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.  

Andrew Brash Update Andrew Brash, Knowledge Bureau Faculty member has settled into the routine at base camp. He and his team are testing rope lines and practicing rope work for the climb ahead. One of the obstacles Andrew and his team will face early in the climb on this side of Mt. Everest is the Khumbu Icefall. This formidable advisory comes with a reputation that proceeds it as one of the most dangerous stages of the South Col route. The Khumbu Icefall is at the head of the Khumbu Glacier, which advances down the mountain three to four feet a day. This movement puts the icefall in a constant state of change ñ crevasses can open up with no notice or be buried under snow, causing climbers to fall in. The icefall is close to base camp and allows climbers to do ëtest runs', exactly what Andrew and his team have done. "Today after years of reading, watching and listening to horror stories about the legendary Khumbu Icefall, I entered it with some trepidation to say the least. What I found was without doubt a serious mountaineering undertaking, but one with which I felt more comfortable than I would have imagined. It was in fact quite a relief to calm my fears concerning this infamous obstacle that is often considered the key to the mountain." We will continue featuring an ongoing update on his climb to the summit as part of Breaking Tax and Investment News or you can track his progress by visiting his website http://www.andrewbrash.com/ for live updates from the expedition. Stay tuned for updates! To book Andrew as a keynote speaker for your next conference or educational event contact The Knowledge Bureau, 1-866-953-4769.  

As an incentive to encourage young people to enrol in apprenticeship training programs, the federal government provides the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant which provides $1,000 cash per year to registered apprentices who have completed their first or second year in a designated Red Seal trade program, on or after January 1, 2007. This grant, which was intended to offset the cost of tuition, travel and tools is considered to be employment income and will be reported on at T4 slip for the year in which the grant is received.   The province of British Columbia provides additional incentives through the income tax return.  The BC Training Tax Credit - for Apprentices and Employers provides refundable tax credits for both the apprentices and their employers.  For apprentices in non-Red Seal programs the credit is $1,000 for completion of level 1 and 2 of the program, $2,000 for completion of level 3 and $2,500 for completion of level 4 or higher.  Enhanced grants are available for First Nations individuals and persons with disabilities.  For apprentices in Red Seal programs, no grant is available for completion of the first two levels, but grants for completion of levels 3 and above are the same as for non-Red Seal programs.  

Andrew Brash Update As last week's Breaking Investment News was making it's way to you, Andrew Brash, Knowledge Bureau Faculty member was arriving at base camp on the Nepal side of Mt. Everest. Unlike the Tibetan side, the journey to base camp in Nepal is largely done on foot. ìI had lots of time to think today, about what happened in 2006 (I could even see the last bit of the North Ridge for a moment), about the political events that have brought me and others here, and about home and what I am putting people through back there. However, there were some moments today where I did feel truly happy and excited to be here. The mountains here have to be seen in person to be truly appreciated.î Andrew writes in his online expedition dispatch. The Nepal base camp is 5300m above sea level and only the beginning of the challenges facing Andrew and his team. We will continue to feature an ongoing update on his climb as part of Breaking Tax and Investment News or you can track his progress by visiting his website http://www.andrewbrash.com/ for live updates from the expedition. Stay tuned for updates!

Did you know that a farmer carrying on business in a prescribed drought region may defer a portion of income earned in the year from sales of breeding animals? The amount of deferral depends on the percentage of reduction of the breeding herd: if the breeding herd is reduced by at least 15%, but less than 30%, then 30% of the sales proceeds (net of purchases) may be deducted in the year of sale; if the breeding herd is reduced by 30% or more, then 90% of the net sales proceeds may be deducted in the year of sale. The deferred amount must be included in income by the first taxation year after the farm is no longer in a prescribed drought region. The current prescribed drought regions are announced annually by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, after the calendar year end. For 2007, the list of designated regions include parts of southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, southwest Saskatchewan and Ontario. Click