Finance Canada: No More Spring Budgets

Finance Canada announced on October 7 that Canada’s federal budgets will be brought down in the fall starting with the November 4, 2025 event; a significant departure from the spring schedule (February, March or April) that has been the cycle for several decades. This is going to affect many other events as we know them, and in the annual government spending approval cycle. There will also be a new budget process for capital vs. operational expenses. Here’s what you need to know:

No rest for tax and financial professionals, it seems.  Between two long weekends, August 4 and September 8 a giant package of draft tax legislation (365 pages) and explanatory notes (459 pages) must be read, deciphered and reviewed to provide commentary.  It’s a very tight window considering the significance of the provisions, which reform the tax system for employees, employers, high income earners, those embarking on intergenerational transfers, investors in the clean economy and mineral exploration and those who try to circumvent the intent of the law.

The cost of living adjustment for the Canada Child Benefit, along with other federal benefits and credits, increased by 6.3% in July, bringing a welcome raise to families with children who are navigating inflation-fuelled price increases, especially for back-to-school supplies.   A mid-summer plan to improve the CCB for next year should however begin now.  Here’s what you need to know:

CRA is enhancing the questions they will ask when it comes time for a tax audit. In July, the department released 5 forms that require detailed information.  These will be covered in more detail in the September 20 CE Summit; however, here is an overview of what’s in each form.  Tax and accounting services specialists will want to add these forms to their interview checklists with every client who fits the profile for these requests:

A report updated on July 31 from Statistics Canada provides new data on who is retiring in Canada and when.  Is there in fact a retirement planning crisis in Canada?   Who is experiencing it?  You might be surprised at these new facts.  You may also want to weigh in on your observations on August 16 at noon when we present a national Meeting of the Minds with the Society of RWMs™.  Check out the stats and the pointed questions we will be asking our participants to weigh in on August.  Your opinion matters. Please join us.

Evelyn Jacks, President of Knowledge Bureau, is delighted to announce the headliners who will grace the prestigious stage at the Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC), November 12 to 14 at the spectacular Banff Springs Hotel.  This includes the outstanding MCs - two New Advisor of the Year Award winners – and a powerhouse of tax, investment, insurance, retirement and estate luminaries over the two day event.

What matters is what you keep.  There is no doubt your clients are interested in knowing how to inflation-proof and recession-proof their wealth and navigate successfully through emerging risks from the CRA.  To accomplish the former, advisors must have broader knowledge in tax on upcoming tax changes and how astute investment planning in a very new economic environment can help clients maximize after-tax income and reduce capital erosion.  This year, real estate tax changes are in focus.