But in Ontario, a government initiative introduced in November 2010, the Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act, is striving to create partnerships among government, businesses, universities, and nonprofit organizations to help advance water-related technologies.

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He hope this business plan would act as a blueprint for other such partnerships, highlighting a way to balance conservation and amenities with providing jobs and income for the local economy.

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"We are a car company that through market-driven, customer focused innovation is learning to think and act like an electronics company, leveraging partnerships with fresh, innovative technology leaders, " added Mulally, who delivered the Consumer Electronics Show keynote address on Thursday.

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But now the potential for millions of new customers under the Affordable Care Act is giving health plans a different reason to seek partnerships.

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It is the arrival on the scene of funds and partnerships willing to use their investments to challenge existing managements or to act as intermediaries to facilitate mergers and disposals.

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In particular, watch out for this proposal to amend the 2004 Civil Partnership Act, to leave out the words "of the same sex", and thus allow heterosexual civil partnerships.

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