Canadian housing market show 0.6% growth The Canadian housing market has slowed its decline to 3.1 per cent year over year, with a 0.6 per cent increase in home sales last month, according to BMO Chief Economist Doug Porter, citing recent data from the Canadian Real Estate Association. Porter notes that since the implementation of new mortgage [...]
BC mining executives take pie in the face for kids’ health The BC mining community’s fundraising campaign, Mining for Miracles, raised over $1 million in its 2013 Teck Celebrity Pie Throw event on May 2 to support the Institutional Pediatric BioBank at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Child and Family Research Institute. Featuring Canada’s first ever [...]
BC economic growth set to outpace Canada by 2014 BC economic growth is rising steadily this year to 1.7 per cent and may even reach 2.5 per cent next year, according to a new report. “Among the headwinds are a slowing domestic housing market and softer Asian export demand, though a resurgent U.S. housing market [...]
Expert suggests investing income tax refund in RESP With the average income tax refund at approximately $1,700 according to the Canada Revenue Agency, families with young children ought to be looking at making contributions to a Registered Education Savings Plan to secure their education. Parents with young children can defer paying down the mortgage, springing [...]
Overlooking additional costs of Canadian tax compliance Canadians spent anywhere from $19.2 billion to $24.8 billion on tax preparation, filing and remittance to comply with the Canadian tax code in 2011, according to a report by the Fraser Institute. “At this time of the year as Canadians file their income tax returns, they clearly see [...]
Surrey Party for the Planet is BC’s biggest celebration for Earth Day Surrey styles itself as a green city and to prove it takes environmental protection seriously, it will be hosting the huge Surrey Party for the Planet on Saturday. In celebration of Earth Day, Surrey will kick off its free-for-all Surrey Party for the Planet [...]
City of Surrey struggling to make ends meet A mature tax base and expanding program responsibilities are putting the squeeze on BC municipalities, and the City of Surrey wants to know how political parties plan to help. The expansion of local government services in health care, immigration settlement, social service provision, social housing and addressing [...]
Canadian auto sales driven by Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland Canadian auto sales climbed six per cent last year, and will edge up further in 2013, advancing to 1.69 million units – the second-highest level on record, according to the recent Scotiabank Global Auto Report. “The resource-rich provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to [...]
Giving value to the arts and culture By Shawna Stirrett Traditional arts groups such as orchestras, ballets, operas and theatres that neglect to think about how they fit into the broader social context and respond accordingly will fail. This might not happen today or the next day, but the writing is on the wall. While [...]
Retirement savings main funding source for business Many Canadians envision becoming entrepreneurs during their retirement years. with 39 per cent saying that it is likely they will start their own business after they reach the retirement age of 65 years old, says a study by BMO Financial Group. More generally, 81 per cent plan on [...]