Draft Legislation Released July 23, 2026

While Canadians were enjoying the height of summer 2026, Finance Canada released draft legislation for a number of previously announced tax measures including new rules for the disabled, apprentices in the trades, those with automobile benefits, farmers on the prairies and business owners buying assets or remitting GST/HST. A consultation has been issued on the proposed new rules, which must be emailed to the department by September 4.  There are some important changes, some summarized below, which will also be covered in the September 23 CE Summit.

Things must be gearing up for a really busy week in tax accounting offices since the CRA has only received half the returns it is expecting for the 2017 tax filing year. It’s estimated that there will be 29 million tax returns filed this year. Is a big rush still to come before the May 1 deadline? In a word, yes.

Be warned that the CRA is taking tax avoidance and tax evasion more seriously than ever. The federal budget funded increased verification activities, additional auditors and specialists focused on the underground economy. A major focus of the CRA Criminal Investigations program has also targeted sophisticated taxpayers and promoters of schemes.

How do you define great advice? What services do you need to receive from your advisor that would compel you to recommend them to your friends and associates? In the tax business, that particular sweet spot occurs when the client says thanks and “see you next year.” But what happens to the standards of professional advice when a client’s health changes? Consider the following true-to-life scenario as an example. 

In celebration of Canada’s 150th year, Knowledge Bureau is pleased to put the spotlight on Canadian Financial Authors. This week: Rick Atkinson discusses Time Management – A Critical Retirement Skill.

How’s your luck? Give it a try for a chance to win a free registration to the Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) in the spectacular wine country of BC.

The Federal Budget has put an emphasis on positioning Canada for success in the innovation economy of tomorrow. With so many businesses poised to change hands soon, advisors must be thinking about preparing the next generation of leaders for the new economy, despite disruptive trends and significant tax changes. The continuity, and even survival, of these companies could depend on your help.