Canada considers Investment Canada Act amendments: Potential focus on foreign state-owned investors
The Investment Canada Act (the Act) has returned to the national spotlight. As part of the long-term economic plan released in late November called Advantage Canada: Building a Strong Economy for Canadians,iCanada's Minister of Finance announced, among other things, his intention to review the Act "with the aim of maximizing the benefits of foreign investment for Canadians, while retaining our ability to protect national interests." While identifying screening procedures under the Act as a factor that restricts foreign investment in the Canadian economy (and stating unequivocally that "both inward and outward foreign direct investment bring substantial benefits to Canada"), the report also noted concerns arising from the "rare" occasions when take-overs of Canadian businesses might damage Canada's long-term interests.
The only example cited was that of investment in Canada by a foreign state-owned enterprise (SOE) with "non-commercial objectives and unclear corporate governance and reporting." As has recently been the subject of some discussion in Canada (see below), the acquisition by a foreign SOE of a significant stake in Canada's natural resources might trigger a concern that such resources would simply be funnelled back to the investor's home country and not sold on the open market. One could also imagine, however, that investment in a defence-related industry by a hostile government might not be in Canada's "long-term interests." Moreover, in the highly charged post-9/11 world of international politics, other grounds may also be raised in opposition to certain investments.
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