LIBR 2195: Business & government sources

Instructors: Linda Morrison & Dean Giustini

April 1st, 2015

Class tonight:

• Review of assignment

• Government publications & websites

• Break at 6:30 & 7:30pm

• More after the break on:

• Public and private companies

• Industry research & small business

• Reference questions in business

• Review of business sources of information / handout

• Jeopardy game to end!

Review of assignment

1. How can I start a bed and breakfast in Kitsilano?

• Use two (2) books and one (1) association to find industry research

• What kind of permits or licences are needed?

2. What are the NAICS codes for Food Trucks?

• At Industry Canada, create a Financial Performance Report for Food Trucks in Manitoba

• How many businesses in total reported? What % of expenses for the industry as a whole was spent on wages and benefits?

3. What year is covered by most recent annual report for Alacer Gold Corporation?

• Don’t be confused by the “Date of Filing”. Look at date on actual report.

• Name one country where the company is doing exploration

4. Is Kal Tire a private or public company? Where is head office located?

• Which Langara Library business database provides the best information on this company?

From the business weeks handout:

“…Government publications are defined as printed documents, books,

periodicals, magazines, pamphlets or maps originating with the imprint

of an office of a legally organized government at the municipal, provincial

or national level. There are also international government publications…”

~ 2002 Romanow Report

What is a government publication?

City of Vancouver makes information available via its website(s):http://vancouver.ca/

Three (3) City boards are:

1. Vancouver Library: http://www.vpl.ca/• annual reports, budgets/financials, strategic objectives; Library board, management,

policies, mission/vision/values and news releases

2. Vancouver Police • crime & traffic statistics, interactive crime maps, full-text publications; annual reports,

strategic planning; special projects

3. Vancouver Board, Parks & Recreation• Recreation information, news, statistics, financials, capital plans, planning &

construction, usage, calendar of public events

Sites of interest: Open Data Catalogue & Freedom of Information

City of Vancouver (Municipal gov’t)

City of Vancouver Elections 2014

• Part of City of Vancouver website

• Links to previous city elections back to 1996

• Lists of mayors from 1886 onwards; past councils from 1950 –

• Links to election legislation i.e., Vancouver Charter 1953

• BC Local Government Statutes Amendment Act

• nominations, campaign financing, voting & polling stations, statistics

City of Vancouver Elections

Government of British Columbia• Official website /portal for British Columbia • Key source of information on business, economic, health & education topics

Crown Publications• Queen's Printer for BC; produces, sells government publications though

increasingly free reports, documents, bid contracts and acts.

Legislative Library of British Columbia Monthly Checklist• new BC Government Publications acquired by Legislative Library• Legislative Library catalogue makes publications (1997- ) available online

BC government publications

• Official Government of Canada website see http://www.canada.ca/en/

• All government agencies & departments? see Federal departments & agencies

• Info Source to assist individuals to exercise their rights under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act; supports federal government's commitment to facilitating access to information

Main statistical sources• Canada at a Glance

• StatsCan provides brief summaries of key statistics, int’l comparisons

• Canada Yearbook• Summary of statistics, brief commentary• Latest 5 years on Statistics Canada website; historical yearbooks 1867-1967

• Stats Canada “Summary Tables”• Overview of statistical information on Canada's people, economy and governments

Federal (Canada) government publications

“…Canada’s Depository Services Program (DSP) was established in 1927 as a partnership between libraries and government. Its mandate was to provide a central source for Government of Canada (GC)

documents for academic, college, legislative and public libraries. The DSP provides access to online publications for free and an online database of documents

from hundreds of GC departments in one place…”

SEARCH: Canadian Depository Services Program ONLINE CatalogueCatalogue for Canadian Government Federal Publications.

Over 120,000 items available in in pdf. Collection starts in 1995

http://www.publications.gc.ca/site/eng/programs/aboutDsp.html

Gov Pubs Depository Program

Reference Qs in gov’t publications

1. Can you find information for me on the structure of Canada’s Parliament?

2. What does Parliament do?

3. Can you find out who the Mayor of Vancouver was in 1995?

4. What is the structure of City Council in Vancouver? Burnaby? Surrey?

5. How large is the annual budgets for the following:Vancouver Public Library? Vancouver Police Department?

Gregor Robertson, Current Mayor of Vancouver

Sample business questions by type

1. I am looking for the head office address for Telus. Also its stock price.

2. I need to find the 2014 issues of the Harvard Business Review?

3. I am looking for books on globalization.

4. I am looking for information on globalization’s impact on Canadian businesses.

5. What are the top 100 companies (& CEOs) in Canada? Name two possible sources

http://www.canadastop100.com/national/https://hbr.org/

More samples business questions by type

6. BC businessman Jimmy Pattison is working with TransLink on the plebiscite for transit. I’d like to find articles about him that summarize his career.

7. I want to sell luxury cars in West Van. Can you help with market research?

8. I’m looking for current information on Apple. Their stock is high. I’m interested in how their products are selling, ie. iphone6 & Apple Watch.

9. I’m writing an essay on 'sub-prime mortgages'. Why has this happened?

10. I’m thinking of investing in real estate in Vancouver. Should I wait or jump into

the market? I need long term outlook and analysis of the market…

Company information: questions to ask

1. What is the company’s actual name? 2. Who owns them? Are they a subsidiary? 3. Is it a private or public company?

• More info on public companies…• Based in Canada? United States?

4. What financial reports are available? 5. Is there a government filing? 6. A SWOT analysis?7. How do customers feel about company?

What sources of information would you use?Where can YOU start?

Industry information: questions to ask

1. What is the NAICS Code for the industry? • Used to search & compare company against competitors

2. What geographic area does the industry cover? 3. What are the trends and outlook in the industry? 4. What products are sold? 5. Who are the customers

• How do they feel about the industry? 6. Is there strict government regulation of the industry? 7. Who are the companies competitive in the industry?

What sources of information would you use?

http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD&TVD=118464