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.  

What to Claim:  Attendant Care Expenses, Medical Expenses or the Disability Amount

There is significant complexity for taxpayers who may qualify to claim both attendant care expenses under the medical expense credit and the disability amount.  CRA has provided an excellent guide to making the best claim for your clients.   

Become a Digital Advisor of the Future

This week advisors were treated to the secrets behind greater work-life balance and more impactful client relationships with an overview of a new program from Knowledge Bureau:  how to become a digital advisor for the future.  Did you miss it?  You can still listen in, and save money on this new certificate course now till April 30.  Here’s what you learn:

Do You Need CE Credits? KB Has New Options!

Did you know 2023 is an important Milestone Year for CE/CPD Credits in the tax and financial services industry? Knowledge Bureau designates need 15 CE Credits by June 30 to relicence their credentials;  IIROC Cycle 9 ends on December 31, 2023 and Insurance Council licensing CE credits are due at various times throughout the spring.  That’s why Knowledge Bureau is offering 5 new CE options to help you meet your CE requirements before the summer:

The Importance of Privacy Principles in Business

Statistics Canada says that about 1 in every 10 business are impacted by a cyber security or privacy incident.  Worse, in a rapidly changing landscape Artificial Intelligence (AI) can now mimic voices and have human-like conversations, draft emails, write articles and books and  more – all in a few seconds;  think ChatGPT, for example.  At a minimum, these transformational changes require a solid understanding of how to meet the accountabilities of privacy and confidentiality.  Now you can earn 10 compliance credits from IIROC by completing a new cutting edge course from Knowledge Bureau: Privacy Principles in Business.

Critical Pointers in April Tax Discussions

There are a number of issues to discuss as tax season is now in full swing.  To begin, it’s more expensive to owe money to the CRA this quarter and tax and financial advisors will want to advise their clients of important – and potentially expensive - tax filing milestones coming up in the second quarter.   There is good news, however, for seniors.  Here’s what you need to know:

The Federal Budget:  More Taxes to Come

Managing the economy is a complex challenge for government and Canada's near-term economic outlook remains uncertain, according to the March 28, 2023 Federal Budget.  For taxpayers, however, there is certainty: the impact of increasing carbon taxes and with that, higher GST costs. This perhaps is  the bigger story, based on new information from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, released on March 30.
 
 
 
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
    344 votes
    69.92%
  • No
    148 votes
    30.08%