Thresholds

Thresholds for Review

Pursuant to subsections 14(3) and 14(4) of the Act, the thresholds for transactions which are subject to review are 5 million dollars for direct investments and 50 million dollars for indirect transactions. However, investors from WTO member countries benefit from higher thresholds:

Thresholds for review for WTO member investors or vendors (other than Canadians)

Pursuant to the Investment Canada Act ("the Act"), new thresholds for review for WTO member investors, or where a Canadian business is ultimately controlled by a WTO member (other than a Canadian) prior to its acquisition, must be determined and become effective on January 1 of every year. The amount is equivalent to the growth in Nominal Gross Domestic Product at market prices as published by Statistics Canada for specified periods, multiplied by the amount determined for the previous year.

• The Minister has determined the amount of the threshold for review for WTO investors or vendors, (other than Canadians), to be 281 million dollars for the year 2007. The amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 3, 2007, page 182.


• The amount for the year 2006 was 265 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on January 21, 2006, page 132.


• The amount for the year 2005 was 250 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 12, 2005, page 385.


• The amount for the year 2004 was 237 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 21, 2004, page 332.


• The amount for the year 2003 was 223 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on January 18, 2003, page107.


• The amount for the year 2002 was 218 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on January 12, 2002, page 51.


• The amount for the year 2001 was 209 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 17, 2001, page 462.


• The amount for the year 2000 was 192 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 19, 2000, page 529.


• The amount for the year 1999 was 184 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 6, 1999, page 293.


• The amount for the year 1998 was 179 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 21, 1998.


• The amount for the year 1997 was 172 million dollars and the amount was published in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 22, 1997.

Indirect acquisitions by WTO member investors are not reviewable, but are nonetheless subject to notification. The exception for the four policy sectors which are governed by the $5 million and $50 million thresholds remains unchanged for all investors. Those sectors are uranium, financial services, transportation services and cultural businesses.