Economy

Farmers Focus On Declining Farm Income As Top Issue Facing Canadian
Agriculture Today And Are Looking For A Leg Up

Majority Of Canadian CEOs (86%) Agree That Their Business Has What It Takes To Compete In The Global Marketplace

And Most Expect Their Company To Do "Financially Better Next Year" (68%) And "Plan To Increase Business Spending" (55%)
But Four In Ten CEOs (40%) Expect Inflation To Increase In 2005, With Globalization And Taxes Being The Most Serious Issues Facing Canadian Business Today

Telecommunications And Oil & Gas Companies Gain In Many Corporate Categories

Paul Tellier And Clive Beddoe Tie For Second -- Looking Ahead: Training Employees (57%), Process And Systems Review (46%), And New Resources (45%), Are Top Areas Of Focus For Canada's CEOs

Canadians 19-55 Are Heavy Financial Transactors (Making 43.3 Transactions Per Month, On
Average)

On Average, More Than $21/Month Paid In Service Fees On Main Chequing Account

Many (40%) Say Fees On Their Main Chequing Account Are Unfair.
Half (50%) Perceive Profits Made By Financial Institutions From Service Fees To Be Unfair

While Current Assessment Remains Bleak, Optimism For The Next Six Months Is Increased

One Third (35%) Of RRSP Holders Do Not Invest Outside Of Canada

Nearly Half Of Canadians Have Made Or Will Make Contributions For This Tax Year