Time’s Up: CRA’s 100 Day Mandate for Improvement

After years of frustration on the part of tax professionals and taxpayers alike, the Finance Minister ordered the Canada Revenue Agency to clean up its act in 100 days. Specifically, the improvement plan was to run from September 2 through December 11. Finance Minister and Minister of National Revenue, Francoise-Phillippe Champagne instructed CRA to fix “unacceptable wait times and service delays.” Time’s up this week and CRA has released an update on progress. What gets measured, gets done. Let’s see what CRA’s metrics show. 

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) may be one of the lesser understood tax credits but for your clients who have a disability it is critically important. Having a conversation with your clients about health changes in their life circumstances and those of their loved ones could help them access this tax credit.  

 In today's rapidly evolving job market, continuous learning has become essential for career advancement and being competitive. Whether it is acquiring new technical skills, pivoting into a different field, or upgrading qualifications, returning to school can significantly enhance an individual's career prospects. However, the cost of further education can be an obstacle. Fortunately, the Government of Canada offers a solution through the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) — a program that allows individuals to withdraw funds from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to finance full-time training or education.

When a person dies in Canada there are hundreds of decisions which must be made. That’s why getting one’s affairs in order is so important, long before the event. In this second in our series on death and taxes in Canada, we’ll consider the highlights for discussions to be had with clients about reporting requirements at death of a taxpayer. 

The 2025 tax filing year is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory, with penalties and interest costs on the rise and the CRA facing significant hurdles in managing information during peak filing season. Against this backdrop, the CE Savvy Summit on September 17, 2025 will host a critical session: New Trends in Tax Audit Defence and Appeals, led by Kim G.C. Moody, an experienced tax expert, who will unpack the implications of CRA’s expanding audit powers.

In a market where clients demand more from their advisors, the ability to provide specialized, high-level advice has never been more important. The Professional Practitioner Diploma (PPD) equips financial professionals with the advanced knowledge and credentials needed to differentiate themselves, build client trust, and compete effectively in a crowded financial services landscape.

At Acuity 2025, Larry Frostiak, FCPA, FCA, CFP, TEP, RWM™, FDFS™, will lead a session titled “Year-End Planning 2025: How Young Entrepreneurs Can Build Wealth Tax Efficiently,” focusing on strategies for Canada’s emerging business leaders. Young entrepreneurs often dream of independence, but unpredictable income, evolving tax rules, and the demands of balancing business growth with family can make building wealth seem daunting.