Trade Tribunal, CRTC and CRA notices

Summary#

The notice collects several short items published in the Canada Gazette on August 10, 2024 about commission activity. It reports a few decisions and ongoing reviews by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, routine notices from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and proposed revocations of two charities by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

What it does#

• The Canadian International Trade Tribunal issued two complaint determinations:
  • A complaint by Newland Canada Corporation about a hotel procurement in Québec was found to be valid in part (determination dated July 22, 2024).
  • A complaint by Global Total Office about an office furniture procurement by Department of National Defence was found valid in part (determination dated July 25, 2024).
• The Tribunal started an expiry review (file RR-2024-003) under the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) into anti-dumping/subsidy measures on thermoelectric warmers and coolers originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China.
  • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) must report whether removing the order would likely lead to resumed dumping or subsidizing by December 24, 2024.
  • The Tribunal aims to issue its order and reasons by June 2, 2025. Interested parties had to file to participate by August 13, 2024, and a public hearing is scheduled to start March 17, 2025.
• The Tribunal decided to open an inquiry into a procurement complaint from Evripos Janitorial Services Ltd. about a cleaning/janitorial services solicitation (decision made July 31, 2024).
• The CRTC posted routine administrative decisions, consultation notices, and some local radio licensing items (examples named in the notice include Vernon Community Radio Society, Local Radio Lab. Inc., and U Multicultural Inc.).
• The CRA issued notices of intended revocation of registration for two charities for not meeting Income Tax Act requirements:
  • JEWISH NATIONAL FUND OF CANADA INC. / FONDS NATIONAL JUIF DU CANADA INC.
  • NE’EMAN FOUNDATION CANADA The notices say the revocations are intended to be effective on the date the notice appears in the Gazette (that is, August 10, 2024).

Who's affected#

• Suppliers and bidders on federal contracts involved in the Tribunal cases, including Newland Canada Corporation, Global Total Office, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and the Department of National Defence.
• Manufacturers, importers, exporters, and Canadian sellers of thermoelectric warmers and coolers made in or shipped from the People’s Republic of China — and Canadian producers of similar goods who may be protected by the order.
• Small contractors and firms who bid on cleaning and janitorial contracts in Ottawa, especially Evripos Janitorial Services Ltd. and competing bidders in that solicitation.
• Local radio applicants, community broadcasters and consumer groups named in the CRTC notices (for example, Vernon Community Radio Society, Local Radio Lab. Inc., Consumers’ Association of Canada (Manitoba) and others).
• The two charities named by the CRA and their donors or stakeholders; a revoked registration affects a charity’s tax-exempt status and ability to issue official donation receipts.

Why it matters#

• Tribunal findings that complaints are “valid in part” can affect who wins or keeps federal contracts, and may lead to re-tendering or other remedies. The notices don’t give full details of remedies in these summaries.
• The expiry review of the anti-dumping/subsidy order could change whether duties remain on certain thermoelectric warmers and coolers. If duties end, those products could become cheaper or more available; if duties remain, domestic producers could keep protection from unfairly priced imports.
• The cleaning-services inquiry could affect contract awards and the competitive environment for janitorial services in government facilities.
• CRTC administrative and licensing items can shape local radio services and who can operate community stations.
• The CRA’s intended revocations, effective on the Gazette publication date, could remove the named charities’ ability to issue tax receipts and change their tax status. The notices say the revocations are due to failures under the Income Tax Act.