All About Estates

Month: March 2018

Total 17 Posts

Budget 2018 Extends “Qualifying Family Member” Option for RDSP’s

On February 27, 2018 the federal government tabled its 2018 budget, Equality + Growth: A Strong Middle Class (“Budget 2018”). One of the budget items that has not received a lot of attention is the extension of the “qualifying family member” (“QFM”) provision for Registered Disability Savings Plans (“RDSP’s”). The…

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To Kill a Mockingbird, part II

This Blog was written by: Natalie Bender   For many of us, Harper Lee’s acclaimed novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” was a staple on our high school reading list (and was likely one we re-visited in university). The novel is a Pulitzer Prize winner, and has become a classic in…

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Oh, How Convenient

This article was co-authored with Ronald Neal, student-at-law. A centuries’ old practice gives personal representatives one year after the death of a deceased to wind up the deceased’s estate (calling in assets, paying estate debts, converting assets to enable distribution of the estate, etc.).  This is often called the “executor’s…

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To vary or not to vary

The Canada Revenue Agency recently responded to a ruling request as to whether or not a proposed amendment to a trust agreement could be so significant to cause a resettlement of the trust, or a disposition of a beneficiary’s interest in the trust Before the enactment of variation of trusts…

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Crisis in Long Term Care: Thinking About Tomorrow

My last 3 blogs have highlighted some of the challenges we are currently facing in our Long Term Care sector.  The bottom line is this: there are not enough residential placement beds to address the current and growing demand for those individuals whose care needs can no longer be met…

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Federal Budget 2018 – Overview of Personal Income Tax Measures

On February 27, 2018 (“Budget Day”), the Federal Government tabled the third budget (“Budget 2018”). This year’s budget focuses on continuing to strengthen the middle class and economic growth.  The following are some of the notable personal income tax measures proposed in Budget 2018, which relate to qualifying plan holders…

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Estate Donations for Charities Not Yet Registered

The 2018 Federal Budget hinted that Canadian newspapers may be able to receive charitable status in the future.  As I’ve previously written, making non-profit and local journalism an eligible charitable purpose is a timely idea — and it has implications for donor planning their estates.  The Federal Budget got me…

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