Annex B to the Fifth Protocol--the Canadian explanatory notes--provides that distributions from “income trusts and royalty trusts” that are treated as dividends under Canadian tax law will be treated as dividends under the Treaty.

Make the case to your broker and clearing house, and let them know you’re not happy that you’re being taxed now on your Canadian income trust dividends and you’ll be taxed again when you take distributions from your IRA.

The debate over the US health care system will soon be over. Taking its place will be, among other issues, the matter of the so-called Bush Tax Cuts and their expiration. And good news emerges from the process of amending the US-Canada Tax Treaty.

The Finance Ministry’s guidelines facilitate the conversion of SIFTs into corporations via one of two methods that are both tax-free for Canadian tax purposes and are most likely tax-free for US tax purposes as well.

For US-based investors looking for ways to hedge against the long-term threat of inflation, to take advantage of the present reality of a declining USD relative to currencies of resource-rich, financially stable countries, and to grab a little China-levered growth, Australia is worth a deeper look.

The recent revolution in intergovernmental policymaking is only the latest evidence that the global economic order has changed. Istanbul, the junction of West and East, was a fitting locale for the denouement of a largely symbolic transition.

Canadian banks' resilience is a pleasant surprise given Canada’s dependence on the US economy. The ability to withstand--and prosper--during the downturn certainly highlights their fundamental strengths.

China has a large and growing store of excess foreign exchange reserves. It hasn't had to tap those reserves during the recession. China Investment Corp (CIC), burned a bit by financials, still has plenty of resources to deploy.

From a long-term perspective, Harper is good for Canadian business and good for investors in Canada. He's the top guy right now in a country that maintained active oversight of its financial system, didn’t succumb to the short-term allure of cheap and easy credit for homebuyers, and is cutting taxes.

Canada is still among the strongest, if not the strongest, of the world’s developed economies. The government hasn’t had to bail out its banks, it has a strong balance sheet, and the country is blessed with significant resources to export once the global economy returns to more normal growth. These factors make “The Canada Trade” highly attractive from a US investor’s perspective.