i s cover aug sept 2011 - cccsqc.ca · 17 bruno’s tip – the best gift ... mr. jean serge gris...
TRANSCRIPT
www.swissbiz.ca www.cccsmtl.com
Publication of the Swiss Canadian Chambers of Commerce Ontario and QuebecPublication des Chambres de Commerce Canado-Suisse de l’Ontario et du Québec
August/September Août/Septembre 2011
FFeature/Reportageeature/Reportage::EducationEducation
CON
TEN
TS /
IND
ICE
FEATURE / REPORTAGE
Education
4 College or University?
7 Federalist Governance of Higher Education:
Comparing the Approaches of Switzerland and Canada.
9 L’éducation au Québec
BUSINESS AND OTHER NEWSNOUVELLES ECONOMIQUES ET INFORMATION1 13 The Bottom Line: US Pothole
14 Seven Habits for Highly Effective Cash Flow Management
15 Keeping Pirates at Bay in Overseas Markets
17 Bruno’s Tip – The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself
18 Karin’s Performance Solutions – Reminders for Excelling
20 Can I Have Existing Employees Sign Written Employment Agreements?
20 Switzerland: The Largest Foreign Direct Investor in the US in 2010
22 Travel News
28 Trade Fairs
CHAMBER NEWSNOUVELLES DE LA CHAMBRE
2 President’s Message SCCC/Upcoming Events
3 Message du Président CCCS / Evénéments
5 Scholarship Fund
12 Member Profi le
21 Quote of the Month
23 New Members – SCCC
24 CCCS : Tournoi de golf annuel Memorial
Jacques Thévenoz
25 Busch Vacuum Technics celebrates its
25th anniversary
27 Swiss Night at Marché
28 SCCC Group Health Plan
Publication of the Swiss Canadian Chambers of Commerce Ontario and QuebecPublication des Chambres de Commerce Canado-Suisse de l’Ontario et du Québec
George Brown College, Adelaide Campus, TorontoCollège George Brown, Campus Adelaide, Toronto
IN FO SU I SS E2
BOARD OF DIRECTORS • 2011 – 2012President / Director:Phillip GyslingMesh Innovations Inc.174 Hallam Street, Toronto ON M6H 1X5Tel: 416-871-8159Email: [email protected]: www.meshinnovations.com
Vice-President / Treasurer/ Director:Urs VilligerRE/MAX WEST REALTY INC. 1678 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON M6P 1A9Tel: 416-562-7701Email: [email protected]: www.remaxwest.com/UVilliger
Secretary & Legal Counsel:Bernard LetteLette Whittaker LLP20 Queen Street West, #3300, P.O. Box 33, Toronto ON M5H 3R3Tel: 416-971-4898Email: [email protected]: www.lette.ca
Past President / Director: Hans MungerAuto Motion Shade Inc.400 Bentley Street; Unit 7-11; Markham ON L3R 8H6Tel: 905-470-6198 x 33Email: [email protected] Website: www.automotionshade.com
Directors:Babette BaarsMarché Restaurants Canada Ltd.8 King Street East, Suite 838, Toronto, ON M5C 1B5Tel: 647-341-1444 Cell: 647-969-1445Email: [email protected]: www.marche-int.com
Rudi BlatterLindt & Spruengli (Canada) Inc.181 University Avenue, Suite 900, Toronto ON M5H 3M7Tel: (416) 351-8566Email: [email protected]: www.lindt.com
Mirko CapodannoSwitzerland Tourism480 University Avenue, Suite 1500Toronto, ON M5G 1V2Tel: 416-695-3375 Cell: 416-841-6644Email: [email protected]: www.MySwitzerland.com
Yves-Daniel CochandSwiss Reinsurance Company150 King Street West, # 2200, Toronto, ON M5H 1J9Tel: 416-408-5945Email: [email protected]: www.swissre.com
Julien FavreUBS154 University Avenue, Toronto ON M5H 3Z4Tel: (416) 345-7033Email: [email protected]: www.ubs.com/1/e/canada
Roger HunzikerThe Bata Shoe Museum327 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON M5S 1W7Tel: 416-979-7799 x 242Email: [email protected]: www.batashoemuseum.ca
Sandra Leuba136 Curzon Street, Toronto ON M4M 3B5Tel: 416-616-4251Email: [email protected]
Ronnie MillerHoffmann-La Roche Ltd.2455 Meadowpine Boulevard, Mississauga ON L5N 6L7Tel: 905-542-5522Email: [email protected] Website: www.rochecanada.com
Daniel OehySwissmar35 East Beaver Creek Rd, Unit 6, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1B3Tel: 905-764-1121Email: [email protected]: www.swissmar.com
Urs UhlmannZurich400 University Avenue, 25th Floor, Toronto ON M5G 1S7Tel: (416) 586-2959Email: [email protected]: www.zurich.ca
Andrea Von MoellerB2-125 The Queensway; Toronto ON M8Y 1H3Tel: (416) 907-8012Email: [email protected]: www.2marketinternational.com
Honorary Director:Bernadette HunkelerConsulate General of Switzerland154 University Avenue, Suite 601, Toronto ON M5H 3Y9Tel: 416-593-5371Website: www.eda.admin.ch
Liaison Offi cer Consulate General of Switzerland:Emil WyssConsulate General of Switzerland154 University Avenue, Suite 601, Toronto ON M5H 3Y9Tel: 416-593-5371Email: [email protected]: www.eda.admin.ch
Executive Assistant:Patricia Keller Schläpfer – SCCC756 Royal York Road, Toronto ON M8Y 2T6Tel: (416) 236-0039 Fax: (416) 551-1011E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.swissbiz.ca
Electronic Typesetting and Assembly: Nancy Raitt @ corptype
Printed by: J. B. Deschamps
Dear Members,
Traditionally, summer is a rather slow period for Chamber events:
many escape to cottage country, while others enjoy the more
relaxed pace the warmer weather brings to the city. Although
there is no breaking news to report from the Chamber’s board, we
nonetheless have had several lovely events in the early summer
that are worthy of mention.
After a hiatus of one year, the SCCC Spousal/Partner Event was
back in our schedules this year at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club
(RCYC) and was a resounding success! This event marked the fi rst
time that the SCCC co-organized an event with the Swiss Canadian Cultural Association
(CSCA). Based on the results, it will defi nitely not be our last! Our guests were not only
treated to a presentation about the RCYC’s history by a former commodore, but they also
witnessed an awe-inspiring thunder and lightning storm over the city skyline.
In early July, Swiss Night was held, once again, at the Marché Restaurant. This time the
beautiful weather allowed us to mix and mingle outdoors on the stylish patio as Swiss
“lampions” added to the atmosphere of this very popular event — so successful in fact, we
had to close online registrations due to the number of participants!
Contrary to the slower, more relaxed scene of summer holidays, summer is actually a
rather busy time for board members and the various committees that diligently support
the SCCC and its events. Both our marquee events — the golf tournament and the dinner
dance — are held in the latter part of the year to allow for the critical behind-the-scenes
preparation to take place. We look forward to these two great events with much anticipa-
tion and hope to see all of you there.
The feature topic of this issue of info Suisse is education. Rather appropriately, I write this
message while in Switzerland looking out the window straight at the building where I
attended primary school. The educational institutions in Switzerland and Canada certainly
have many differences, but they also have a great number of similarities. How else would
it have been possible for someone like me to change between the two systems at least
three-to-four times during my school career with minimal disruption, while benefi tting
from access to both cultures? The education system is what eventually made me land in
Toronto, so certainly, this issue is extremely relevant to me on a very personal level. Happy
reading and happy summer!
Philipp Gysling
President
Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Ontario) Inc.756 Royal York Road • Toronto, Ontario M8Y 2T6Tel: (416) 236-0039 • Fax: (416) 236-3634 • E-mail: [email protected] • www.swissbiz.ca
2011 COMING EVENTS
August 16: Pub Night with the British and German Chamber
September 12: Golf Tournament @ Meadowbrook
October 18: Joint Event with the German and Austrian Chamber
November 19: Dinner Dance @ Le Meridien King Edward
Further Information can be found on www.swissbiz.ca/upcoming_events
Dates above are subject to change
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 3
La Chambre de commerce canado-suisse (Québec) Inc.Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Quebec) Inc.
1572 Avenue Docteur Penfi eld, Montréal, Qué. H3G 1C4 • Tél: (514) 937-5822 • Fax: (514) 954-5619 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web site: www.cccsmtl.com
CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION / BOARD OF DIRECTORS2011 – 2012Présidente / PresidentMr. Jean Serge GriséDirecteur, Communications et Affaires publiquesFondation Lucie et André Chagnon Conseiller en affaires publiquesTel: 514.380.2001, # 1058E-mail: [email protected]
Secrétaire / Secretary Mr. Raphaël DelacombazTel: 514.296.1943 E-mail: [email protected]
Vice-présidents / Vice-PresidentsMr. Olivier SchlegelGeneral Manager for CanadaSwiss International Air LinesTel: 514.954.5600, # 6610E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Bruno SetzConsultantTel: 514.767.5123 E-mail : [email protected]
Trésorier / TreasurerMr. Othmar WidmerConsultation WidmerTel: 514.290.4822E-mail: [email protected]
Directeurs / DirectorsMr. Jacques DemontManaging Director NespressoTel: [email protected]
Mr. Ch. Dubois Conseiller de la Ville Ville de Montréal (Arrondissement Pierrefonds-Roxboro)Tel: [email protected]
Me Jean-Marc FerlandAvocatFerland, Marois, Lanctot Tel: 514.861.1110E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Moritz GruberPrésidentSystem Huntingdon Inc.Tel: 450.264.6122E-mail : [email protected]
Mr. Olivier RodriguezGestionnaire de portefeuilleMirabaud Canada Inc. Tel: 514.393.1690E-mail : [email protected]
Me Monica SchirdewahnAvocate / Lawyer Lette & AssociésTel: 514.871.3838, # 213 E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Paul Wieser PDG pour le CanadaBusch Vacuum Technics Inc. Tel: 450.435.6899E-mail: [email protected]
Directeur honoraire / Honorary DirectorMr. Claude DuvoisinConsul général de SuisseTel: 514.932.7181 E-mail: [email protected]
Liaison au Consulat général de SuisseMr. Markus OsterburgConsul Tel: 514.932.7181 E-mail: [email protected]
Conseiller juridique / Legal CounselLette & AssociésTel: 514.871.3838, # 213 E-mail: [email protected]
Responsable de l’administration / Administration Offi cer Mr. Andreas Kräuchi Tel: 514.937.5822 Fax: 514.954.5619 E-mail: [email protected]
Chers membres,
La saison estivale est toujours un peu moins active, mais avec des
activités qui se déroulent autour de la Fête nationale de la Suisse,
nous aurons l’occasion de nous rencontrer à quelques reprises.
In June, the Board held its annual brainstorming. This year, we
decided to invite other members of our Chamber, in order to discuss
new ideas and initiatives.
Nous avons été enchantés de la session de cette année. Nous avons
noté un enthousiasme exceptionnel de la part des participants et une nette volonté de
faire de notre Chambre de commerce, une organisation plus près de ses membres et qui va
mettre en place de nouvelles activités suscitant les échanges d’affaires.
We will continue to work hard during the summer to present a program of activities that
will make you proud.
Nous désirons vous présenter, lors de notre cocktail d’ouverture, en septembre, un pro-
gramme qui saura répondre aux nombreuses suggestions que vous nous avez faites. Bien
sûr, nous allons garder nos activités-phares que sont la Fondue et la Raclette, mais nous
voulons multiplier les occasions pour que vous puissiez connaître ce que font nos membres,
leurs succès, créer des occasions d’échange.
Votre conseil d’administration veut aussi faire un effort particulier pour augmenter le nom-
bre des membres de notre Chambre au Québec. Nous avons constaté que de nombreuses
entreprises d’ici faisant affaires en Suisse et des entreprises suisses faisant affaires ici, ne
connaissaient pas les avantages offerts par notre organisation.
Je vous invite tous et toutes à examiner vos carnets d’adresses et à parler à vos contacts
d’affaires pour les inviter à se joindre à nous. De nouveaux membres, ce sont de nouvelles
idées, de nouvelles opportunités d’affaires, un échange d’informations beaucoup plus
grand et des activités plus importantes.
Bonnes vacances, pour ceux et celles qui en prendront et un bel été à tous les membres.
Jean Serge Grisé
EVÉNÉMENTS / UPCOMING EVENTS 2011
Septembre / September Cocktail d’ouverture de la saison / Season opening cocktail
Novembre / November Soirée Fondue / Fondue evening
Dates sujet à changements / Dates subject to change
INFORMATION et détails/and details : www.cccsmtl.com ou/or (514) 937-5822
IN FO SU I SS E4
Educat ion
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?
COLLEGES PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH INCREASED OPTIONS & FLEXIBILITY TO BETTER MEET LABOUR MARKET NEEDSBy Anne Sado, President George Brown College
Ontario students have more learning and
education opportunities available to them
than ever before. Despite the recent down-
turn in the economy, Industries throughout
the province are riddled with new labour
gaps that need to be fi lled and many come
with high salaries, great benefi ts and a
prosperous future. Yet, much work needs to
be done to meet the demands of the labour
market.
In Ontario, 62% of our population cur-
rently holds a post-secondary credential.
However, this must increase to at least 70%
to meet future needs. We are facing huge
shifts in both our demographics and our
economy that are having a major impact
on the labour force. Several recent empirical
studies have concluded that a signifi cant
number of jobs won’t have the right people
to fi ll them, and an equal or greater number
of people won’t have the right skills for the
jobs available.
College graduates will hold the key to
closing this gap. The mandate of colleges is
very specifi c — “to offer a comprehensive
program of career-oriented, post-secondary
education and training to assist individuals
in fi nding and keeping employment; to meet
the needs of employers and the changing
work environment; and, to support the eco-
nomic and social development of their local
and diverse communities.” (Ontario Colleges
of Applied Arts and Technology Act 2002)
Colleges have existed in some parts of
Canada for more than a century and in Ontario
since 1967. Today, 24 publicly funded col-
leges in Ontario serve an estimated 600,000
students each year and award credentials
from apprenticeships, certifi cates, diplomas
and advanced diplomas to baccalaureate
degrees. Colleges have evolved signifi cantly
since their formation in the late 1960’s, an
evolution many people — especially parents,
teachers and high school guidance counsel-
lors who retained distant memories— don’t
yet fully understand the quality, scale and
impact of change.
Most colleges offer more than 100
programs of study, including business, arts,
design, nursing, allied health professions,
community services, early childhood educa-
tion, engineering, IT, hospitality and much
more. As President of George Brown College,
one of Canada’s largest and most diverse
colleges, I can speak most defi nitively about
our programs. We have aligned them closely
with the social, cultural and economic sectors
of the City of Toronto. This helps ensure we
have strong linkages with the industries we
serve. In doing so, our programs are kept rel-
evant and our graduates are well prepared
for their future careers.
In fact, we cannot afford to overlook
the dominant role of the Ontario college
system, which currently educates the major-
ity (56%) of fi rst-year students enrolled
in post-secondary studies in our province.
Youth unemployment rates also tell the
story. Workers with diplomas or certifi cates
or trades-based education have a 6.9%
BERNARD LETTE
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WWW.LETTE.CA
Lette Whittaker LLP
20 Queen St. W.,Suite 3300Box 33, Toronto ON M5H 3R3Tel: +1 416.971.4848Fax: +1 [email protected]
Lette & Associéss.e.n.c.r.l.
630, Bd. René-lévesque Ouest#2800, Montréal QC H3B 1S6Tel: +1 514.871.3838Fax: +1 [email protected]
Lette Alérion
137, rue de l’université75007 ParisTel: +33 (1) 58.56.97.00Fax: +33 (1) [email protected]
Lette & Knorr
Tal 12D-80331 MünchenTel: +49 (0) 89.290.03.70Fax: +49 (0) [email protected]
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 5
unemployment rate compared to workers
with degrees at 9.2%. Until the recent eco-
nomic downturn, more than 90% of college
graduates who entered the labour force had
jobs within six months of graduation. This
has held at George Brown College at almost
85% even during the economic downturn.
In fact, employers, who are the ultimate
judge of our effectiveness, have told us that
they fully understand the essential role col-
leges play in providing them with skilled
labour. In a recent survey, 77% of GTA
employers said college graduates were
equally or better prepared for employment
than university graduates.
And university graduates themselves
realize the value of a college education.
15% of George Brown applicants come to us
with a degree and 25% with some previous
university background. It isn’t that their
university education was ineffective, but
rather that they are looking to complement
a theoretical education with practical learn-
ing and experience that will make them
more marketable to employers. I believe
it would be a mistake to approach a post-
secondary choice with a pre-set conception
that one type of institution is fundamentally
“better” than the other. They simply serve
different objectives for different career
paths and stages.
We recently graduated a student named
Maria Nassiokas. When Maria began her
Fashion Management program at George
Brown College, she was already equipped
with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from
McMaster University. But that wasn’t enough
to launch her career in the fashion industry.
It wasn’t long after completing her two-year
program at George Brown College that Maria
began to excel in her industry of choice.
Learning everything from manufacturing
processes and supply chains to merchandis-
ing, marketing and apparel costs, Maria
gained the knowledge she needed to hit the
ground running. She coupled her classroom
education with practical learning through
the campus fashion store, which she helped
to conceptualize, develop and run. It was
this “Work Integrated Learning” experience
that gave her the advantage.
Shortly after graduation, Maria found
full-time work with a fashion wholesaler
with whom she continued to maintain a
strong relationship after opening up her own
LUX Butik in her native Sarnia, Ontario. She
uses her social media prowess to market her
brand through e-commerce, a fashion blog,
quizzes and a personal shopping service.
Maria credits George Brown College with
getting her where she is today because of
the knowledge she learned, the connections
she made and the confi dence she gained.
So for students it’s about choosing the
best type of post-secondary education to suit
a chosen career path. Rather than viewing a
choice between two tiers of learning, pro-
spective students need to view our system
as two streamed. A post-secondary system
should be just that — a system — that allows
movement between different parts. Many
provinces in Canada are doing this very
effectively. Ontario has now established a
credit transfer and credential recognition
framework that will offer students better
information and seamless pathways from
one course of study to another. There is no
terminal credential anymore, and our gov-
ernment policies are beginning to work to
ensure this is formally addressed. A system
should also be able to serve all learners,
and this is where the college system also
shines.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
OF ONTARIO
The Swiss Canadian Scholarship
Fund of Ontario is pleased to offer
yearly scholarships. It is open to
members of the SCCC and the
Swiss Community in Ontario.
To fi nd out more about the
availability and eligibility criteria,
please visit the Ontario Chamber’s
website at:
www.swissbiz.ca/scholarship
IN FO SU I SS E6
Take the example of Sheida Richardson.
Sheida emerged from high school without
any specifi c academic or career goals in
mind, and chose to take some time to
consider her options before diving into a
post-secondary program. It didn’t take long
before she grew restless and began explor-
ing program options that would expose
her to a breadth of subjects and guide her
toward a career she wanted. That’s when
she found the General Arts and Sciences
two-year diploma program at George Brown
College; a curriculum that exposes students
to subjects within the arts and humanities,
social sciences, and science and technology.
Through this program, Sheida fell in love
with political science and grew fascinated
the degree of infl uence that politics has
in the world. In addition, she took courses
in research, writing, critical thinking and
oral communication, the last of which was
particularly helpful for the usually reserved
student. These classes and the skills she
learned in them helped her gain confi dence
in herself and choose the career path that
was right for her.
After making the dean’s list for two con-
secutive years, Sheida went on to pursue a
degree in political science and criminology
at the University of Toronto where she is
currently enrolled, and where she intends to
pursue law school.
Stories like those of Maria and Sheida
refl ect the growing diversity of students
attending college today and the value that
colleges bring to employers. That diversity
is a key aspect of the post-secondary experi-
ence. Today a minority of college students
are young and energetic high school gradu-
ates. In many cases they are mature learners
who have already acquired a post-secondary
education overseas but need to refresh their
credential or experienced professionals
who have chosen to pursue a new career
path. Consider the number of individuals
in Ontario’s manufacturing sector that had
built life-long careers and were suddenly
forced to re-train for a completely different
vocation? These were not high school gradu-
ates; they were adults with years of work
experience and, in some cases, in the late
stages of their careers. These learners, with
varied backgrounds, will become increas-
ingly more common in the post-secondary
system as human resources data suggests
the next generation of workers will change
professions fi ve times within the span of
their careers.
Colleges provide these learners with a
more direct route to securing the new type
of employment they seek. Whether through
defi ned certifi cation programs, adult educa-
tion courses, distance learning or full-time
programs, colleges offer these learners the
opportunity to garner valuable knowledge,
soft skills and experience in a timeframe of
three years or less so that they can begin the
process of reintegrated themselves into the
Educat ion
MIRABAUD Canada Inc. - Olivier Rodriguez / MIRABAUD Gestion Inc. - Yves Erard1501, avenue McGill College - Bureau 2220 - Montréal (Québec) H3A 3M8 - T +1 514 393-1690 - F +1 514 875-8942MIRABAUD Canada Inc. est membre de l’Organisme canadien de réglementation du commerce des valeurs mobilières inc. et du Fonds canadien de protection des épargnants.
MIRABAUD ÉLARGIT SON HORIZON, AUTANT POUR LA GESTION PRIVÉE QUE L’ASSET MANAGEMENT ET L’INTERMÉDIATION.S’ENGAGER AUTREMENT POUR ALLER PLUS LOIN.
www.mirabaud.com
TANT D’HORIZONS À EXPLOR R
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 7
Canadian workforce — a net benefi t to the
economy and society as a whole.
When considering post-secondary
options, it’s important to remember that
today’s employers are looking for far more
than industry credentials alone. They are
looking for workers a workforce that is
productive, knowledgeable and have the
ability to communicate in complex and
ever-changing environments.
Far from serving strictly as academic
institutions, colleges help budding profes-
sionals build confi dence, professionalism
and the soft skills so important to today’s
employers. But they also hold the key to
fi lling gaps in Ontario’s labour markets and
ensure that our economy can remain nation-
ally and internationally competitive for
generations to come. ■
FEDERALIST GOVERNANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION: COMPARING THE APPROACHES OF SWITZERLAND AND CANADABy Sébastien Hug, Scientifi c collaborator,
Embassy of Switzerland
The Swiss and Canadian higher education
systems share a number of features: world-
class public universities combining research
and teaching, a commitment to ensuring
affordability of university education, a
bi- or multilingual setting and, not least, a
decentralized higher education landscape
characterized by federalist state structures.
In the mid-19th century, Swiss cantons and
Canadian provinces respectively, were given
jurisdiction over education, which was then
seen as a matter closely linked with local
culture and language. A hundred-and-fi fty
years later, a highly-skilled workforce and
cutting-edge research have become the key
ingredients for sustainable economic growth
and for international competitiveness.
Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that
in a number of federalist countries, the roles
and responsibilities between the central and
the local governments are being renegoti-
ated. This is certainly true for Switzerland
and Canada, even if each country has taken
a slightly different approach.
In Switzerland, the constitution of 1848
makes cantons responsible for basic and
higher education institutions while the
Confederation has jurisdiction over research,
vocational training and the Swiss Federal
Institutes of Technology. At the beginning
of the new millennium, a broad political
and public debate arose with regards to the
effi ciency of this two-pronged system. The
main political and economic players agreed
in principle that, given the lack of natural
IN FO SU I SS E8
Educat ion
resources, the competitive advantage of the
Swiss economy depended heavily on the
performance of the education system. After
lengthy parliamentary discussions, the Swiss
people in 2006 accepted in a referendum –
with an overwhelming 85% majority – the
proposed amendment of the constitution
now requiring both levels of government to
formally coordinate and collaborate in the
fi eld of higher education. These develop-
ments must also be seen against the back-
drop of a rapidly changing European context
at the time. In 2000, the European Union
had declared that its goal was to become
the most competitive, knowledge-based
economy in the world. At the same time,
the Bologna reform fundamentally restruc-
tured the European higher education land-
scape, including Switzerland’s, by promoting
international mobility of students and
researchers. The new Federal Law Regarding
the Advancement of Universities and the
Coordination of Swiss Higher Education,
which is currently being debated in parlia-
ment, seeks to make the joint governance
of the Swiss university system arising from
both levels of government more effi cient:
First, the Swiss University Conference (SUC),
which is composed of representatives from
all cantons and chaired by the competent
member of the Federal Council, becomes
the primary and general coordinating body.
The Federal Council thus receives consider-
able infl uence with regard to setting the
framework conditions for intergovernmental
coordination and the overall direction of
the Swiss higher education policymaking
process. The Rectors’ Conference of Swiss
Universities, CRUS, will assist the SUC in pre-
paring the agenda and implementing deci-
sions in its member universities. Second, the
Swiss Center for Accreditation and Quality
Assurance in Higher Education (OAQ) will
ensure and promote excellence in teaching
and research at Swiss academic institutions.
Third, the Confederation will continue to
support universities through the following
three channels: a) core funding for teach-
ing based on the number of students and
providing research funding mainly through
the Swiss National Foundation; b) funding
for specifi c infrastructure projects; and c)
funding for research projects of strategic and
national importance, such as nanotechnol-
ogy and systems biology. Finally, though
not part of this reform package, it is worth
mentioning that at the end of June of 2011,
the Federal Council decided to merge the
State Secretary for Education and Research
(SER) with the Federal Offi ce for Professional
Education and Technology (OPET) into one
single department of education within the
Federal Department of Economic Affairs.
By comparison, in Canada, there are no
federal departments responsible for (higher)
education. Instead, the provinces coordinate
their education policies in areas of mutual
interest through the Council of Ministers of
Education Canada, CMEC. While the Council
is only composed of members from the
provinces, the federal government does
play a key role in the Canadian university
landscape. It supports universities through
transfer payments to the provinces, by
providing fi nancial assistance to students,
and by funding university research. A
fundamental shift in federal support for
Canadian university research has taken hold
since 1997 as a result of what was then
considered an increasingly serious migra-
tion of Canadian researchers and students
to the United States, the so-called brain
drain. Through programs such as the Canada
Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canada
Research Chairs (CRC) and the Networks of
Excellence, the Canadian government made
unprecedented investments to support
Canada’s knowledge base, having more
than tripled its spending on research and
development (R&D) for universities in the
last decade. Moreover, in the last two years,
$2 billion Canadian were channelled into
infrastructure renewal; also new scholar-
ship programs were established to attract
international students. There have also
been calls by some stakeholders to adopt a
more harmonized approach to higher edu-
cation. For example, the current Governor
General, David Johnston, an accomplished
academic and former university president,
before assuming his present position, called
for a federal “Smart Nation Act”, arguing
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 9
that Canadians must address not only their
physical health (referring to the Canada
Health Act), but also their intellectual
health. Yet, the adoption of a national
higher education act appears unlikely at the
present time, regardless of the government
in power. The current approach by Prime
Minister Harper favours education transfers
to the provinces with no strings attached. As
a result, they can invest the funds as they
see fi t. At the same time, the federal gov-
ernment is expected to continue to increase
investments in research, infrastructure,
international education and, increasingly,
aboriginal education, with a particular focus
on strengthening partnerships between
universities and industry.
Clearly, both countries have adopted
different approaches with regard to the
role that the various levels of government
should play in the higher education system
in order to respond to the challenges of
the knowledge economy. These different
approaches refl ect the distinct features of
each federalist system and its particular
geographic context. As a small state faced
with the effects of European integration,
it was almost inevitable that Switzerland
would enhance the coherence of its higher
education system, given the importance of
education for economic competitiveness. At
the same time, such an approach conforms
with a political system that stresses compro-
mise and intergovernmental cooperation.
In a large country such as Canada, a more
decentralized approach to education is
favoured as it is considered to best respond
to provincial needs. However, bordering the
United States with its excellent research uni-
versities, the federal government realized
the importance of a pan-Canadian vision
and showed leadership by boosting the
research capacity of Canadian universities
and supporting them in attracting the best
researchers and students. In the end, both
countries are confronted with similar chal-
lenges as they face a fast moving global
knowledge economy. It therefore appears
that, now more than ever, both Switzerland
and Canada stand to gain from continued
and enhanced cooperation in the fi eld of
higher education and sciences. ■
L’ÉDUCATION AU QUÉBECBy J-S. Grisé
Nous avons choisi dans ce numéro, de parler
de l’éducation. C’est un domaine important
qui varie énormément selon que l’on soit
dans une province ou dans une autre. En
effet, la Constitution canadienne a confi é
aux provinces la gestion de l’éducation.
Les lignes qui suivent vous feront un
bref portrait de l’éducation au Québec.
L’information que nous avons voulu vous
donner est neutre et est basée sur des
documents offi ciels. Elle fait ressortir les
particularités du système d’éducation dans
notre province.
UN VASTE TERRITOIREPrès de 7,5 millions de personnes vivent au
Québec, vaste péninsule continentale dont
la superfi cie (1,7 million de km2) équivaut à
trois fois celle de la France ou cinq fois celle
du Japon. Recouvert en grande partie par la
forêt boréale, parsemé de milliers de lacs et
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IN FO SU I SS E10
Educat ion
de rivières, le Québec est traversé d’ouest
en est par le fl euve Saint-Laurent, l’une des
plus grandes voies navigables au monde et
le principal axe fl uvial du continent nord-
américain. Environ 80 p.100 de la population
québécoise vit le long de la vallée du Saint-
Laurent. C’est là que se trouvent Montréal,
la métropole, dont l’agglomération regroupe
près de la moitié de la population du Québec,
et la ville de Québec, capitale nationale, qui,
avec sa banlieue, compte environ 700 000
habitants.
LES GENS DU QUÉBECD’abord occupé par une population autoch-
tone, le Québec a successivement accueilli
des arrivants de France, des îles Britanniques,
puis d’un nombre toujours croissant de pays.
Il reçoit plus de 38 000 nouveaux arrivants
par année. Ces immigrants, originaires de
plus de 150 pays, se trouvent principalement
dans la région de Montréal. Ils y forment 18,4
p. 100 de la population, par comparaison à
9,9 p. 100 dans l’ensemble du Québec.
Le français est la langue offi cielle du
Québec. Pour 83,1 p.100 de la population, le
français est la langue le plus souvent parlée
à la maison, tandis que 10,5 p. 100 parle
l’anglais et 6,5 p. 100, une autre langue.
Le taux de bilinguisme français anglais se
situe à 40,8 p. 100. Les nations autochtones
reçoivent pour la plupart des services édu-
catifs dans leur langue.
UNE COMPÉTENCE EXCLUSIVE DU QUÉBECLe Québec est l’un des treize membres de la
fédération canadienne, une monarchie con-
stitutionnelle de type britannique. En vertu
de la Constitution canadienne de 1867, le
Québec, comme les autres provinces et les
territoires, a le pouvoir exclusif d’adopter des
lois en matière d’éducation.
Il n’y a pas de ministère fédéral de
l’Éducation, mais uniquement des ministères
provinciaux et territoriaux. Au Québec, c’est
le ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du
Sport qui est l’instance gouvernementale
chargée de favoriser l’accès à l’éducation
sous toutes ses formes à quiconque a la
volonté et la capacité de s’instruire. Il veille
aussi à harmoniser les orientations et les
activités des milieux de l’éducation avec
l’ensemble des politiques gouvernementales
et en fonction des besoins économiques,
sociaux et culturels de la société québécoise.
Le système d’éducation du Québec repose
sur un partage de responsabilités entre le
gouvernement, les universités, les collèges,
les commissions scolaires et les écoles.
Au Québec, la plupart des établissements
dispensent l’enseignement en français.
Conformément à la Charte de la langue fran-
çaise, l’enseignement se donne en français
dans les classes maternelles et dans les
écoles primaires et secondaires. Cependant,
des élèves peuvent être admis à l’école
anglophone s’ils remplissent les exigences
prescrites par la Charte. Ces élèves comptent
pour environ 11,2 p. 100 de l’effectif des
écoles primaires et secondaires du Québec.
Les étudiants et étudiantes du collégial et de
l’université peuvent, quant à eux, choisir de
fréquenter un établissement francophone
ou anglophone.
L’ÉDUCATION PRÉSCOLAIRE ET L’ENSEIGNEMENT PRIMAIREL’enseignement primaire se concentre sur les
matières de base de la formation générale
et favorise le développement global de
l’enfant. Il vise le développement progres-
sif de son autonomie et prépare l’entrée
au secondaire. Les écoles primaires et les
écoles secondaires publiques sont placées
sous l’autorité des commissions scolaires,
R e stau ra nt, bar
et douces fo li e s
4 2 6 , RUE SA I NT - G A B R I E L
T 5 1 4 . 8 7 8 . 3 5 6 1M O N TRE A L Q C
A U B E RG E S A I N T- G ABR I E L . C O M
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 11
organismes dirigés par un conseil de com-
missaires élus au suffrage universel.
L’ENSEIGNEMENT SECONDAIRELe secondaire offre une formation générale
de cinq an. Le premier cycle, qui est d’une
durée de trois ans, permet aux élèves de
consolider la formation reçue au primaire et
de commencer à s’orienter sur le plan profes-
sionnel. À partir de la troisième secondaire,
la formation générale s’enrichit de mat-
ières à option, grâce auxquelles les élèves
explorent différentes disciplines (sciences,
arts, etc.). Au terme des cinq années du sec-
ondaire, les élèves obtiennent un diplôme
d’études secondaires (DES) Le deuxième
cycle du secondaire offre également des
programmes de formation professionnelle
qui conduisent à l’exercice d’un métier.
Certains de ces programmes commencent
dès la troisième secondaire. Plus de 170
programmes de formation professionnelle,
répartis dans 21 secteurs de formation, per-
mettent aux jeunes et aux adultes d’obtenir
un diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP)
suivi éventuellement d’une attestation de
spécialisation professionnelle (ASP). Après
la troisième secondaire, il est également
possible d’entreprendre un programme
de formation menant à une attestation de
formation professionnelle (AFP) habilitant à
exercer un métier semi-spécialisé.
L’ENSEIGNEMENT COLLÉGIALL’une des particularités du système
d’éducation du Québec est le collégial, un
ordre d’enseignement qui se situe entre
l’éducation obligatoire, constituée du
primaire et du secondaire, et les études
universitaires.
Le Québec compte une cinquantaine de
collèges d’enseignement général et profes-
sionnel (ou cégeps), qui sont des établisse-
ments publics. Il compte également vingt et
un établissements d’enseignement collégial
privés et subventionnés qui, comme les
cégeps, dispensent des programmes de
formation pré-universitaire de deux ans et
des programmes de formation technique
de trois ans, conduisant à l’obtention d’un
diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC). Depuis
quelques années, le Québec doit faire face
à une demande accrue dans de nombreux
métiers, en particulier les métiers spéciali-
sés. C’est pourquoi il accorde une importance
particulière à la formation professionnelle et
technique. L’élaboration des programmes
se fait en collaboration avec le monde du
travail, afi n d’assurer la pertinence de la for-
mation offerte et d’adapter les programmes
aux nouveaux besoins.
(Source : MELS, Ministère de l’Éducation du
Loisir et des Sports) ■
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IN FO SU I SS E12
Member Prof i le
THE I LOVE TO TRAVEL GROUPSuzanne Schurmann
The I Love to Travel
Group has evolved
over the past
20+ years into a
company that sells
travel to those
who are looking for true and unique travel
experiences. We are always looking for new
experts to network and share expertise.
The need in today’s travel world for this
expertise is growing. Suzanne has travelled
most of her life to numerous countries and
continents, experiencing life in Iceland and
living in Brazil backtrekking for 6 month
through South and Central America, sailing
in Belize, this year in the Panama San Blas
Islands and elephant trekking in Northern
Thailand, just to name a few experiences.
One of her favorite “lifeisms” is stay in a 5*
hotel at least once in your life and stay in a
native mud hut as well to know how lucky
you really are.
We believe our clients take travel to
heart and we share in your appreciation
for travel by passing along our personal
insider knowledge. Our services go beyond
those of a typical travel agency because of
our experience and expertise. In addition,
we bring you specifi c advantages, we are
Travel Consultants NOT Travel Agents. We
are well travelled specialists. We use all
current research and only work with the best
source suppliers we can fi nd. They too are
regional specialists and live in the regions
they represent.
In the current on line travel environment,
the travel consumer is bombarded by misin-
formation and outright lies on a daily basis.
Bait-and-switch “from $499” ads are the
rule – not the exception. Price transparency
is ignored by some source suppliers.
Yet all current research tells us that
consumers are looking for the “real deal”,
transparent pricing. The price quoted is the
price you pay, with no made-up hidden fees
and surcharges. A half-inch is defi ned as
“extra legroom” and a moldy hot tub may
be a “luxurious spa”. Google virtually any
travel-related topic, from hotel properties
to destinations and you are smothered in a
sea of tens of thousands, perhaps millions of
ads disguised as information. No one seems
willing to help. Everyone wants your credit
card number. There is a growing movement
within the retail travel industry where some
travel professionals are fi ghting back.
Do we have an exclusive on the “truth”
about travel? Of course not. But we do have
the ability to tell-it-like-it-is based on our
unique experiences as travel writers, travel
consultants, and travel suppliers. And, we
speak from a position of strength with our
loyal cadre of discriminating clients nation-
wide who keep coming back and referring
new clients to us. Finally, we have no adver-
tisers, by design. We answer to no one. That
is why we are free to just tell you the truth
about travel and craft your perfect travel
experience each and every time. That is our
promise to you.
If you are planning a special trip to
mark a landmark time in your life, be it an
anniversary, birthday or just because the
destination is on your “bucket list”, give us
a call. We will turn your dream into reality,
whether it be a group, that special someone
or just yourself. Looking forward to hearing
from you.
Suzanne SchurmannRosedale offi ce920 Yonge street suite 607Toronto, Ontario M4W 3C7Tel: 416-968-2636Fax: 416-323-0185Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ilovetotravel.ca ■
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Für weitere Fragen stehe ich gerne zur Verfügung.
Helping youmake the Right
Moves
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 13
Business and Other News
Nouvel les economiques et information
THE BOTTOM LINE: US POTHOLEBy Dr. Sherry Cooper
Executive Vice President and Chief Economist, BMO Financial Group
As published on June 7, 2011
The abysmal jobs report in the U.S. crowns
a two-week period of shockingly weak data
for virtually every sector of the economy.
While the slowdown in manufacturing
might well be refl ective of the disruptions
emanating from the earthquake in Japan,
and the weakness in consumer spending
might be refl ective of the earlier rise in
food and energy prices, there is clearly
more going on than just these temporary
headwinds. Housing and jobs are crucial to
a sustainable rebound in confi dence and
growth. And both are on contingent upon
confi dence in the longer-term outlook.
Businesses, even with record earnings
and cash balances, will not increase payrolls
unless they feel assured of a sustainable
revenue fl ow in the future—a future mea-
sured in years, not months. Governments
are laying off workers, especially at the state
and local levels. The federal government is
clearly not going to pick up the slack when
austerity is the message of the day. The Fed
has run out of ammo with even members of
the FOMC questioning the validity of QE2, let
alone QE3, and banks will only hoard excess
reserves if the outlook for growth remains
troubled. Interest rates are at historical lows,
which has only increased the demand for
money (liquidity) rather than for spending.
This is the classical liquidity trap, where
further central bank easing is so-called
‘pushing on a string.’
Housing has always been a key transmis-
sion mechanism of monetary policy. Easy
credit availability meant lower interest rates
and lower interest rates meant increased
demand for long-lived, interest-sensitive
assets like houses and cars. That mecha-
nism is broken this cycle, reducing the
effi cacy of monetary stimulus and thereby
hampering a major former contributor to
job growth in an economic recovery. This
cycle, house prices have continued to fall,
now down 34% from their peak, because of
the large overhang of foreclosed homes and
distressed sellers and the pipeline of foreclo-
sures is still full. People have lost confi dence
in the prospects for housing. Potential buyers
are wary of acting on today’s even-much-
reduced prices. This defl ationary spiral in
housing causes qualifi ed buyers to postpone
purchases and many to reconsider whether
to purchase at all. Banks are lending only to
the most credit-worthy borrowers, as banks
are leery of housing prospects as well.
Housing activity has a huge spin-off effect
on the rest of the economy, creating jobs in a
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IN FO SU I SS E14
broad range of sectors. With the depression
in the construction and real estate sectors,
retail spending on appliances, carpets and
furniture has slowed as well and so jobs are
no longer available in all of these former
growth sectors. And the jobs associated with
the infrastructure spending are disappearing
as well. Fiscal stimulus is eroding and fi scal
restraint is in the cards, so animal spirits on
the part of businesses and households are
very much dampened. Without the ability to
sell their homes, households cannot move
to where jobs are available, signifi cantly
reducing labour mobility which was formerly
a signifi cant equilibrating factor in regional
economic disparity.
What will turn this around? Clearly, tra-
ditional monetary and fi scal stimulus is not
working—both because of the liquidity trap
and the political inability to prime the pump.
Whether we agree or not, the broad-based
cry for immediate defi cit reduction—coming
from the IMF, OECD, Moody’s, Standard and
Poor’s, Tea Partiers, Republicans and blue-
dog Democrats has made it all but impos-
sible to consider net fi scal stimulus.
The infl ation hawks have been silenced.
It is apparent that the rise in headline
infl ation coming from food and energy
prices has not led to widespread infl ation
pressure, but instead to slowing economic
activity. If this is the cyclical peak, the U.S. is
economy is far from healthy. This extremely
diffi cult period calls for cooperation, not just
bipartisan cooperation, but cooperation
between government and business as well.
Leadership is essential. The President along
with Congressional leadership, Geithner
and Bernanke need to meet with business
leaders to develop a private-public Back to
Work program that rivals the Depression-era
New Deal. This time, government cannot
do it alone, but government can provide
the pro-business environment to re-kindle
confi dence in the outlook for the future.
Dr. Sherry CooperExecutive Vice President and Chief Economist,BMO Financial [email protected]: (416) 359-4112Web: www.bmocm.com/economicsFax: (416) 359-4922Assistant: Trudy Verkaik,
[email protected] (416) 359-4650 ■
SEVEN HABITS FOR HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CASH FLOW MANAGEMENTBy: Paul Girolametto, Partner, Cunningham LLP
Cash is king when it comes to riding out
tough times and growing a company. Here
are seven ideas for improving your busi-
nesses cash fl ow:
Business and Other News
Nouvel les economiques et information
YOUR GLOBAL LOGISTICS NETWORK
Kuehne + Nagel Ltd. info.toronto@kuehne–nagel.com www.kuehne–nagel.com
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 15
1. Measure It
Prepare a cash fl ow projection at least on a
yearly basis using a simple spreadsheet. Be
sure to include anticipated capital purchases,
loan payments, seasonal swings, tax pay-
ments, etc. Then on a monthly basis update
it based on actual cash fl ows. This will help
you in decide on discretionary purchases
and identify issues before they become
problems.
2. Improve Receivables
Standardize this process with certain basics
– bill promptly, obtain up front deposits,
offer discounts for prompt payments, charge
interest on overdue accounts, credit check
new customers, have a systematic collection
process of letters and telephone calls; and
don’t send out new merchandise if old bills
remain unpaid!
3. Manage Payables
Don’t pay bills in advance of their due date,
unless you are getting a discount to do so.
Consider using business credit cards for
smaller purchases as you don’t generally
have to make a payment until a few weeks
after receiving the statement.
4. Inventory is Not Cash
Monitor inventory turnover. Analyze your
product lines and minimize ordering items
comprising less than 20% of your sales
volume. Develop a policy that addresses
how to sell or dispose of obsolete inventory.
5. Obtain Appropriate Financing
Arrange for a line of credit for possible
working capital requirements or shortfalls in
the future. Finance capital asset acquisitions
with long-term debt. It is generally easier to
borrow in advance of a cash crunch need.
6. Use Your Financial Statements
Learn what to look for when examining
your monthly fi nancial statements, includ-
ing supporting documents such as bank
reconciliations, accounts receivable and
payable listings, etc. Key ratios such as gross
margins, receivables and inventory turnover
should also be monitored.
7. Improve Effi ciency
Look at all aspects of operations to identify
waste. Consider input from employees, man-
agement and possible outside consultants to
assist in streamlining operations.
Cunningham LLP is an accounting fi rm focused
on serving mid-market entrepreneurial busi-
ness clients. For more information visit www.
cunninghamca.com or contact Paul at paul@
cunninghamca.com ■
KEEPING PIRATES AT BAY IN OVERSEAS MARKETSProtecting or enforcing intellectual property
(IP) rights in Canada isn’t a big issue for
most companies. But if you’re operating in
an emerging market, the job may become
more diffi cult. How do you decide what to
do? Or for that matter, whether you really
need to do it?
“That’s the fi rst question you have to
answer,” says Neil Milton, managing partner
of Miltons IP, an Ottawa fi rm specializing
in IP law. “It’s always advisable to think
about protecting your IP, but there may be
situations where it’s not actually advisable
to do it. It’s really a cost-benefi t issue: if
somebody in a particular emerging market
did appropriate your IP, how badly would it
hurt you? If you look closely at this issue, you
may fi nd that the potential damage may not
justify the resources you’d need to protect
your IP in that market. ”
If you do decide that operating in an
emerging market will require IP protec-
tion, fi nd out what’s involved. Canadian
patents don’t protect you outside Canada,
so you must apply for a patent in each of
your target markets. You must also do this
within a set period after making the original
application here in Canada. If you miss the
application deadline in your foreign market,
Continued on page 19
IN FO SU I SS E16
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AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 17
THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELFI am talking about meditation. It will start
you on a fascinating journey into your own
personality and will give you the strength to
be positive in today’s complex world.
Meditation is easy to learn. It assists us
in solving our daily problems and enables
us to know ourselves better so that we will
become our own best friend.
The simple practice of meditation is
amazingly benefi cial. I have experienced
this time and time again. Sometimes medi-
tating simply slows me down and lowers
my emotional blood pressure. Other times
it helps me deal with a diffi cult situation
and gives me answers that I wouldn’t have
found otherwise.
Meditation helps us to change our
thoughts from being negative to positive. By
creating the time to listen to our personality
we will become free of negativity and that
alone is a huge improvement.
Interested in learning more about medi-
tation? You can do so on my website www.
brunogideon.com/meditation. You should
also do a Google search about “Meditation”
that will bring up an incredible 120 million
results (!) which shows how popular the
topic is today.
Many people shy away from meditation
because they think it is diffi cult to learn but
that is not the case. There is no learning
curve at all and you discover it as you go.
Is something going wrong in your life?
Are you having problems? Are you fi xed in a
circle of negativity? Give meditation a try. It
is a great problem solver!
I have written a short beginner’s guide for
Chakra Meditation, the kind of mediation that
I do. It is well structured and leaves room for
free meditation. If you are interested, just send
me an email at [email protected] and
I will forward it to you. It is free of course, just
like Bruno’s One Minute eMail. ■
Bruno’s T ip
The Best Gi f t You Can Give Yoursel f
Some people think that meditation takes time away from us.
But meditation creates more time than it takes.– Peter McWilliams
The forces of nature can strike at any time. Let’s discuss how to plug our defenses.As the Earth’s climate is changing, so are the frequency and intensity of floods and storms. What’s the answer: retreat from the most hazardous locations? Protect vulnerable areas with sea walls, drainage systems and better building codes? Or take measures to transfer the financial risk and rebuild? All we know at Swiss Re is that, as our climate changes, we must adapt apace. Which is why we’re helping countries and communities develop strategies to protect themselves against the forces of nature. Risk is the raw material we work with; what we create for our clients is opportunity.
Plug into www.swissre.com
IN FO SU I SS E18
REMINDERS FOR EXCELLING Excerpted from “Zone of Excellence” by Terry Orlick(www.zoneofexcellence.com)
provided by Karin Lindner ofKarico Performance Solutions
• Only Positive Thoughts — Only positive
thoughts help you to do the things you
really want to do. So talk to yourself
only in ways that will help you to live
and perform to your true capacity.
• Only Positive Images — Only positive
images of the things you want to
accomplish help you to accomplish
them. So imagine yourself doing the
things you want to do, exactly the way
you would like to do them - with full
focus, precision and total confi dence.
• Always Lessons — In practice and
performance situations there are always
lessons. Look for the good things you
have done, draw out the positive
lessons and act on those lessons. This
will ensure you to continue to grow and
excel.
• Always I Can — There is no advantage
in approaching performance or life
situations thinking, “I can’t” or “maybe
I’ll mess up”. Approach situations only
thinking “I can”. Act like you can, even if
you are not really sure you can. This will
give you your best chance of achieving
your goals and dreams.
• Always Opportunities — There are
opportunities in everything to learn, to
grow, to fi nd something good, to know
yourself better, to overcome challenges,
to become stronger, wiser, more bal-
anced, or more consistent. So look for
the opportunities in everything.
• Always Focused — Only when you are
fully focused on connecting with each
experience and each performance, can
you perform to your true potential. So
stay focused on the little things that
free you to perform your best. This will
give you your best chance of living and
performing to your ultimate capacity.
Step-By-Step – Great things are accom-
plished by taking tiny little steps forward
each day. There is only the step in front of
you. Nothing else matters. You are always
fully capable of taking that one little step.
Take that step, and then the next, and
the next. This is the path to your desired
destination.
Karin is a Human Performance Specialist with
KARICO Performance Solutions located in
Richmond Hill, Ontario. She is the founder and
owner and her mission is to “help organizations
and individuals in manufacturing environments
to become the best they can be by positively
impacting their ROI (Relationships, Outcomes
and Improvements)”. Karin can be reached at
1-647-401-5274 or by e-mail at
[email protected]; you may also visit
her website at www.karicosolutions.com ■
Kar in’s Performance Solut ionsReminders for Excel l ing
UNE BONNE MEMOIRE EVITE LES MAUVAISES SURPRISES.Pensons long terme.En deux siècles de pratique de la nance, nous avons traversé et surmonté le choc pétrolier de 1974, la crise de 1929, et la panique de 1847. Durant chaque crise, nous avons respecté les mêmes principes simples : la création de valeur sur le long terme et la protection de nos clients.
Nos 200 prochaines années
Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch Gestion (Canada) Inc. Commandité, pour Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch (Canada), Société en commandite 1000, rue Sherbrooke Ouest Bureau 2200 · Montréal (Québec) H3A 3R7 - Téléphone 1 514 847 7748
w w w. l o m b a r d o d i e r . c o m
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 19
your application will be refused and your
product will be unprotected if you take it
there. Each patent application will also cost
you a signifi cant sum, so try to limit yourself
to the most promising markets.
Copyrights are less rigid, since copyright
automatically exists when a work is created.
Theoretically, this legal protection extends
throughout the world, but practically speak-
ing, you should register copyright in any
market you enter. Registering a copyright
in Mexico, for example, protects it under
Mexican IP law as well as international
law, which can strengthen your position if a
Mexican party violates your rights.
On the trademark side, it’s important to
research an emerging market to see if your
mark can be used and protected there. “You
don’t want to show up in India,” says Milton,
“and discover that you’re infringing on
someone else’s trademark. But if nobody has
registered it, be sure to register it yourself.
It’s vitally important to do this in emerging
markets, where theft of unprotected trade-
marks by local distributors can be an issue.”
Distributor theft can be a special problem
with Internet domain names, adds Milton.
“Suppose your company sells its product
into Brazil through a distributor, and your
company domain is thiscompany.ca. Without
your knowledge, your distributor then reg-
isters the Brazilian version as thiscompany.
br. This may be fi ne as long as you’re on
good terms, but if you part ways, they may
claim that they own the domain name and
the mark as well. To protect yourself, you
must register not just the mark but also the
localized domain name when you enter the
market. Your license agreements must also
make it clear that while a distributor may be
using the localized domain name and your
trademark, these belong only to you.”
If you discover that someone is using your
IP and/or counterfeiting your products. “It’s
almost always best to avoid the courts in an
emerging market,” says Milton. “In many
of these countries, the judicial systems and
laws are inconsistent and opaque. Others,
such as India, have an excellent rule of law
but litigation is slow. Not all are like that;
Singapore, for example, has a very effective
and effi cient legal system. But generally
speaking, litigation in these places is expen-
sive and complicated, and even if you get a
judgment against the other party, you may
not be able to collect on it.”
In some cases, walking away from the
problem may be the only viable solution.
“Of course,” says Milton, “if your IP has high
value and is stolen by a large competitor in
a major emerging market, that’s a big issue.
But if it’s stolen by a little guy, consider
whether he’s really going to do you out of
enough sales to justify litigation and all its
pitfalls. Again, think in cost-benefi t terms.
Often he becomes just a small, under-cap-
italized competitor without the resources to
maintain your product, and your customers
will keep coming back to you.”
Business and Other News
Nouvel les economiques et information
Continued from page 15
IN FO SU I SS E20
Business and Other News
Nouvel les economiques et information
That said, it’s always advisable to obtain
professional legal advice about your IP and
how best to protect it, especially when you’re
entering an emerging market. If protection
is unnecessary, you’ve saved yourself time
and money. But if you need it, you may fi nd
that the investment will pay for itself many
times over.
For more information about IP in foreign
markets, you can refer to the Canadian
Intellectual Property Offi ce at (http://
www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/) and its “IP beyond our
borders” page.
Published in CANADEXPORT May 2011 by Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Canada ■
CAN I HAVE EXISTING EMPLOYEES SIGN WRITTEN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS?
By Crawford Chondon & Partners LLP,Management, Labour and Employment LawyersBrampton, Ontario
Question: Can I have existing employees
sign written employment agreements?
Yes, you can have existing employees sign
new employment agreements. However,
where such new agreements bring about
changes to signifi cant terms or conditions of
employment (such as reductions in wages,
notice of termination periods or vacation
entitlements) you run the risk of facing
a lawsuit for “constructive dismissal” – a
type of wrongful dismissal – if you don’t do
it properly.
To properly introduce new terms and
conditions in a new employment agree-
ment for current employees, the employer
must provide “consideration”. This means
the employee must receive something of
value in return for his promise to abide and
be bound by the new terms of the employ-
ment contract. A bonus or promotion can
constitute effective consideration. In any
case, the employee must be agreeable to
the contractual changes being proposed.
Where additional compensation or a
promotion is impractical or undesirable, it
may be an option to lawfully terminate the
existing employment relationship by provid-
ing the employee with his or her lawful
entitlement to notice of termination, while
offering new terms of employment that will
take effect after the prior contract has been
terminated. With this option, employers
must be prepared to lose the employee if he
or she is not agreeable to the new terms of
employment.
What is clear from the law is that simply
providing notice of the new terms of con-
tract, without an employee’s express and
valid consent or agreement, is not a lawful
way of implementing written contracts of
employment for existing employees. This
is the case even if the amount of notice
provided in respect of the new contract is
equivalent to the amount of notice that the
employer is required to give in order to ter-
minate the employment relationship.
Transitioning employees on oral indefi nite
contracts of employment to written contracts
of employment can be a worthwhile and
value added business exercise. However,
caution must be exercised in order to avoid
liability and having trusted counsel in your
corner experienced in employment law is
always advisable.
While no two employers are alike, there
are common workplace issues that arise
for which Crawford Chondon & Partners LLP
provide strategic legal advice. CCP has com-
piled a list of “Top Ten Questions” asked by
employers and the answers to those ques-
tions will be featured over the next several
months in info suisse.
For more information on above or any other
topics, visit their website at
www.ccpartners.ca or contact Dave by e-mail
at [email protected] ■
SWITZERLAND: THE LARGEST FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTOR IN THE US IN 2010 AT >$42 BILLIONBy Location Switzerland
According to the recently released annual
U.S. Department of Commerce report
“Foreign Direct Investment in the United
States,” Switzerland was the largest single
investor in the United States in 2010 at more
than $42 billion, reports Mario Brossi, North
American Senior Advisor to Switzerland Trade
and Investment Promotion. The alpine nation
headed the list of 8 countries that together
represented 84% of total investment that
year. Others in descending order were the
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AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 21
U.K., Japan, France, Germany, Luxembourg,
Netherlands and Canada.
On a historical stock basis, namely the
investments made by countries sequentially
over time, Switzerland ranks in 6th place,
with a cumulative total of $192 billion.
“Conversely, United States companies
are by far the single largest investors in
Switzerland, signifi cantly outpacing invest-
ments from neighboring Germany, France or
other European neighboring countries,” Mr.
Brossi commented. “Overall Switzerland is
the 7th largest recipient for US FDI globally,
amounting to $148.2 billion. More than 800
North American companies are operating
in Switzerland with a combined payroll
of 72,500.”
According to Mr. Brossi, since the begin-
ning of 2011 at least 24 projects from North
America have landed in Switzerland gener-
ating an estimated $625 million in invest-
ment and leading to about 1,737 new jobs.
“Leading location determinants, aside from
the growth potential of the market itself, are
currently the proximity to other markets/
customers, the availability of a skilled work-
force, overall business climate and the pres-
ence/absence of industry clusters,” he said.
Switzerland continues to compete well in
these economic development criteria. The
country continuously works on improving
overall framework conditions to make it
even more attractive to foreign investors and
foreign investment as recent projects from
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Toshiba and Newell
Rubbermaid, among others, make plain. ■
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Quote of the Month
It is the mark of an educated mind
to be able to entertain a thought
without accepting it.
Aristotle
IN FO SU I SS E22
Travel News
SUCCESS STORY FOR AIR ZERMATT CONTINUESBy Zermatt Tourism
The story of the two Zermatt mountain rescu-
ers, Daniel Aufdenblatten and Richi Lehner,
continues. In the USA in March 2011, they
received the Heroism Award for their moun-
tain rescue of two alpinists on Annapurna.
In the meantime, they have given countless
interviews and been omnipresent in the
Swiss media. And they are still much in
demand as interview partners.
“We’re not heroes, we just did our job,”
says helicopter pilot Daniel Aufdenblatten.
He has no doubt repeated this statement
100 times, either into a radio microphone
or in front of fi lm camera. Richi Lehner,
mountain guide specializing in mountain
rescue adds: “Thanks to being well prepared,
everything went like clockwork at the time.”
Also repeated 100 times.
At the beginning of March 2011, the
pair from Zermatt received the award for
the highest-altitude rescue ever, performed
in 2010 in the Himalayas at almost 7000
metres. With their Heroism Award, the
“Aviation Oscar”, they have not only become
ambassadors for Air Zermatt and Zermatt
mountain rescue, but also for the entire
Zermatt – Matterhorn tourist destination.
Because the world needs heroes, they epito-
mize competence and safety. Values often
sought but seldom found. The two mountain
rescuers are a symbol of Air Zermatt’s 40
years of experience, for the know-how of
the Alpine Rescue Centre and all Zermatt
mountain guides. The two heroes are well
aware of their role and so remain modest.
At the award ceremony Dani Aufdenblatten
said: “We accept this award on behalf of all
the mountain rescuers in the world.”
Their success was reported in the media
in Switzerland, Nepal, the USA and Spain, as
well as in mountaineering and aviation mag-
azines and Internet portals on mountains.
And it goes on: more TV appearances
are to follow and the pair has also received
an invitation to the Swiss Economic Forum.
In July, Swiss Radio will present several
programmes in the series “Chruz & Quer”
on the topic of “Safety and rescue in the
mountains”, including live sequences from
the Air Zermatt helicopter base.
Rescues with a long-line have been developed and perfected by Air Zermatt specialists in the course of
40 years’ experience. ■
DISCOVER AFFORDABLE SWITZERLANDBy Switzerland Tourism
Concerned about the cost of traveling to and
around Switzerland? Consider skipping the
fantastic nature, the clear water, the great
public transportation and Swiss Hospitality?
NO NEED! There is food, fun and accom-
modation for every budget! With our three
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 23
great travel tips we want to show you how
you can have a great time – and still have
coins left to bring some chocolate to your
loved ones waiting at home. Good to know:
Switzerland has one of the lowest VAT in
Europe, tips and taxes are included in the
price, and so is breakfast in most of the
hotels when booking a night. And remember
the very best thing about Switzerland: The
scenic beauty of mountains and meadows,
lakes and landmarks you get for free!
TIP NO. 1: SAVE ON SLEEPINGUncomplicated, inexpensive and multicul-
tural: Switzerland’s 58 youth hostels are
more than just a bed for the night. Clean and
simple, Swiss Youth Hostels are not only for
the young but open to everyone! They are
geared towards guests who are uncompli-
cated, seek variety and enjoy meeting trav-
elers from all over the world. Family rooms,
delicious catering and a variety of fun activi-
ties in and around the youth hostels make
for a terrifi c atmosphere. Youth Hostels in
Switzerland
TIP NO. 2: SAVE ON DRINKSMany people think this is an urban legend,
but it is actually true: you can drink the
water from all the fountains you fi nd in
Switzerland (non-drinkable water is clearly
marked as such). Being on your feet and
discovering a Swiss city can make thirsty,
so rest assured you always have your water
bottle with you for a refi ll. Close your eyes,
think of a sparkling, pure mountain spring
and enjoy the fresh taste of a cup of Swiss
Water - right in the heart of the city!
TIP NO. 3: SAVE ON GETTING AROUNDSaving money on your discovery trip? We
present to you: the Swiss Pass! Switzerland
boasts an excellent public transport system
and the Swiss Pass entitles you to free travel
throughout the entire country - be it by train,
bus or boat. Kids up to 16 go for free - a great
family offer. But that’s not all: you enjoy free
admission to more than 400 museums and
several hotel chains will extend generous
discounts to you. Now, if that isn’t the most
affordable way to get around! Get your
Swiss Pass. ■
COM
Swiss quality neatly packaged in an airline.–
The Swiss are known for their high quality standards and precision. Onboard, you’ll nd these traits blend well with our natural friendliness and discretion to ensure your ight is time well spent. SWISS Business introduces new fully lie- at beds and adjustable air cushions that enable you to select your ideal seat comfort. Our new A330-300 aircraft will be available daily between Montreal and Zurich as of January 27. For informa-tion and reservations please call 1 877 FLY SWISS, contact your travel agent or visit swiss.com
YOUR FLIGHT, MADE.
BUSINESS
WITH FULLY LIE-FLAT BED
WELCOME NEW MEMBER
SCCC (ONTARIO) INC.Corporate Member:
Dale & Lessmann LLPSven Walker181 University Ave, Suite 2100Toronto, ON M5H 3M7(416) [email protected]
How to become a member of the SCCC:Sign up online at
www.swissbiz.ca/memberships
or contact our offi ce at [email protected] or 416-236-0039
IN FO SU I SS E24
TOURNOI DE GOLF ANNUEL MEMORIAL JACQUES THÉVENOZ DE LA CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE CANADO-SUISSE DU QUÉBEC.par Olivier Rodriguez
Cette année encore, nous avons été chan-
ceux : le 6 juin dernier, ce sont sous des cieux
radieux et une température confortable que
le tournoi de golf annuel Memorial Jacques
Thevenoz de notre chambre s’est tenu dans
le cadre de l’élégant club de golf Whitlock,
à Hudson.
Rassemblant 97 joueurs, cette compé-
tition amicale a été âprement disputée. Cette
année, le trophée récompensant le meilleur
score a été remporté par le quatuor consti-
tué de : Madeleine Paquin, Penny Cruvellier,
Paul Cruvellier et Gerry Nadeau. Le trophée
du Consul général de Suisse a, quant à lui,
été remis au groupe composé de : Suzanne
Brillant, Guylaine Bonabe de Rougé, Shitik
Thong et Alex Mc Namee. Le trophée Jacques
Thevenoz est revenu à Pierre Dufour. Nos
félicitations aux gagnants.
Après le cocktail, tous les participants ont
été priés de se réunir autour des tables du
Club pour y savourer un excellent dîner. C’est
dans une ambiance chaleureuse que s’est
déroulé le tirage dont les nombreux prix ont
fait beaucoup d’heureux.
Nous espérons vous accueillir encore
nombreux l’année prochaine à ce rendez-vous
de notre chambre devenu incontournable
pour avoir le plaisir de passer d’agréables
moments en votre compagnie dans le cadre
enchanteur de Whitlock.
Sans l’engagement de Monsieur Andreas
Kraeuchi et sans l’aide précieuse de Sylvie
Leduc et de Sophie Kraeuchi, cet événement
ne pourrait avoir lieu et nous les remercions
vivement de leur implication et la parfaite
organisation.
Nous nous devons également de même
remercier chaleureusement nos généreux
commanditaires qui, d’année en année,
nous permettent d’enrichir la tombola et les
prix par une variété de lots très appréciés
par tous :
Agences Dennis Gendron 2000, Agility
Logistics, Au Saucisson Vaudois, Authentic
Vins & Spiritueux, Bobst Group, Boucherie
La Bernoise, Boutique Giorgio, Busch
Vacuum, Cansica Services, Clasquin Canada,
Chocolats Suisses Zucatti, Consulat Général
Chamber News
Information de votre chambre
SWISS.COM
Lorsque la qualité suisse prend son envol.–Des normes de qualité plus élevées pour que votre vol soit une expérience mémorable. Les Suisses sont connus pour leurs standards de qualité élevés et leur précision. À bord, grâce à ces caractéristiques tout helvétiques alliées à notre ama-bilité naturelle et à notre discrétion, vous pro tez pleinement de vos heures de vol. SWISS Business comporte désormais des lits qui s’abaissent à l’horizontale et des coussins pneumatiques réglables qui vous permettent d’opter ainsi pour la forme de confort qui vous convient le mieux. Notre nouvel avion A330-300 assure un vol quoti-dien entre Montréal et Zurich. Pour informations et réservations appelez le 1 877 FLY SWISS, contactez votre agence de voyages ou visitez le swiss.com
VOTRE VOL, SWISS MADE.
SWISS BUSINESS AVEC LITS
S’ABAISSANT À L’HORIZONTALE
023_300_QualityYUL_184x127_f_infosuisse 1 22.02.11 15:25
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 25
de Suisse, Croisières AML, Cycles Gervais
Rioux, Europack, Café Ferreira, Finecast,
Groupe Germain Hôtels, La Collection
d’Avions, Le Cirque, Le Groupe Alfi d, Le Petit
Bistro, Le Saint-Gabriel, Les Importations
Giannini, Lindt Canada, Logistec Corporation,
Marianne Boesch, Marketing de Fromages
de Suisse, Mini Mont- Royal, Nesspresso
Canada, Pictet Canada, Redbourne, René
Gagnon, Restaurant Alpenhaus, Restaurant
Européa, Rodania Canada, S.E. Wilson, Saute
Moutons, Services Financiers Alta, Suisse
Tourisme, Suzanne Brillant-Fluehler, Swiss
International Air Lines, Swissmar. Trudeau
Corporation, UBS, Valmont, Whitlock Golf &
Country Club. ■
BUSCH VACUUM TECHNICS CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARYBoisbriand, May 2011 – May 20, 2011 was
a day of commemoration, as Busch Vacuum
Technics, the Canadian subsidiary of German
company Dr.-Ing. K. Busch GmbH, celebrated
its 25-year presence in Canada. The presi-
dent and General Manager of the company’s
Canadian subsidiary, Mr. Paul M. Wieser,
proudly welcomed a number of renowned
guests, among them three of the multina-
tional’s fi ve shareholders, the consul general
of Switzerland in Montreal, Mr. Claude
Duvoisin, the Boisbriand mayor Marlene
Cordato as well as a several members of the
Swiss Canadian Chamber of Quebec.
A MODEL AMONG BUSCH SUBSIDIARIES WORLDWIDEFollowing an interesting visit of the facilities,
Paul M. Wieser proudly and passionately
talked about the great strides made since
1985, when the Busch family offered him
the opportunity of founding a subsidiary
in Canada. “Of course I knew I was joining
forces with one of the world’s largest manu-
facturers of vacuum pumps, but nothing
could have prepared me for the adventure I
was embarking on” he said.
Paul M. Wieser took advantage of the
celebration to pay tribute to the Busch
family and to his colleagues, employees,
customers, suppliers and everyone else who
supported him and Busch Canada in striving
for excellence over the last quarter-century
and made it possible for
the company to grow and
prosper.
Paul Wieser is also
a well connected board
member of our chamber
and will be happy to
provide further information
on Busch Vaccum Technics.
His contacts: Phone: 450 435-6899
e-mail: [email protected]
IN FO SU I SS E26
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U R S V I L L I G E R SALES REPRESENTATIVE
AU G U ST/SE P T E M B E R 27
BUSCH VACUUM TECHNICS CÉLÈBRE SON 25E ANNIVERSAIRE Boisbriand, le 20 mai 2011 – C’est dans
une atmosphère de fête qu’était souligné,
le 20 mai 2011, le 25e anniversaire de
l’implantation de Busch Vacuum Technics,
la fi liale canadienne de la fi rme allemande
Dr.-Ing. K. Busch GmbH. Le président et
directeur général des installations cana-
diennes, M. Paul M. Wieser, était entouré
de nombreux invités de marque, dont trois
des cinq actionnaires de la multinationale
venus expressément d’Allemagne, le consul
général de la Suisse à Montréal, M. Claude
Duvoisin, la mairesse de Boisbriand, Marlene
Cordato et plusieurs membres du chambre
de commerce Canado Suisse du Québec
UN MODÈLE PARMI LES FILIALES DE BUSCH DANS LE MONDEAprès une intéressante visite des lieux, Paul
M. Wieser ha raconter avec fi erté et émotion
le chemin parcouru depuis 1985, année où il
s’est vu offrir par la famille Busch de fonder
une fi liale au Canada. « Même si je savais à
ce moment-là que je me joignais à l’un des
plus importants fabricants de pompes à vide
dans le monde, je ne pensais pas que j’allais
vivre une aventure aussi passionnante »,
a-t-il lancé.
Aujourd’hui, le siège social canadien
de Busch, situé à Boisbriand, est un centre
de distribution, de service, de conception
et d’assemblage performant, souvent
cité comme l’un des meilleurs du réseau
Busch dans le monde. La fi liale a établi des
bureaux de vente et de service à Mississauga
en Ontario, à Calgary et à Vancouver. Elle
emploie 52 personnes au pays, dont le tiers
est composé d’ingénieurs spécialisés.
M. Paul M. Wieser a profi té de l’occasion
pour remercier la famille Busch, ses col-
lègues, tous ses employés, ses clients, ses
fournisseurs et toutes les personnes qui,
quotidiennement, depuis un quart de siècle,
l’épaulent et l’encouragent à toujours viser
l’excellence et permettent à Busch Vacuum
Technics de grandir et prospérer.
Paul Wieser fait parti du conseille de
notre chambre est serait bien content de
fournir des autres informations sur Busch
Vacuum Technics. Ses contacts:
Telephone 450 435-6899
Source: P. Wieser,
Busch Vacuum Technics Canada ■
SWISS NIGHT AT THE MARCHÉ ON JULY 12, 2011Once again we had a successful event with
over 50 guests in attendance. For the fi rst
time the Swiss Night took place on the
newly launched Marché patio. This outdoor
oasis situated in the courtyard of Brookfi eld
Place was the perfect place to network on a
warm summer night. All guests, no matter
if they registered or dropped in, received
a drink voucher and were treated to Swiss
specialty appetizers. Besides SCCC and Swiss
Club members, we welcomed numerous
guests from other organizations, such as
the German and British Chambers. Be sure
to check our website (www.swissbiz.ca/
upcoming_events) for our next Swiss Night!
Chamber News
Information de votre chambre
Excipial® Swiss Made Skin Moisturizers Now Available in Canada
Dry Skin? Problem Skin? Excipial® moisturizing creams and lotions
are recommended by Dermatologists, GPs and Pharmacists for its exceptional
moisturizing qualities and cosmetic appeal.
Now available at a pharmacy near you:
or at www.well.ca/brand/excipial.html
TM/MC Pharma Plus
Spirig Skin Care Products for Dry Skin, distributed by:
Made in Switzerland
TM/MC
IN FO SU I SS E28
Si je savoure si souvent ces si purs suisses-ci de la Suisse, c’est parce que ces si purs suisses-ci de la Suisse sont si savoureux. Pourquoi ces si purs suisses-ci de la Suisse sont-ils si savoureux déjà? Ces si purs suisses-ci de la Suisse sont si savoureux parce qu’ils sont faits comme seule la Suisse sait les faire. Si vrai, si pur, si Suisse. Si, si.
Découvrez-les sur les authentiques-suisses.com
Just how pure is this Swiss? Well, it’s so pure and so savoury that every taste is 100% pure bliss. So when it comes to Swiss, there’s one thing that you should never miss.
Make sure to put authentic Swiss on your list. Because nothing else is this Swiss.
Get the real Swiss onswiss-authentics.com
Ineltec Infrastucture Technology ExpoDate: 13-SEP-11 to 16-SEP-11Ineltec Expo will provide a platform for exhibitors to showcase their products and services and bring together leading projects from all over the world that deal with Infrastructure in some shape or form. During four days, the trade exhibition for electronics, energy, installation technology, building management, lighting and illuminations technology will witness more than 20,000 of people.Venue: Basel Exhibition Center, Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland
TRANSPORT & LOGISTIK SchweizDate: 14-SEP-11 to 15-SEP-11LOGISTIK Schweiz will provide an opportunity to meet directly with potential new customers from the region. The event will bring together the region’s most comprehensive trade show for the industry with a rich program of informational activities all around the topic of transport, technologies and solutions, materials handling systems, logistics infrastructure, warehouse equipment & services, goods handling, labelling, picking, tracking.Venue: BEA Bern Expo, Bern, Switzerland
SWITZERLAND CENTRE FOR TRADE FAIRS/ LA SUISSE –
PLACE DE FOIRES
Through your membership in the
SCCC, you can join a
group health insurance plan
The country’s leading benefi t program
for small business
• Covers businesses with up to 35 employees, including one person fi rms
• Is open to all industries• Pools claims for price stability• Never targets an individual fi rm for
a rate increase or cancellation• Offers a full range of benefi ts,
including coverage normally reserved for big businesses
Discover the wide range of benefi ts available to you, such as Health and Dental, Critical Illness coverage, Short & Long Term Disability income replacement and more!
For more information, contact Patricia Keller Schläpfer at the SCCC
or visit www.chambers.ca.
MySwitzerland.comThe Swiss Travel System has the perfect ticket for you to discover Switzerland. Tailoured toyour itinerary the Swiss Pass, Swiss Flexi Pass, Swiss Transfer Ticket or the Swiss Card will bethe perfect solution to ride 20,000 km of train, postal bus or boat routes. Your personal choiceinclude the classic scenic routes such as the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, the GoldenPass Line, the William Tell Express, and the Palm Express. Also included is the public transportsystem of 38 cities, and the passes give you 50% discount on most mountaintop trains andcable cars. To top if off, you will profit from free entries to over 450 museums.
Our amusement park.
For more information go to www.swisstravelsystem.ch,www.raileurope.ca, or call 1-800-361-RAIL (7245)
