually pull back their prices by up to 30% or more depending on the games popularity.

Many video game developers will also purposely leave out much of the game’s content so that they can sell it in increments. This has made many gamers wait it out so that these companies release the full game in a bundle. These packages are much cheaper than if they were purchased separately.

The initial two weeks or so after the launch will see the game’s website get bogged down by endless maintenance and updates. After a few months, it will adjust itself to a fairly manageable schedule. Two months post- launch is therefore the best time to start buying video games, if you’re still interested in playing them at all.

 

To participate in employee stock purchase plan or not

 

Every one of us wishes to see our savings increase at the highest possible rate. As human beings are greedy by nature, there is no limit to our expectations. If our investment doubles, then we hope to see it triple and so forth.

Traditionally, many investment advisors urge you to invest a portion of your savings in to the stock market. But, the volatile nature of the marketkeeps many of us from jumping in to it. As we are aware of the stories of the people who have invested their hard earned savings in to stock market and ended up bankrupt, no one can blame you for being cautious. Employee stock purchase options are a great option to invest a portion of your savings in to stocks. This route has a few advantages of its own. One of them is the discounted price you are likely to get. Another one is the contribution from your employer, which can go as high as 100% of the money you invest in to the stock market. When dealing with employee stock purchase plan, as you are getting the stocks at a really discounted rate, you can try the stocks with much lower financial risks and try your fortune out.