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Between a rock and a hard place. That could well describe how Canada’s suffering business owners feel about the complete lack of direction that followed Monday’s announcement that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) has been extended until December 2020. It’s meant to help restart the nation’s economy, but you won’t find a single reference to this on CRA’s website as of today. Here’s why that’s a very big deal:
Business owners remain financially stranded in Canada. According to a new survey by the CFIB, 33% of business owners have had to dip into their personal savings just to stay afloat during the pandemic crisis, 26% of them have had to increase credit card debt, and 8% of them tapped into their retirement savings early. That scenario is bolstered by a July 15 survey from Stats Canada which confirms the extent of the financial burden borne by business owners. A continued lifeline is critical to clinch Canada’s economic recovery.
On July 2, the government released draft legislation to temporarily change some of the rules around salary deferral leave and Registered Pension Plans. Here’s what you need to know:
Need some positivity in your life? The new Bank of Canada Governor, Tiff Macklem announced yesterday that the benchmark interest rate would remain 0.25% (where it’s been since March) and will do so until the 2% inflation target is reached, which might take at least two years, according to their Monetary Policy Report. But there is more good news:
Are you in the dark about tax rules for employed and self-employed taxpayers? Shore up your knowledge base now with two new short courses from Knowledge Bureau in the new Knowledge Gap Series. Here’s what you’ll learn online (that means in the comfort of home, office, cottage or beach), and the price is right, too.