Income taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule Of Earnings And Provision Recovery Of Income Taxes [Table Text Block]

				December 28, 2013	December 29, 2012	December 31, 2011
				$	$	$
Income tax provision (recovery) at combined
	statutory rate			(232)	9,392	7,773

Income (decrease) by the effects of:
	Change in valuation allowance			3,434	(1,354)	(1,054)
	Impairment loss on investments			2,799	-	-
	Foreign tax rate differential			2,535	2,820	824
	Change in unrecognized tax benefits			153	180	-
	Impact of substantively enacted tax rates			29	(406)	1,036
	Benefits of intercompany financing structures			(626)	(210)	(1,231)
	Impact of foreign exchange			(224)	18	194
	Impact of goodwill and intangible asset
	Expiring non-capital losses and R&D credits
		plus a change in Canadian capital losses		-	-	2,002
	Other			(88)	494	352
	Provision for income taxes			7,780	10,934	9,896

The components of earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes are shown below:

				December 28, 2013	December 29, 2012	December 31, 2011
				$	$	$
Canada				(15,945)	9,070	(1,559)
U.S.				13,462	15,416	17,136
Other				1,609	10,959	12,185
				(874)	35,445	27,762

The components of the provision for (recovery of) income taxes are shown below:

				December 28, 2013	December 29, 2012	December 31, 2011
				$	$	$
Current income tax provision (recovery):
	Canada			402	250	(468)
	U.S.			5,434	3,123	3,534
	Other			806	3,041	2,724
				6,642	6,414	5,790

Deferred income tax provision (recovery):
	Canada			1,766	889	613
	U.S.			(728)	3,648	3,121
	Other			100	(17)	372
				1,138	4,520	4,106
Provision for income taxes				7,780	10,934	9,896

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Deferred income taxes of the Company are comprised of the following:

				December 28, 2013	December 29, 2012	December 31, 2011
				$	$	$
Differences in property, plant and equipment
	and intangible assets			(32,654)	(33,476)	(29,088)
Capital and non-capital losses				14,822	16,076	16,240
Tax benefit of scientific research expenditures				4,974	5,086	4,908
Tax benefit of costs incurred during share issuances				354	368	191
Inventory basis differences				2,106	1,944	2,423
Other accrued reserves				3,863	1,241	2,124
				(6,535)	(8,761)	(3,202)
Less: valuation allowance				6,535	3,145	4,547
Net deferred income tax liability				(13,070)	(11,906)	(7,749)

Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities By Geographic Segment [Table Text Block]

The components of the deferred income tax asset (liability) are shown below:

				December 28, 2013	December 29, 2012	December 31, 2011
				$	$	$
Canada				6,053	7,848	11,278
U.S.				(15,475)	(16,721)	(16,009)
Other				(3,648)	(3,033)	(3,018)
				(13,070)	(11,906)	(7,749)

Schedule Of Deferred Income Tax Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]

The components of the deferred income tax valuation allowance are as follows:

				December 28, 2013	December 29, 2012	December 31, 2011
				$	$	$
Balance, beginning of year				3,145	4,547	5,880
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance				3,434	(1,354)	(1,054)
Adjustments to valuation allowance as a result of
	acquisitions and foreign exchange			(44)	(48)	(279)
Balance, end of year				6,535	3,145	4,547

Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]

					December 28, 2013	December 29, 2012
					$	$
Balance, beginning of year					2,757	2,568
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year					153	189
Balance, end of year					2,910	2,757