Tax planning shouldn’t occur just before the deadlines; it needs to happen at least monthly. At this time of year, there’s no shortage of “year-end tax-planning tips” that show up in articles, social media feeds and your email. It’s like clockwork: such articles magically appear from about Nov. 1 until Dec. 31 every year. And…

Decades and decades ago, Canada made a deliberate policy choice to use our taxation system to help encourage philanthropy. Such a choice included providing tax-exempt status for registered charities — and tax incentives for donors to make gifts to such organizations — and non-profits. During Canada’s one and only comprehensive taxation review (from 1962–1966), The…

It’s time for a comprehensive tax review, not just one to look good. Adam Smith, the Scottish economist and philosopher, laid out his thoughts on what the four basic tenets of a good taxation system are in The Wealth of Nations, his 1776 landmark writing, as follows: Equity: the taxation of persons should be proportional…

“Tax the rich” has been a popular rallying cry for many people who feel victimized, entitled or have a weak understanding of how Canada and other countries tax their residents and redistribute income.The phrase has for decades been good politics for many left-leaning politicians and political parties who use it, or something similar, to capitalize…