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?

Did you know that in Canada, a third of people do not have dental insurance to get the dental care they need?  Starting on December 1, eligible Canadians were allowed to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit. This is the first-ever federal dental-care program, but it comes with fine print and potential auditing if incorrectly applied for.  Here’s what you need to know to tap into the program, which allows for dental expenditures to be claimed back to October 1, 2022. 

Working with both financial advisors and tax specialists can help clients give more to their communities through charity before year end.  But it’s critical for advisors to be proactive now, or time will run out to give more, tax efficiently. One common issue I’ve come across is with clients who have a non-registered investment portfolio, but are writing cheques to charities for their annual giving.

An overwhelming majority of Knowledge Bureau poll respondents, 93%, believe investors should harvest tax losses in 2022 to recover taxes paid on capital gains declared in the past three years.  It’s an interesting question, however, because in some cases it might be the right thing to do; in others not.  Most professionals reflected this sentiment in their comments.

Do you like working numbers and have an aptitude to solve problems?  Do you love working with people? It may be the right time to change course and embrace a new career path in the tax accounting industry.  It can be financially rewarding, too.  An accountant with 0-3 year's experience living in Alberta is making on average $70,538, according to the latest Robert Half Salary Guide. A senior tax accountant in Toronto is making over $100,000.

Knowledge Bureau is pleased to announce that two of its designation programs qualify for IIROC Credits:  The RWM™ (Real Wealth Manager) Designation qualifies for 20 PD credits and the MFA-P™ (Philanthropy) designation provides 20 PD and 3 Compliance Credits.

Here’s a proactive conversation starter with your clients this month: a tax filing and benefits milestones chart!  It’s a great way to ensure your clients can cash in on generous benefits from the government and a chance to remind your clients how important filing tax returns really can be.