NAFTA. It’s one of the most important agreements in place on the continent. But what’s all the fuss about and why has it become such a buzzword? Since 2016, US President Donald Trump has brought it up regularly, calling for a complete overhaul of the deal, arguing that it’s the “worst trade deal … [Read more...]
Tax Treaties
The Canadian income tax system can be complex by itself. The complexities expand significantly where the tax systems of other countries are also relevant. Most nations have a network of “Income Tax Conventions”, more often referred to as “Tax Treaties”, to govern the interaction of their tax … [Read more...]
Why the UN’s declaration on Indigenous rights has been slow to implement in Canada
While a decision on Indigenous participation at the United Nations General Assembly was postponed in Geneva [in July 2017] , some groups in Canada point to a number of ways to move forward on the issue at home. Independent Indigenous participation at the United Nations General Assembly — a critical … [Read more...]
Ghost Consultants and Canada’s Immigration System
If there’s one thing most people - regardless of political stripe - can agree on, it’s that ‘crooked’ consultants are incredibly problematic for Canada’s immigration system. Stories abound in the media of unsuspecting immigrants paying thousands of dollars to an unauthorized consultant, only to … [Read more...]
Viewpoint 42-4: Understanding Parole: Paul Bernardo Eligible for Full Parole in February 2018
February 2018 marks 25 years since the arrest of Paul Bernardo for the rapes and murders of two young women in Ontario. Following one of the longest and most highly publicized criminal trials in Canadian history, he was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and given the automatic and … [Read more...]
Self-Employment and Family Law: Calculating Income for Support
In most cases, the amount of child support a parent has to pay is determined by their income. For an employee, this is generally simple to calculate and is usually set out at line 150 of the employee’s tax return. However, many Albertans earn income from self-employment. It can be complicated to … [Read more...]
Human Rights Law and Employment: Does Context Trump Relationship?
Human rights legislation across Canada has similarities and differences. Most legislation covers discrimination in specific contexts (such as services customarily available to the public) and membership in professional associations or trade unions, or relationships (such as employment or landlord … [Read more...]
Senate Study Offers Opportunity for Fresh Look at Charity Issues
Canada, through the federal government and its provincial counterparts, offers preferential tax treatment to charities and certain other public benefit entities that is among the most generous of any country in the industrialized world. That advantageous treatment comes in the form of tax credits … [Read more...]
Low Income Ontarians More Prone to Debt Problems (Ontario Study)
Over the last two decades, precarious or insecure employment in Canada has increased by almost 50%, as 1 in 7 Canadians lives in poverty. Part-time work is becoming more common. Wages are not increasing fast enough to keep up with rising costs, resulting in higher personal debt levels. All of this … [Read more...]
Are Environmentalists Good or Bad?
Tree-huggers. Greenies. Enviro-nazis. Eco-terrorists. Eco-extremists. City-dwellers. Radicals. Eco-vangelists. Eco-crazies. Sheeple. Foreign-funded __________________ (add any of the preceding epithets). What ARE environmentalists anyway? Are they good, wise, caring, rational, science-loving … [Read more...]
