News Room

Opportunity: Canadian Dollar Stabilizes, Somewhat

Things have started to turn around for the Canadian dollar in the second quarter of 2025. It hit a 22 year low in January of 2025. Investors and property owners, who have been swooning at the high burn rate in their travel plans and property maintenance abroad, may wish to consider recent more positive trends and consider some risk mitigation opportunities now that the dollar is stabilizing somewhat.  

On the Brink: Many are $200 Away from Financial Collapse

Despite the Bank of Canada’s recent interest rate hold and decreasing mortgage rates, many families are on the brink of being unable to pay all of their bills. This, as new carbon taxes are about to emerge in some of the hardest hit provinces. Early tax filing may help. 

Payroll News: 2019 Employment Insurance Rate Changes

One important change has been introduced that affects payroll processing in 2019: the rate applied to calculate the maximum Employment Insurance (EI) contribution amounts have been reduced, though benefit amounts remain the same.

High Standards: Take-Aways from the Advanced Tax Update

It’s been a complex year of significant tax change, and our six-city CE Summit Workshop tour gave many tax and financial advisors a comprehensive refresher to prepare for the upcoming tax season.  If you missed it, the 355-page Knowledge Journal can still be purchased. Here’s what our delegates liked best about this sold out event:

Business Owners: Beware the Demographic Trap

Who will inherit the family business?  What will it be worth when time for transition comes? Why is this issue so difficult to discuss? There are many reasons, but demographic change is bringing it to the forefront and for these reasons, planning needs to happen sooner rather than later, according to a new book by Jenifer Bartman and Evelyn Jacks, entitled Defusing the Family Business Time Bomb.

Getting the New Climate Action Incentive Rebate Right

Canada now has a nationwide standard for reducing carbon pollution, which means that starting in 2019, a federal “backstop” carbon pollution pricing system will apply to four provinces – Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick – that have not implemented their own systems. For taxpayers in these provinces, a new refundable tax rebate will be claimed on the 2018 tax return. But, like most tax provisions, it has its wrinkles.

When is the Right Time for Business Succession?

Transitioning a business can be an emotional period of your life as an entrepreneur. True leaders, however, embrace the fact that businesses need succession plans and that sometimes these businesses can even outgrow the skills of the founder. Knowing when to let go is probably the hardest business decision you will make as a business but your trusted tax and financial advisors can help.
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

Do you believe Canada’s tax system based, on self-assessment, has suffered under recent changes at CRA and by Finance Canada? If so, what is the one wish you have for tax reform?

  • Yes
    343 votes
    69.86%
  • No
    148 votes
    30.14%