OTTAWA—The 2014 federal budget addresses some key areas of continuing relevance to the country's graphic communications industry, said the Canadian Printing Industries Association (CPIA).

Released on Feb. 11, the budget revealed the government's overall mandate to shore up resources for a planned fiscal surplus in 2015. CPIA chair Sandy Stephens said that while it did not contain much in the way of new initiatives for printers, three points reflect ongoing issues.

Capital cost allowance

The CPIA and its coalition partner Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) have long pursued faster write-offs and cost recovery on manufacturing and processing equipment.

CME says being able to write off older equipment more quickly creates incentive to adopt newer technology, leading to more productivity and energy efficiency. Accelerated capital cost allowance was adopted in 2007.

"Since 2006, the CPIA has actively lobbied to ensure that depreciation rates properly reflect the productive lifespan of high-technology equipment used within the Graphic Communications Industry," said CPIA's Stephens, adding that "the CPIA continues to support the retention of competitive CCA policy."

Print supply chain

The government has pegged a $90.4 million investment spread over the next four years to help boost the Forest Industry Transformation program, which the Forest Products Association of Canada predicts will boost the forest industry and create new jobs.

"Bringing advanced technologies to Canada's forest products' industry significantly strengthens the competitiveness of the entire print supply chain," said Stephens.

Paper billing

Ottawa says banks will be banned from charging extra fees for printed credit card statements, but did not commit to similar prohibitions on print and paper fees for other utilities and services.

Said Stephens, "Consumers have made it very clear that paper bills and statements are an important option they want to keep and the CPIA has partnered with Two Sides to address the misconceptions that adversely affect the print medium - including vague, unverifiable claims like 'go paperless, save trees' as a pretext for cost cutting."