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?

In introducing a new carbon tax on September 1, 2018, the Manitoba provincial government is planning to return at least some of it back to taxpayers by way of personal and business tax cuts, while it grapples with debt servicing costs that have exceeded a billion dollars for the first time. 

March 13 and 14 are important days in Canadian financial history as both the RRSP and Old Age Security Benefit celebrate their birthdays.

CRA started processing refunds later than in the past this year, on February 26.  We asked Knowledge Bureau Report readers what they thought of that, given that refunds would now be delayed into March.  The good news is that the CRA does seem to be abiding by the ten-business-day turnaround promised.

Are you a small-business owner thinking about hiring a highly qualified bookkeeper? Or perhaps you are thinking about expanding your own skills and credentials to handle your own financial matters better in house? Getting your business affairs and tax information in order is very important as CRA is clamping down with increased audit activities these days. 

Guest columnist Dr. Michael Graham, two-time guest lecturer at Knowledge Bureau’s Distinguished Advisor Conference, muses about the economic and political volatility of the day and what Canadian investors can expect as March gathers steam, post-federal budget.  Early registration for this year’s outstanding 15th Anniversary DAC is March 15 – RSVP now.

You don’t have to be Irish to experience some luck this St. Patrick’s Day. Take advantage of our “Luck of the Irish” Special, available now until March 31st 2018.