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Parliament Hill where 2023 Fall Economic Statement was delivered

2023 Fall Economic Statement runs counter to Ottawa’s claims of fiscal prudence

In the 2023 Fall Economic Statement  tabled yesterday, the federal government was keen to boast about maintaining its ‘fiscal anchor’—the budget guardrails that seek to limit spending and deficits. Yet its recent policy commitments suggest otherwise. With debt-servicing costs skyrocketing, the fiscal picture is anything but pleasant. While the 2023 Fall Economic Statement is light […]

a modern house subject to the Underused Housing Tax

Understanding the Underused Housing Tax

For years, housing advocates across Canada have argued that property speculation and overseas investment were a major factor driving up home prices. While academics and industry stakeholders have debated the degree to which that is the case, the federal government took action to address the issue earlier this year by introducing the Underused Housing Tax. […]

Fall Economic Statement discussed in Toronto business district

Fall Economic Statement 2022 pledges fiscal responsibility while delivering new spending

Inflation remains stubbornly high, holiday season labour shortages are likely to cause havoc for some businesses and the Canadian economy is probably headed into at least a minor recession in early 2023. These headwinds aside, the federal government promised another $22.1 billion in new program spending while pledging greater fiscal responsibility in yesterday’s Fall Economic […]

home buying

Federal Budget 2022—Home-buying, climate change and personal tax highlights

The federal government approached Budget 2022 under immense pressure to address skyrocketing inflation, amid widespread uncertainty as we enter a sixth wave of the coronavirus pandemic and facing global supply chain woes and a geopolitical crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine. Factor in the Liberals’ minority government status—one stabilized by a recent confidence-and-supply agreement […]

person holding a maple leaf after Fiscal and Economic update 2021

Federal Fiscal and Economic Update 2021: Few gifts (or lumps of coal) for business

The federal government tabled its Fiscal and Economic Update 2021 last week and the business community across Canada wondered if it had been all but forgotten. The update was heavy on COVID-19 relief spending and made direct references to the potential uncertainty ahead—including the looming economic impact of the omicron coronavirus variant, global supply chain […]

COVID-19 relief benefits for hospitality

Ottawa unveils targeted COVID-19 business support benefits

While the coronavirus pandemic has by no means subsided, the federal government clearly believes that the economy is regaining its footing, with recent job performance data confirming a return to pre-pandemic employment levels. Accordingly, Ottawa last week allowed three key COVID-19 business benefits—the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support—to […]

COVID-19: CEWS, CERS, Lockdown Support rates extended

The federal government today announced that it will extend the rate structures for three COVID-19 relief benefits—the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and the Lockdown Support—until June 5th, 2021. The rates for each of the programs were set to expire on March 13th, 2021. The maximum CEWS wage subsidy […]

Ottawa won’t require some self-employed Canadians to repay CERB

In the face of widespread confusion, complaints and a looming class action lawsuit, the federal government has changed course, cancelling plans to require some self-employed individuals to repay the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) funds they received at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Controversy erupted late last year when the Canada Revenue Agency informed […]

Chefs working at a restaurant

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program now open

The federal government’s new Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program, a COVID-19 relief measure designed to help businesses operating in hard-hit sectors such as hospitality and tourism, is now accepting applications. The program provides loans—fully guaranteed by the Business Development Bank of Canada—of between $25,000 and $1 million to qualifying businesses. Loans of as much […]