Ontario to encourage R&D and innovation investment

Ontario finance minister Charles Sousa says Ontario is considering the introduction of a new tax credit for incremental R&D spending to encourage firms to spend so-called dead money — funds sitting on company balance sheets rather than being invested to boost innovation and productivity. The new R&D tax measure would apply to R&D above what a company is already spending and is being contemplated as the province conducts a review of its overall tax credit regime. Incremental or "pay and play" R&D tax credits are widely used in many jurisdictions including the US. In his 2013 Ontario Economic Outlook, Sousa also said the province is developing sector strategies for key industries and will introduce targeted investments "to secure new investments from global companies that concentrate on information and communications technologies and R&D".