10 Second Headlines

North-American job data Canada added 32,000 jobs in March, driven by full-time gains; unemployment 5.8% Alberta added 8,300 jobs in March, all being part-time; unemployment rate 6.3% vs 6.8% M/M, lowest since 2015. Alberta… Read More

Provincial budgets Quebec plans to balance its budget for the 4th straight year. Program expenditures will increase 4.7%; revenue climbs 2.2%. $3.6 billion of new investment in health care; $1.6 billion in education over… Read More

Alberta Budget 2018-19 deficit at $8.8 billion, equivalent to ~18% of total revenue. Net debt-to-GDP ratio will increase to 8.7% fiscal 2019 vs 6% in 2018; 12.4% by 2020-21. Alberta will borrow $15.4 billion… Read More

Canada Manitoba has introduced tax cuts effective January 1, 2019. Province will increase the personal basic exemption by $1,010 and another $1,010 in 2020. Plan raises the small business income tax threshold to $500,000… Read More

Lt. Governor Lois Mitchell, Speech from the Throne – March 8, 2018 “We are stronger when we look out for each other.” Our jobs, our money are being transferred to the U.S. Bill 1,… Read More

Alberta Bitumen Alberta announced that it will commit $1 billion to partial upgrading investments in the province, including $800 million in loan guarantees and $200 million in direct grants. Partial upgrading requires little or… Read More

BC Property Taxes The new annual property tax (the ‘speculator tax’) taking effect fall 2018, appears to be targeting Albertans and absentee home owners who do not pay income tax in B.C., as Whistler,… Read More

Winter rail challenges Increased demand from agriculture and the oil industry, combined with harsh winter conditions, created a rail car shortage, and the worst backlog in grain shipments since 2013. With Alberta pipelines at… Read More

Beautiful BC (except when you die) (Source: Duncan Craig LLP) For estate planning purposes Alberta and B.C. are surprisingly different, for example: A $2 million property would have a probate fee of $525 in… Read More

Canadian tax changes for 2017 The prescribed rate by CRA for loans to spouses is currently at 1%. The rate is expected to increase with the next adjustment on April 1, 2018. Tuition is… Read More