Global Trade Alert

According to press accounts, Cisco Canada received $220 million in provincial grants in 2013 in exchange for its agreement to create 1,700 jobs in Ontario and invest up to $4 billion in the province. Cisco Canada president Nitin Kawale said the company plans to make the province one of its global research and development centres. The deal was criticized by members of the Progressive Conservative Party, with MPP Vic Fedeli calling it 'corporate welfare' and declaring that spending about $130,000 a job 'is no way to create employment in Ontario.'