1170.4. If, at a particular time, the activities carried on in Québec by an insurance corporation diminish or cease and it may reasonably be considered that, as a result, another insurance corporation begins, after the particular time, to carry on similar activities in the course of carrying on a recognized business, in relation to a major investment project, or increases the scope of similar activities carried on in the course of carrying on such a business, the total payroll attributable to those activities or portions of activities is not to be taken into account, for the purpose of determining the amount that the other insurance corporation may deduct from its tax payable under section 1170.1 for a 12-month period that ends in a taxation year, unless the activities are activities of a recognized business whose acquisition by the other insurance corporation was authorized by the Minister of Finance in accordance with section 1170.3.