Federal budget and SR&ED experts available

Grant Thornton LLP advisors can provide background, commentary and analysis

TORONTO, March 28, 2012 /CNW/ - The government releases its first majority budget on Thursday, March 29, and businesses will be watching closely for widely-anticipated changes to Ottawa's Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program.

The government has been clear that innovation, research and development will be one of the major themes of this budget, and Science and Technology Minister Gary Goodyear has predicted "transformative" changes to government research and development programs following a federal task-force report headed by chairman Tom Jenkins.

Journalists who have questions about SR&ED, or who would like informed commentary and analysis on any changes to the program that may be announced in the federal budget on March 29, are invited to speak with a Grant Thornton practitioner. We are here to help.

In Toronto, Brian Leve is a tax partner with a specialty in SR&ED, and his credentials are an impressive trifecta —he is a chartered accountant, a lawyer, and he has an MBA. He has had a professional focus on SR&ED for over ten years, and is responsible for supporting SR&ED clients throughout Southern Ontario.

In Western Canada, Edmonton-based Ken Douglas has a Master of Engineering and an MBA, and has over 15 years of engineering, project management, research and development and SR&ED experience in a variety of industries, including several years as an engineer in the oil and gas and marine construction industries. He also spent five years as a research and technology advisor with Canada Revenue Agency's SR&ED Program, where he was involved with program delivery, taxpayer education and review of SR&ED claims.

In Eastern Canada, Halifax-based Britta Fiander has a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. She has over ten years of experience in research and development, including five years as a SR&ED practitioner.

For more general tax commentary on the federal budget, Gary Dent, National Tax Leader for Grant Thornton LLP, is available from Toronto. Grant Thornton also has local tax experts across the country.

Note to editors
Grant Thornton will be releasing a post-budget summary at the end of the day on March 29, and a more detailed commentary will follow in the days ahead, including a free budget webinar at 1 pm ET on April 2.

About Grant Thornton in Canada
Grant Thornton LLP is a leading Canadian accounting and advisory firm providing audit, tax and advisory services to private and public organizations. Together with the Quebec firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP, Grant Thornton in Canada has approximately 4,000 people in offices across Canada. Grant Thornton LLP is a Canadian member of Grant Thornton International Ltd, whose member firms operate in close to 100 countries worldwide.

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