BUSINESS IN THE CANADIAN CONTEXT—ADMS 1010
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
We will look at key issues and companies in Canadian business. How has Canada achieved prosperity? How might
we maintain it in a globalized economy? We will examine how our geography, our people and our legal and
political institutions have shaped business and business has shaped government. We will use business case studies
to look at political, economic and legal issues in the Canadian context.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: THE FINE PRINT
Prerequisite: AP/ADMS 1000 3.00. Course credit exclusions: None. PRIOR TO FALL 2009: Prerequisite: AK/ADMS
1000 3.00. Course credit exclusions: AK/ADMS 1010 3.00, AK/ADMS 2410 3.00 (prior to Summer 1999), AK/ADMS
2420 3.00 (prior to Summer 1997), AK/ADMS 2430 3.00 (prior to Summer 2005).
Additional Requirements: AK/ADMS1000 3.0 or previously completed AK/ADMS2000.03 Note: Not open to
students who have taken AK/ADMS 2410 3.0 or AK/ADMS 2420 3.0 or AK/ADMS 2430 3.0 Students are personally
responsible to ensure that they have the required prerequisites as stated in the course outline or in the course
calendar.
ALERTS:
Please BE AWARE: Students CANNOT write exams or submit any work for sections that they are not registered in.
Students must confirm the correct section within the first two weeks of class. The instructor/course director has
NO AUTHORITY to enroll students into the course. Please direct all registration questions to the main office of the
Administrative Studies (http://www.yorku.ca/laps/sas/index.asp ). DO NOT contact the instructor/course director
in these matters. Students who do not have the prerequisites are at risk of being dropped from the course at any
time during the course. The School will not be responsible for refunds resulting from students being dropped from
a course due to a lack of the appropriate prerequisites.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
You will know how Canada’s business culture and laws have evolved, how Canadian business has failed and
succeeded, and you will know better where business in Canada is going.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Troy Young tyoung@attractionsontario.ca
REQUIRED COURSE TEXT / READINGS
ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
Joe Martin. Relentless Change: A History of Canadian Business. University of Toronto Press, 2010
CIVICS CANADA ONLINE TEXTBOOK. OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.
HTTP:// WWW.CIVICSCHANNEL .COM / CIVICS/ INDEX.PHP/WELCOME _TO_CIVICS_CANADA _ONLINE
Students will be expected to read and discuss current Canadian business issues and events. These can be found in
sources such as The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, the Toronto Star, the National Post, CBC.ca, CTV.ca and
Canadian Business magazine.
Links to good sources for global business and economic news can be found in the Business Section of Google News.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/index.asp
EVALUATING YOUR PERFORMANCE
1. FINAL EXAM 35%
2. MIDTERM TEST (WEEK 6) 30%
3. TWO QUIZZES (WEEK 5 AND WEEK 10) 25%
4. BEST TWO OF THREE IN-CLASS PROJECTS (WEEK 3, WEEK 8 AND WEEK 11) 10%
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
Week 1: Introduction
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What are we going to do for 12 weeks?
The Economy
Ideologies
Models
o Porter’s Diamond
o Porter’s 5 Forces
o Stern Model
No assigned readings
Week 2: What is Canadian Business?
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What is Canada?
o National Policy
What is Business?
How does government and business work together?
Interest Groups
Advocacy and Lobbying
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
Relentless Change, pp. 1-14
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/index.asp
http://www.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/CA/introduction.html
http://www.canadianstudies.ca/NewJapan/institutions.html
Civics Canada Online Textbook
Supplemental Readings
On Lobbyists: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/14/congress-washington-dc
On Interest Groups http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Interest_Groups.aspx
Week 3: Defining Canada — Currency and banks
THE Canadian Confederation and Canadian Institutions, Currency and banks
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
Case: Relentless Change, Bank Act of 1871, pp. 20-37
Civics Canada Online Textbook
James Powell. A History of the Canadian Dollar. “Currency Reforms 1841-1871” http://www.bank-banquecanada.ca/en/dollar_book/1841-71.pdf History of the Canadian Dollar The chapter you want is Currency Reforms
(1841-71).
Confederation (civics textbook) Talks about the enormously complex precursors to the Government of Canada: fur
companies, French crown, English military, the First Nations, United Canadas, etc. Why do the Europeans need or
want better government in North America? What does this have to do with business?
Canadian Financial institutions A Government of Canada explanation.
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Defining Federalism
Confederation: What is it?
o Confederation vs Unitary State
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Difference between Canada and US Confederation
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The evolving nature of Canada’s Confederation
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The fiscal and institutional arrangements of federal-provincial relations
o Equalization Payments
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Differing Approaches to regional economic diversities and disparities
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Effect on Canadian Business
Week 4: Canada expands
Case: The Massey Harris Company, pp. 60-78
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What is Competition?
What is Protectionism?
History of Canadian Protectionism
o Reciprocity Agreement of 1854
o National Policy
o Reciprocity Agreement of 1911
o GATT/WTO
Offshoring and Outsourcing
Protection of Canadian Culture
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
Civics Canada Online Textbook
Agriculture in Canada
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
Manufacturing in Canada
Statscan Information on Manufacturing
Stuff to know on Trade Policy: Go look up these words. Know them!
Generic: Tariffs, Mercantilism
Canadian historical: National Policy, Reciprocity Treaty
There's material all over the web about these topics. You don't need to be a trade economist and learn
them in depth. Just know what they mean and be able to talk about them sensibly. Trade policies
determine a lot of what firms can do successfully.
Case: Relentless Change, Massey Harris Company, pp. 60-76
Week 5: CNR—The Government in the Economy
Case: Relentless Change: Wars, Depressions and Dynamic Growth, pp. 79-94 AND CNR, pp. 100117
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Nationalization
Neo-Conservatism
The Welfare State
Crown Corporations
Rise and Decline and Rise again of Keynesianism
Privatization
Civil Service
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
The CNR http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006655
Keynes in Canada http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004289
The Depression in Canada
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0003425
Social Welfare in Canada
Crown Corporations in Canada
Rasmussen's slides on Crown Corporations
Railways in Canada
CN today
Supplemental Readings
On Stagflation: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/features/marketlab/stagflation-scourge-of-the-70s-stalks-us-still/article2178552/
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
WEEK 6: Automobile Industry
Case: The Canadian Automobile Industry, pp. 120-136
o History of the Auto Sector in Canada
o Manufacturing and FDI
o Protectionism and the Auto Sector
o The Auto Pact
o Globalization and International Trade
o Economic Theories on International Trade
o Adam Smith
o David Ricardo, Comparative Advantage
o Canada’s Restrictions on International Trade
o Globalization’s Impact on the Canadian Auto Sector
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
The Auto Industry—Canadian Encyclopedia
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000412
http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/trade_agreements/topics/326/
Foreign Ownership of Canadian Companies A Wikipedia article!
Foreign Investment in Canada
Great Depression in Canada
Photos of the Great Depression in Canada
Government of Canada's ppt on Auto Sector
Supplemental Readings
On price differences of cars between Canada and the US http://www.moneyville.ca/article/1072925--why-doesan-oshawa-made-camaro-cost-more-here?bn=1
WEEK 7: THE MIDTERM—FEBRUARY 26
Week 8: The Rise of the Canadian Consumer and Canadian Retail
Case: Eaton’s and Simpson’s-Sears, pp. 140-157
 What is Consumerism?
 Rise of the Department Store
 History of Canadian Retail
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
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Retail as cultural institution
The US Retail Invasion and its impact on Canada
Impact of the Canadian Dollar
Future Impact of Globalization on Canadian Retail
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
Eaton’s: A Canadian Institution http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/business/topics/377/
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Eaton%27s
Competition: The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy by Michael E. Porter
History of Women in the Canadian Workforce
Retail Council of Canada
R. B. Bennett The Prime Minister when H. H. Stevens was Finance Minister. Set up the Royal commission on Price
Spreads to appease discontent.
The Eaton Family: Can a family business last four generations?
http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/business/topics/377/ ,
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Eaton_family
H. H. Stevens Interesting guy. Chair of the Price Spreads Commission.
Supplemental Readings
On foreign retailers coming to Canada: http://emilysenger.ca/portfolio/retail-who-will-target-canada-next/
On price differentials between Canada and the US: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadianconsumers-pay-11-per-cent-more-than-americans-carney-says/article2223370/
WEEK 9: The Bank of Canada: Financial Institutions, laws and policies
in Canada
Case: The “Coyne Affair’, pp. 181-199
o History of Banking
o What is a Central Bank?
o Issuing Currency
o Money Supply
o Fractional Reserve Banking
o Monetary Policy
o Overnight Interest Rate
o Increasing Credit Levels
o Inflation
 Milton Friedman on Inflation
o The Bank of Canada
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
o The US Federal Reserve System
o Role of the US Federal Reserve System in the Current Banking Crisis
History
Why monetary policy matters
David Olive on James Coyne
Jack Layton’s big mistake re the Bank of Canada
US Federal Reserve Bank and Politics
WEEK 10: Natural Resource Industry: INCO and Alberta Oil
Cases: A New World at Inco, pp. 200-220, Canada’s Black Gold, pp. 221-239, Oil Sands, pp. 318-339
o Mining
o Importance of Mining
o History of Mining in Canada
 Sudbury
 Nickel
o Petroleum
o Oil Reserves
o Athabasca Oil Sands
o Regional Economic Disparity in Canada
o Regional Economic Disparity and Natural Resource Economies
o The National Energy Program
o NAFTA and Oil
o Foreign Direct Investment
o Foreign Ownership In Canada
o Benefits of Foreign Ownership
o Problems Associated with Foreign Ownership
o What is the Truth about FDI in Canada?
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
Canadian Suppliers of Mining Goods and Services, pp. xiii-xv. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busiindu/pdf/minegs-eng.pdf
http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/heirloom_series/volume4/268-271.htm
http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/heirloom_series/volume3/chapter11/chapter11.htm
Overview
Activists and watchdogs
Nice history of mining in Canada Download the pdf and you're good to go.
The industry association
How First Nations negotiate with mining companies Inco and Voisey's Bay
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
How much is left? A really interesting interactive page that tells you how much is left of critical natural resources.
Check out the minerals (orange in the time line).
Funky newspaper from Inco in the 1960's Imagine what life was like when the company was everything.
http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/energy_production/topics/378
http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/events/issues_nep.html
History of the petroleum industry in Canada
Stories in the news: It seems there is a debate in the US over whether importing oil from Alberta is a bad idea.
National Geographic Magazine and the Tar Sands A couple of years ago, NG published a critique of the tar sands. It
created a lot of debate. Check it out.
Supplemental Readings
Dirty Oil: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1087523--dirty-oil-versus-filthy-lucre-why-oil-keeps-beingcontentious?bn=1
Canadian Oil Vs the Middle East http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/11/14/obama-prefers-saudi-conflict-oil
WEEK 11: Wine in Canada
Case: The Challenging Years, pp. 243-260 AND Wine Industry, pp. 265-283
 Introduction to Wine
 History of the Wine Industry in Canada
o VQA
o The LCBO
 International Wine Trade
 Trading Communities
 NAFTA and National Treatment
o NAFTA and Wine
 Key Stumbling Blocks to Global Free Trade
o Do agreements like NAFTA actually hinder global free trade?
 GATT and the WTO
 Free trade and wine
 Future of the Canadian Wine Industry
R EADINGS ( TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS ) :
http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/trade_agreements/topics/536/
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0003054
WEEK 12: Confederation Life and RBC
C ASE : C ONFEDERATION L IFE , PP . 286-301 AND RBC, PP .303-317 AND C ONCLUSION , PP . 340-355
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
o Profile of the Financial Services Industry in Canada
o Regulatory Oversight and Reporting of the Canadian Financial Services Sector
o Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
o United States Financial Services Industry
o Glass-Steagal Act
o Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
o Banking Regulation
o US Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis
o Key Differences between US and Canadian Banking Systems
o How Canadian Banks Avoided the Mortgage Crisis
o Confederation Life
o Too Big To Fail
o Canadian Bank Mergers
Supplemental Readings
Mortgages:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/flaherty-details-tougher-mortgagerules/article1872599/?cmpid=rss1
On Canada’s Bank risks: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/unsecured-consumer-debt-putscanadian-banks-at-risk-moodys/article2255338/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Deferred standing may be granted to students who are unable to write their final examination at the scheduled
time or to submit their outstanding course work on the last day of classes. In order to apply for deferred standing,
students must complete a Deferred Standing Agreement (DSA) form and submit their request no later than five (5)
business days from the date of the exam. The request must be properly submitted with supporting documentation
directly to the main office of the School of Administrative Studies (282 Atkinson), NOT to the Course Director.
These requests will be considered on their merit and decisions will be communicated to the students by the main
office. Students with approved DSA will be able to write their deferred examination during the School's deferred
examination period,which for Winter term courses will be administered during the period Friday May 11 through
Sunday May 13. No further extensions of deferred exams shall be granted. The format and covered content of the
deferred examination may be different from that of the originally scheduled examination. The deferred exam may
be closed book, cumulative and comprehensive and may include all subjects/topics of the textbook whether they
have been covered in class or not. Any request for deferred standing on medical grounds must include an
Attending Physician's Statement form; a “Doctor’s Note” will not be accepted.
DSA Form: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/pdf/deferred_standing_agreement.pdf
Attending Physician's Statement form: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/council/students/documents/APS.pdf
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION
The Senate Academic Standards, Curriculum and Pedagogy (ASCP) provides a Student Information Sheet that
includes:
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ADMS 1010A Fall 2011
•
York's Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures / Academic Integrity Web site
•
Access/Disability
•
Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants
•
Religious Observance Accommodation
•
Student Code of Conduct
Additional information:
•
Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
•
Alternate Exam and Test Scheduling
•
Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy
The Senate Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy stipulates that (a) the grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of
assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class,
and that, (b) under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or
Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all
courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade.
•
Important University Sessional Dates you will find classes and exams start/end dates, reading/cocurricular week, add/drop deadlines, holidays, University closings and more.
http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/importantdates/index.htm
•
"20% Rule"
No examinations or tests collectively worth more than 20% of the final grade in a course will be given during the
final 14 calendar days of classes in a term. The exceptions to the rule are classes which regularly meet Friday
evenings or on Saturday and/or Sunday at any time, and courses offered in the compressed summer terms.
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Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades distribution profiles.
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Services for Mature and Part-time Students
The Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students (ACMAPS) maintains and strengthens York University’s
ongoing commitment to welcome and to serve the needs of mature and part-time students. For further
information and assistance visit: http://www.yorku.ca/acmaps
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