Just 50 years ago, the Arctic was one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable regions, largely populated by indigenous peoples who hunted musk-ox and caribou and supported themselves with fishing, much as their ancestors had done for thousands of years. But climate change has transformed this timeless landscape of snow and ice into the hub of a geopolitical struggle over sovereignty and resource exploitation. Of the countries bordering the Arctic Circle, Canada may have the most to gain, as well as the most to lose, from that struggle. Read more

Two Enbridge Inc. affiliates are spending about $582-million on a pipeline expansion to accommodate higher volumes of crude from a promising energy region around the Canada-U.S. border. The pipeline giant's U.S. affiliate, Enbridge Energy Partners LP is contributing around $370-million (U.S.) for the U.S.

Buffalo Wild Wings, a United States sports bar-and-grill chain, outlined ambitious plans to enter the Canadian market earlier this month, saying it has found a "perfect fit" in a country where people like to eat, drink and watch hockey. But it's not only American sports bars that feel they will find a warm welcome north of the border. A maturing U.S. market and a stronger Canadian economy make the country a logical growth opportunity for U.S. restaurant chains in general. Read more

Canada's $550-million offer to pay Michigan's share of the new Windsor-Detroit bridge and feeder roads remains on the table despite a change at the helm of the federal Transportation ministry, the new minister said Tuesday. "Canada's position remains unchanged. We are a huge supporter of DRIC," said Chuck Strahl, standing a short distance from the proposed bridge site. Read more

Mexico will impose tariffs on 99 U.S. products following the U.S. congressional decision to cancel a pilot program allowing several Mexican trucking companies to haul cargo onto U.S soil. On top of a first round of tariffs imposed in March 2009, the list of import duties will expand to include new products, including pork. Mexico is the U.S. pork industry’s second-largest export market. Mexico’s Economy Minister Bruno Ferrari says these new rules will add up to $2.5 billion worth of tariffs.  

The new May edition of FOCALPoint focuses on the significant Canada-Mexico relationship. In this edition, which includes an article from Ambassador of Mexico to Canada, Francisco Barrio-Terrazas the often forgotten but important relationship between Canada and Mexico is highlighted. The various authors point to the increase in trade and foreign investment between the two countries as well as the evolving cooperation between Canadian provinces and Mexican states in the areas of agriculture, forestry, environmental management and education.

Canadians bought more U.S. properties than the citizens of any other country in the last year, although financing was a hurdle for many of them. A study by the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors showed Canadians bought 23 per cent of all the homes sold to foreigners from March, 2009, to March, 2010. Mexicans came in second at 10 per cent. The United Kingdom (9 per cent), China (8 per cent) and Germany (7 per cent) rounded out the top five. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canadians-snap-up-us-properties/article1638310/