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Recent Publications

Recent Publications

December 12, 2024 by Dean Morris, Scott Dupuis

Navigating trade uncertainty: Tax planning and transfer pricing strategies

Anticipated tariffs on imports from Canada as proposed by President‑Elect Trump have caused significant uncertainty for Canadian businesses involved in cross‑border trade. This bold tariff threat may simply be a negotiating tactic by the U.S. and not materialize. Nevertheless, businesses should expect a challenging and cloudy trade environment where the threat of tariffs is ever present. Moreover, renegotiation of the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (“USMCA”) will occur during Trump’s presidency.

November 4, 2024 by Nick Jarrett-Kerr

Seven tests for a strategic opportunity

Every year, we encounter firms that, part of the way through the lifetime of a strategic plan, are presented out of the blue with strategic opportunities. Examples often include opportunities to merge with or acquire another firm, to recruit a team or partner, to open an office in another place, or to invest in new premises or technology. 

September 5, 2024 by Sean Grant-Young

Budget 2024 summer draft updates and amendments

On Aug. 12, the Department of Finance released its summer package of draft legislation and technical amendments. This proposed legislation includes substantially all outstanding measures from Budget 2024 and other previously announced amendments.

July 17, 2024 by Sameer Noormohamed, Mark Bloch

Digital Services Tax Act update

In August 2023, the Department of Finance released its draft of the Digital Services Tax Act (DSTA) with the intent to introduce legislation aiming to tax certain large domestic (and foreign) businesses on their Canadian digital services revenue.

June 11, 2024 by Sean Grant-Young

Budget 2024 update: Capital gains inclusion rate legislation

Taxpayers and advisors have been anxiously awaiting an update since April 16, when the Federal Budget dropped arguably the most significant (and controversial) change to tax policy in over 20 years.

May 24, 2024 by Nick Jarrett-Kerr

Ten obstacles to effective strategy

In this article I examine the main reasons why professional firms typically are littered with uncompleted strategic projects and failed initiatives. The ten obstacles that I have identified can, of course, be addressed by better processes. In addition, I plan to set out in an ensuing article what I consider to be the four starting principles that provide both the foundations and the platform for successful strategic planning and execution.

May 24, 2024 by Mike White

The mid-sized full service commercial firm “playbook”

I work with as many “mid-sized” commercial law firms as I work with large regional, national or global law firms. As the industry continues its multi-decade embrace of operating scale (bigger is better, or at least more efficient!), what does this trend mean for commercial firms that do not choose to anchor their success to hiring more lawyer bodies across which to allocate their fixed costs?

April 16, 2024 by Sean Grant-Young, Rosa Maria Iuliano, Myriam Lesieur, Joseph Belanger

2024 Federal Budget Commentary

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, today tabled her fourth budget ⁠–⁠ “Fairness for Every Generation.”

The following is a brief overview of the key tax measures.

April 11, 2024 by Diana Cameron

Fair Market Value on CRA appraisals are inclusive of GST/HST for builder‑landlords

A recently obtained Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) internal communiqué ⁠–⁠ dated May 17, 2023states “effective the date of this communiqué, CRA appraisers will report Fair Market Value (FMV) as inclusive of GST/HST.” This is good news for builders, reducing appeals and objections resulting from disputes with the CRA on FMV as it relates to self‑supply of residential complexes.

April 2, 2024 by Sean Grant-Young

The CRA acknowledges impact of bare trust filings on Canadians

On March 28, 2024, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced it would no longer require bare trusts to file a T3 Income Tax and Information Return (T3 return) ⁠–⁠ including Schedule 15 (Beneficial Ownership Information of a Trust) ⁠–⁠ for the 2023 tax year unless the CRA makes a direct request for these filings. This announcement recognizes the new reporting requirements for bare trusts have had an unintended impact on Canadians.

March 28, 2024 by Sean Grant-Young

2024 Newfoundland and Labrador provincial budget tax highlights

On March 21, the Newfoundland and Labrador government released its 2024 budget. The following are highlights of the key tax measures.