Fall Federal Budget: Will Spending Be Cut?

Canada has historically presented an annual budget since Confederation in 1867, even through periods like World Wars and the Great Depression, but we have recently experienced the longest period without a full federal budget in our history. By the time the next one is brought down, expected in October 2025, it will have been 18 months since the controversial April 2024 budget which introduced the doomed capital gains inclusion rate hikes. What can we expect?

Data from a recent PwC study shows that the economic repercussions of Canada’s increasing lack of competitiveness due to U.S. tax reforms, could be ten times greater than the fallout from a NAFTA termination. If you work with business owner clients, expect to be asked about the granular details of the incentives.

Reputation matters, as the recent nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court has experienced just this week. It matters to your business, too. According to a report by Deloitte*, it accounts for 25 percent of any business’ market value. With such significant value placed on reputation, it’s not surprising that this is the number one strategic concern of business executives.

"When it comes to education, we are all looking for something different. Knowledge Bureau offers that variety”, states Connie Zhu, of Richmond, BC.

Traditionally, 85 percent of Canada’s workforce has consisted of the employed. But that’s about to change: 45 percent of Canada’s workforce will be “on demand” or “freelancing” by 2020 *. This is a continuation of an upward trend that started with the financial crisis of 2008. This also means an increasing number of Canadians need to revisit what kind of tax and financial planning they should be doing.

Tax specialists add tremendous value over and above the role of a traditional tax preparer. Rather than just calculating and filing the annual return, they offer holistic tax planning advice to reduce a family’s overall tax liability over the long run. They certainly use their knowledge, experience and skills to maximize refundable and non-refundable tax credits in the short term; but their long-term role is deeper and broader.

The September 15 instalment deadline is looming. Many dread yet another payment to the CRA; after all, it seems like only yesterday that personal and business taxes due over the spring and summer were paid! Now is the time for tax and financial professionals to contact clients, estimate taxes owing for 2018, and navigate through taxing times if there is a cash flow crunch.