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Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance)

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Dr. Roberts has 29 years of experience with Canada’s SR&ED Tax Incentive Program, from the perspective of both the public and private sectors. As the Senior Science Advisor of Revenue Canada during the program’s inception, he led the development of the interpretive policies on the eligibility of R&D for the tax credits, including leading the consultations that resulted in Information Circular IC 86-4 and the associated application papers. He was a contributor to the development of the refined definition of SR&ED found in subsection 248(1) of the current legislation and the guidance subsequently developed by the CRA on its application.

He led the development of the Software Guidance for the software community. And, he participated in the joint CRA-Industry committee that developed the consensus guidance on the application of the newly refined definition of "SR&ED".

He has led the development and defense of major SR&ED claims in the ICT and manufacturing sectors at Deloitte.

He served as an expert witness in the Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. case that resulted in one of the pivotal decisions on the interpretation of the definition of "SR&ED."

Change Management

Entrepreneurship

SR&ED

Tax Credits

Management Consulting

Business Strategy

Federal budget 2019: Tech community welcomes Global Talent Stream commitment, SR&ED expansion

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Government essentially cutting billions from innovation funding, CATA says

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Simplify tech tax credits, CATA urges

Innovation Leadership Council, Innovation Policy and SR&ED

Part of the CATA SR&ED  educational series, linked to an expert briefing note authored by community expert, Dr. Russ Roberts.

Russ Roberts Senior VP CATAAlliance:  SR&amp;ED &amp; Canada's Innovation Plan

Russ Roberts, CATA, Sr VP Tax, Finance and Advocacy offers insights into the Thumbs Up federal budget (March 22, 2017)

Ottawa...CATAAlliance, Canada’s One Voice for Innovation lobby group, and leader of the competitive Innovation Nation movement has given the federal government a thumbs up for its ‘innovation’ budget.

CATA CEO John Reid, said, “We have been advocating for a competitive innovation nation, and now the government is setting up Innovation Canada, a new platform to coordinate and simplify support available to Canadian entrepreneurs. It will serve as a one-stop-shop for Canada’s innovators. Bravo!”

He added, “The Liberal government has tabled a budget designed to help Canadians meet the challenges of a fast changing economy and empower women in the workforce, while taking a wait-and-see approach to the America First policies.”

Positive Budget Actions Cited: 

-$950 million over 5 years to support superclusters
-$400 million over 3 years for a new Venture Capital Catalyst
-$14 million over 2 years for Futurpreneur Canada to match investment with funding from departments and the private sector
-$279.8 million over 5 years for the Temporary Foreign Workers Program
-$50 million over 2 years for teaching initiatives to help children learn to code and to boost digital literacy
-$395.5 million over 3 years to expand the youth employment strategy
-$225 million for a new agency over 4 years to advance future skill development
-$124 million over for a Pan Canadian Artificial Intelligence strategy
-$50 million for the launch of a new Innovating Procurement program, inspired by the U.S. Small Business Innovation program
-$75 million over two years for clean technology and $300 million over 11 years through the Impact Canada Fund
major further funding increases in the order of $1.4 billion to support cleantech firms plus an additional $400 million over 5 years for the SD Tech Fund
-Building on a $50 million fund (November) a boost to advancing women in tech entrepreneurship
-Support for a new Intellectual Property strategy for Canada in 2017

Reid concluded, “Our community was also pleased to see no changes in the capital gains tax regime and stock option terms that would have disconnected the ‘innovation’ spark from advancing Canada to a number one competitive innovation nation status.”

Canada's 'innovation' Budget: Russ Roberts, Sr. VP, CATA

Russ Roberts, Senior Tax Advisor, CATA and Deloitte & Touche answers questions on Canada's SR&ED tax credits. 

Russ talks about a new information document (re: SR&ED) he has produced and where it can be downloaded at no cost.

http://www.cata.ca/media_and_events/Press_releases/cata_pr02140801.html

SR&amp;ED Tax Credits - John Reid interviews Russ Roberts

Russ Roberts, Senior Tax Advisor, CATA and Deloitte & Touche answers questions on Canada's SR&ED tax credits.  

Russ talks about a new information document (re: SR&ED) he has produced and where it can be downloaded at no cost.
http://www.cata.ca/media_and_events/Press_releases/cata_pr02140801.html

SR&amp;ED Tax Credits - Q&amp;A with Russ Roberts

Please take five minutes to view the video of CATA's Sr. VP, Tax, Finance & Advocacy, Russ Roberts, who was interviewed by CATA CEO, John Reid, on changes to the SR&ED program that will potentially affect your access to these valued tax credits. 

Viewers are also encouraged to review CATA's latest SR&ED Advisory, now available on-line. Many of the themes treated by Dr. Roberts are explained in more detail in the Advisory. View at this URL:

http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr02011302.html

Dr. Roberts begins the interview by providing some history to the evolution of the SR&ED program and then focus on several key issues; namely, policy consolidation, the appeals process and pre-claim review.

He then turns to comparing Canada's SR&ED regime to what is happening in other jurisdictions.

In concluding, Dr. Roberts offers some practical advice on the utilization of the SR&ED program.

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