courtesy www.financialpost.ca Written by Rob, The Dividend Apprentice It seems that nearly every major news article over the past couple of weeks has been talking about the U.S. and its impending fiscal cliff. This “cliff” refers to the ending of several tax cuts (which will, upon their expiry, act effectively as tax increases) along with a number of major spending cuts by the U.S. government. All of this is set to happen on or around January 1st, 2013. If left unresolved, these issues will combine into the perfect economic storm. It would force the average American household to become more cautious about spending, and at worst plunge the U.S. into a full-on recession. Also looming on the horizon is the next possible extension of the U.S. debt ceiling, which currently sits at $16.4 trillion USD and is predicted to be surpassed in February or March of 2013. The U.S. has a history of pushing major financial decisions to the eleventh hour. In reality, no one actually expects them to default ...

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courtesy of www.visitcalgary.com Written by Rob, The Dividend Apprentice. Westjet Airlines Ltd (WJA) released their Q3 profit results yesterday, announcing a whopping year over year increase of nearly 80%. Their EPS came in at 52 cents, up from 28 cents the year before and far exceeding expert predictions of 42 cents per share. One of Canada’s 4 biggest airlines, Westjet employs more that 8800 workers across North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1996, they quickly gained a reputation for a friendly, laid back atmosphere offering increased leg room, leather seats and seatback television entertainment. A great customer experience and cheaper flights than their competition has been their governing philosophy, as evidenced in their “Owners Care” advertisements. Westjet also took this time to announce their president for Westjet Encore, Westjet’s new regional carrier. Ferio Pugliese, previously Westjet’s executive vice-president for people, ...

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TransCanada Corp (TRP) and Phoenix Energy Holdings Ltd. announce Grand Rapids Pipeline project. TransCanada Corp (TRP) and Phoenix Energy Holdings Ltd. have announced a proposal to build a C$3 Billion pipeline project in northern Alberta. Named the Grand Rapids Pipeline, it will carry crude oil and diluent (a kind of thinner to help the crude flow freely through the pipelines) from the Athabasca oil sands northwest of Fort McMurray 500 km south to the Edmonton-Hartland area. The pipeline will help fill the increasing need for oil transportation infrastructure surrounding the even growing oil sands regions of northern Alberta. The routing of the Grand Rapids Pipeline has yet to be finalized, with specific concerns relating to the environment, aboriginal and stakeholder input, as well as economics and land use still to be addressed. If the project is granted regulatory approval next year, TransCanada expects to be transporting as much as 900,000 barrels of crude oil plus over 300,000 barrels ...

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