From: abc@a123.ca   
      
   Canada top destination for business: Forbes   
      
      
   POSTMEDIA NEWS OCTOBER 4, 2011   
      
   Canada is the top global destination for business, according to a new   
   Forbes ranking that touts this country's economic resilience as much of   
   the world battles major financial woes.   
      
   The top ranking marks a jump for Canada from fourth place in the ranking   
   last year, which was due in large part to scoring higher in the tax   
   category. Tax burden for this year's index in Canada has this country in   
   ninth place, a stark contrast to 2010, when Canada placed 23rd in that   
   category.   
      
   The report noted the adoption of the HST in Ontario and British Columbia,   
   which has since voted to eliminated the new tax structure.   
      
   Canada was among the top tier of countries when it came to protecting   
   investors and dealing with red tape, with the report saying it is   
   relatively easy to start a new business in Canada.   
      
   The Forbes ranking described Canada as "an affluent, high-tech industrial   
   society in the trillion-dollar class," and said that Canada and the U.S.   
   had many similarities, including its "market-oriented economic system,   
   pattern of production and affluent living standards."   
      
   It stressed that "while the U.S. is paralyzed by fears of a double-dip   
   recession and Europe struggles with sovereign-debt issues," Canada has   
   stayed cool in terms of its economy, with a jump of 3.1 per cent in 2010   
   and more growth — at 2.4 per cent as forecast by the Royal Bank of Canada   
   — expected in 2011.   
      
   The Forbes ranking of business destinations factored in 11 criteria for   
   more than 130 countries. Among them were: technology; corruption;   
   personal and financial freedom; stock performance; property rights; and   
   taxes.   
      
   The United States was in 10th place.   
      
      
      
   Top 10 countries for business:   
      
   1. Canada   
      
   2. New Zealand   
      
   3. Hong Kong   
      
   4. Ireland   
      
   5. Denmark   
      
   6. Singapore   
      
   7. Sweden   
      
   8. Norway   
      
   9. United Kingdom   
      
   10. United States   
      
   Source: Forbes   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)