The Importance of Provincial Budgets: Elbows Up and No Bracket Creep!
Some of the right things are happening in Nova Scotia, from the perspective of improving standards of living in that province. And that’s important news because according to the Fraser Institute, Canadians have suffered the worst five-year decline in their standard of living over the 2020-to-2024 period since the Great Depression. It notes, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person decreased by 2.0% (0.4% annually) ; this despite aggregate GDP growth of 1.5% over the period. Further, all ten provinces are experiencing stagnation, which is unique in our history. So what’s the good news in Nova Scotia, at this critical juncture?Graduates in the News: Michael Akpan, DFA
Michael Sunday Akpan of Akpan Corporation in Orleans, Ontario, graduated from the DFA – Bookkeeping Services Specialist Program and enthusiastically shared how this education has helped him reach new goals in his business: “I am successful because I have a vision for a better life. I have the power to do something incredible!”
Finance Canada Report Raises Eyebrows
Two important economic reports were released in Canada on October 19 and October 23. The former, by the Finance Department has raised eyebrows for its tax and spending increases. The second, from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, has warned about the effect of negative trade actions on Canada’s GDP.
High Taxation Has Implications for Economic Growth
Exactly what is the effect of high taxation on long-term economic growth in a country in which an aging population has limited capacity to pay more tax? It’s an important consideration in light of Finance Canada’s annual report, released on Friday October 19 and this week’s PBO Report.
High-Net-Worth Clients: Opportunities in Wealth Management Services
These are interesting times for wealth advisors, amidst new fall volatility*. While High-Net-Worth (HNW) clients around the world enjoyed investment returns of over 20 percent for the second year in a row, increases in satisfaction levels did not correlate with increased returns. This is especially true in Canada.
RESP: A Key to Closing the Poverty Gap
Statistics show that small children who grow up with the expectation they will take higher education will reach those aspirations, and this is likely the key to breaking the poverty cycle in Canada. The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) can help, but governments and the private sector need to do more coaching with parents, because educational aspirations begin with them.
Scaling a Business to New Heights: Are You Up to the Challenge?
If you are in business today, building on what you have accomplished so far can be very exciting. Yet it can also be intimidating, especially if the necessary steps have not been fully thought out and properly planned for, and if you are keenly aware that in the absence of growth comes the peril of mismanaging the equity you have built so far.
