Red Ink on the Prairies

A day after Quebec’s Finance Minister Eric Girard brought down a Budget featuring a $6.3 Billion deficit, Saskatchewan’s Finance Minister Jim Reiter tabled his government’s budget on March 19. Next up was Finance Minister Adrian Salas, who tabled the Manitoba Budget on March 24. The common thread: there’s lots of red ink on the Prairies. But that’s where the budget documents differ between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Here’s the latest tax news and why it matters to the advice you give your clients.

If you are a tax or financial advisor, Knowledge Bureau is offering numerous opportunities throughout 2025-2026 for you to shore up tax knowledge and important CE accreditation for licensing for KB Designations, Professional Designations in the accounting sector as well as CIRO, MDSA, AIC and Insurance Councils. Mark your calendar for the live/virtual event milestones below and see the links for online program options as well.

At the 2025 Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors, attendees will benefit from two dynamic sessions sponsored by Gold Sponsor Franklin Templeton, offering both global and practice management perspectives for today’s advisors.

CRA is hoping that two million taxpayers will opt to use their new “SimpleFile” services - by phone, by mail or digitally – to have their tax returns filed “automatically by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The goals is to help more vulnerable people receive access to over $3 Billion in tax credits and benefits. Unfortunately, however, using the system is anything but simple. It may in fact be a very stressful and frustrating exercise. However, CRA believes that will improve exponentially. Check out what’s to know about SimpleFile:

The one thing we must all pay for in advance is our retirement. It’s a consistent message from tax and financial professionals to clients of all ages. Yet, despite all of the advice, millions of Canadians are ill prepared for the years when their ability to earn income, actively, ends. The trick is to start early and put away a little, regularly. That’s why it’s important to engage Gen Y and Z in future planning conversations. How to do it? Show them the Math!

Two pieces of good news for the last quarter of 2025: seniors will get a small raise, but prescribed interest rates at CRA will stay steady after last quarter’s drop in rates. Here’s what you need to integrate into your year end planning activities.

Stand Apart! Enrol now for your one stop, year round tax updating solution.  Knowledge Bureau’s Live Virtual CE Summits for 2025-2026 start the day after the November 4 federal budget.  In a series of four full day events you and your team will have the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply tax preparation and planning expertise to solve tax compliance issues for clients.  It’s the pre-eminent tax training choice for Canada’s Tax Preparers and Financial Advisors.