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The article reports that mining company BHP Billiton has abandoned its $38.6 billion offer to buy potash producer Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan. BHP indicated it was not prepared to meet conditions for the takeover specified by the Canadian government. BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers said his firm would nonetheless develop an industry presence in Canada.

The article discusses the thriving residential real-estate market in Canada. An index that tracks house prices in the nation's six largest cities has recorded gains for seven consecutive months. By one estimate the average price of a home in Canada reached a record high in 2009. Although Canada's central bank said it is not yet alarmed by the price increases, former government official Garth Turner predicts prices will at some point reverse sharply.

The article discusses challenges presented to Iqaluit in the Canadian territory of Nunavut by the Group of 7 meeting it will host in February, 2010. Iqaluit is 200 miles below the Arctic circle, has temperatures that can reach 40 degrees below zero fahrenheit, and is equipped with relatively few amenities. Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty believes the meeting will be memorable.

The article discusses varying effects of weakness in the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar. In Nova Scotia, Canada, Christmas-tree farmer Matthew Wright sees his income from exports to the U.S. fall when the American dollar declines. Conversely and under the same circumstances, David Campbell in Salem, New York enjoys increased profitability on exports of maple syrup to Canada.

The article reports on the concerns on the slowdown of Canada in the field of high-technology following the approval of courts and the government on the shutdown of Nortel Networks Corp. in September 2009. The sale of Nortel Networks to Avaya Inc. has been approved by Canadian and U.S. courts. Marc Garneau, science and technology policy expert of Liberal Party, attributes such problem to the dependence of country's wealth on natural resources and manufacturing. The lack of expenditures on the areas of technology and innovation in the country is noted.