Note 8 - Common shares:	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Treasury Stock [Text Block]	8. Common shares: The Company’s authorized common share capital is 250 million shares of common stock without nominal or par value. On December 31, 2012, there were 44,322,159 shares of common stock outstanding. Repurchase of common shares: (a) Modified Dutch Tender Offers: On January 23, 2012, the Company announced that it successfully concluded a modified “Dutch auction tender offer” that was previously announced on December 15, 2011. Under the terms of the offer, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 7,570,236 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $0.77 per share, for a total of $5,829,082, excluding transaction costs of approximately $64,000. The purchase price and all transaction costs were funded from available cash and an additional advance under its Amended Credit Facility from the Bank in the amount of $4.0 million. All shares purchased in the tender offer received the same price and all shares repurchased were immediately cancelled. As a result of the completion of the tender offer, as of January 23, 2012, the Company had 46,047,053 shares issued and outstanding. (b) Normal Course Issuer Bids: On November 11, 2011 the Company commenced an NCIB which authorized the repurchase up to 3,840,000 shares of its common stock. During Fiscal 2011 the Company repurchased 23,765 of its common shares under the NCIB at an average purchase price of $0.78 per share, for a total of $18,442. The purchase price and all transaction costs were funded from available cash. All shares repurchased under the NCIB were immediately retired. This NCIB was suspended upon the commencement of the modified Dutch auction tender offer on December 15, 2011. On March 16, 2012, the Company announced that it was reinstating its previously announced stock buyback program, which initially commenced on November 11, 2011 and which was temporarily suspended when the Company undertook its Dutch auction tender offer. Under this buyback program, the Company may repurchase up to 3,840,000 shares of the Company's common stock over the 12-month period that commenced on November 15, 2011. The Company repurchased 2,371,204 shares under this program during the year ended December 31, 2012.

Note 8 - Common shares:

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

8. Common shares:

The Company’s authorized common share capital is 250 million shares of common stock without nominal or par value. On December 31, 2012, there were 44,322,159 shares of common stock outstanding.

Repurchase of common shares:

(a) Modified Dutch Tender Offers:

On January 23, 2012, the Company announced that it successfully concluded a modified “Dutch auction tender offer” that was previously announced on December 15, 2011. Under the terms of the offer, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 7,570,236 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $0.77 per share, for a total of $5,829,082, excluding transaction costs of approximately $64,000. The purchase price and all transaction costs were funded from available cash and an additional advance under its Amended Credit Facility from the Bank in the amount of $4.0 million. All shares purchased in the tender offer received the same price and all shares repurchased were immediately cancelled. As a result of the completion of the tender offer, as of January 23, 2012, the Company had 46,047,053 shares issued and outstanding.

(b) Normal Course Issuer Bids:

On November 11, 2011 the Company commenced an NCIB which authorized the repurchase up to 3,840,000 shares of its common stock. During Fiscal 2011 the Company repurchased 23,765 of its common shares under the NCIB at an average purchase price of $0.78 per share, for a total of $18,442. The purchase price and all transaction costs were funded from available cash. All shares repurchased under the NCIB were immediately retired. This NCIB was suspended upon the commencement of the modified Dutch auction tender offer on December 15, 2011.

On March 16, 2012, the Company announced that it was reinstating its previously announced stock buyback program, which initially commenced on November 11, 2011 and which was temporarily suspended when the Company undertook its Dutch auction tender offer. Under this buyback program, the Company may repurchase up to 3,840,000 shares of the Company's common stock over the 12-month period that commenced on November 15, 2011. The Company repurchased 2,371,204 shares under this program during the year ended December 31, 2012.