Tax programs top FEIC agenda.

• Position: FEI NEWS - Brief article

Representatives of FEI Canada recently called upon the federal government to enact a range of measures designed to boost the economy, including measures that would simplify and improve the tax system and innovation programs. In Oct. 31 testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, FEI officials urged government leaders to stimulate innovation, which they said serves as the principle source of economic competition and job creation.

Among the FEIC recommendations:

* Activities that lead to product commercialization should be eligible for Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) claims, as innovators need support beyond the early R&D stage.

* Expanding SR&ED credits to public companies, since the current program discourages private companies from accessing public capital by reducing the available tax credit from 35 percent to 20 percent when the company becomes public.

* The SR&ED program...