Tax
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February 21, 2025
Seven criminal organizations listed as ‘terrorist entities’ subject to dealings, immigration bans
Canada has listed seven “transnational criminal organizations,” including street gangs and several major Mexican cartels that traffic in fentanyl, as “terrorist entities” under the Criminal Code — triggering immigration and dealings bans in Canada as well as expanding the tools law enforcement authorities have to trace and seize proceeds of crime, the federal government says.
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February 21, 2025
T-crossing, i-dotting: Prevent tax missteps via Evans et al. v. The Attorney General of Canada
In Evans et al. v. The Attorney General of Canada, 2024 ONSC 1955, the Ontario Superior Court addressed an application for the rectification of a resolution made by the trustee of the Evans Family Trust. The resolution, which was intended to allocate $375,000 of taxable capital gains to the beneficiaries, failed to clearly specify the allocation of these capital gains, resulting in unintended tax consequences.
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February 20, 2025
PBO report finds guaranteed basic income program could reduce poverty by 40 per cent
The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) has released a report on a guaranteed basic income (GBI) for Canadians, concluding that the measure could reduce the country's household poverty rate by 40 per cent if implemented.
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February 18, 2025
Why Canada should not be 51st state but join the EU: Now that’s tempting | Hodine Williams
Let me get right to it: the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States is a fantasy better suited to remain in the realm of late-night TV debates and Internet memes. Sure, Canada and the United States share the world’s longest undefended border, a love of hockey (okay, mostly Canada), and a language (again, mostly), but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Canada is a proud, independent nation with its own identity, values, and systems — none of which align with the idea of becoming part of the United States. But what if there’s a better, bolder alternative? Hear me out! What if Canada joined the European Union? Yes, the EU. Before you dismiss this as absurd, let’s dive into the facts, the hurdles and why this idea might not be as crazy as it sounds.
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February 14, 2025
Feds launch 2025 pre-budget consultations amid tariff uncertainty
The federal government has launched pre-budget consultations amid the looming threat of the U.S. potentially imposing tariffs on Canadian imports.
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February 14, 2025
Federal Court of Appeal rejects ‘commandeering’ intervention in tax appeal, provides guidelines
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a motion to intervene in an appeal of a Tax Court decision, finding that the proposed intervener sought to introduce a new issue and evidence. Justice David Stratas used the case to discuss the limitations of potential interveners at the appellate level.
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February 13, 2025
CBA urges new funding as Federal Court’s massive budget shortfall threatens drastic service cuts
The Liberal government’s underfunding of the Federal Court could “drastically” reduce service to litigants, its chief justice warns, spurring the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) to call for urgent “off-cycle” federal funding to address the national trial court’s chronic multi-million-dollar budgetary shortfalls.
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February 13, 2025
CFIB says small businesses facing cancelled, delayed orders amid Canada-U.S. tariff threat
According to new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), almost one in five small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are facing delayed or cancelled orders caused by ongoing uncertainty over a potential Canada-U.S. trade war.
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February 13, 2025
Feds confirm carbon rebate for small business will be tax free, but legislation still lacking
The federal Finance Department has confirmed that the carbon rebate for small businesses will be tax-free — but will not take effect until legislation is amended.
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February 13, 2025
Europe’s revenge: They may hit back harder | Hodine Williams
The imposition of tariffs by the United States on European Union goods has long been a crossroads in transatlantic trade relations. Historically, the U.S. has used tariffs to protect domestic industries, often citing national security or unfair trade practices as justification — yawn. The most notable recent example was the Trump administration’s 2018, decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports from the EU under s. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows tariffs for national security reasons. The EU responded swiftly with retaliatory tariffs on iconic American products like alcohol, motorcycles and jeans. But as tensions grow, the question remains: how will the EU respond to U.S. tariffs, and what tools does it have at its disposal?