Red Ink on the Prairies

A day after Quebec’s Finance Minister Eric Girard brought down a Budget featuring a $6.3 Billion deficit, Saskatchewan’s Finance Minister Jim Reiter tabled his government’s budget on March 19. Next up was Finance Minister Adrian Salas, who tabled the Manitoba Budget on March 24. The common thread: there’s lots of red ink on the Prairies. But that’s where the budget documents differ between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Here’s the latest tax news and why it matters to the advice you give your clients.

There may be one silver lining to all this inflation…the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), arguably the best savings vehicle available to Canadians, is about to get even better.

There are four important strategies to maximize income with tax efficiency during both inflationary and potential recessionary headwinds.  Consider introducing them to your clients as part of your fall tax filing strategies:

The financial services industry lost a highly respected member of its community.  Dr. Paul Bates, M.T.S., DPT, FCPA, FCMA, CMC who was an exemplary, accomplished man, a fellow financial author and educator, an outstanding humanitarian and family man, and for so many of us, a true and dear friend. 

An exciting development over the past few decades has been the democratization of alternative investments, bringing these once exclusive set of investments to an ever-increasing group of investors. Advisors must be ready to discuss these products and help their clients navigate the risks and opportunities within the current market.  The alternative investment session at DAC Oct 16-18, led by Jennifer Louth, Sr. Learning Consultant FT Academy, Franklin Templeton, covers all of that and more. 

Last month’s poll in Knowledge Bureau Report asked  “Do you think that seniors over the age of 75 should continue to get the 10% increase in their Old Age Security benefits which began in July of 2022?”  Overwhelmingly the answer was yes:  89% for it; 11% against.  The comments that accompanied the vote were eye-opening.

In the April 2022 Federal Budget, the government announced its intention to add an additional tax on “luxury items.”  This new tax was included in Bill C-19, which became law on June 23, 2022, and collection of the tax began on September 1.  Items sold prior to September 1 are not subject to the tax even if delivery takes place after September 1.