The changes to the program, to reduce the credit and eliminate capital and other required expenditures from the total, make it less of an incentive to draw and secure new research and development in Canada. For instance, the ability for large companies to exchange unused SR and ED tax credits for direct funding when used for new R and D projects would be an improvement. Ideally, this would include capital assets for research and development facilities, building of new R and D facilities, and/or investment in machinery and equipment for R and D purposes.
On October 1st, 2014. See this statement in context.