Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA): Government extends repayment and partial loan forgiveness deadlines
On September 14, 2023, the Government of Canada announced that they would extend the CEBA loan repayment schedule. The loan forgiveness extension is not long, adding only a few weeks to retain the 33% (upto $20,000) forgivable amount, however, the full loan payback due date has changed from 2025 to 2026.
“ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is extending the repayment deadline for its small business pandemic loan program by one year — but businesses will still lose the forgivable portion of the loan if they don't repay in the coming months.”
The loan forgiveness portion has been extended from Dec 31, 2023 to Jan. 18, 2024. Loans will start accruing five per cent interest if not repaid by January 19, 2024.
Businesses that refinanced their loans will be given until March 28 to qualify.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-extending-ceba-loan-deadline-1.6967071
Full details can be found on the Government of Canada’s website at:
CNLA has created a document providing examples on payments and alternative options. Click here to read more.
2021 Census of Agriculture
- Canadian farm households are smaller in size and are increasingly diverse, reflecting the changing landscape of the agricultural community.
- Immigrants play a pivotal role in shaping Canadian agriculture, bringing diverse skills that can boost the potential for increased productivity.
- Individuals from racialized groups make significant contributions to the farm population, with South Asian and Chinese communities being the largest groups.
- The Indigenous farm population has seen a slight increase, with the majority identifying as Métis.
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- A substantial portion of the farm population reported a religious affiliation, with Catholicism being the most frequently reported religion.
Understanding Housing Tax for Small Businesses and Farms
Underused Housing Tax
The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) Act implements an annual 1% tax on the value of vacant and underused residential properties directly or indirectly owned by those who are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens. It became effective Jan. 1, 2022, and the first tax return for year-end Dec. 31, 2022, is due at the end of April 2023.
CFA would like to urge its members to distribute the following information to its members, as all Canadian farm corporations, farm partnerships or trusts that own residential property will HAVE to file a UHT this year, even if they are exempt from paying the tax. Detailed information on the UHT can be found here: https://www.bdo.ca/en-ca/insights/tax/canadian-tax/underused-housing-tax-and-farming/?fbclid=IwAR1n8YVC0q4wwA1fwhjSkf6B_9I64vHqgsWqlsZ9PQmOI4KY_3xUuYXOo7c
The application of penalties and interest under the UHTA for the 2022 calendar year will be waived for any late-filed underused housing tax (UHT) return and for any late-paid UHT payable, provided the return is filed or the UHT is paid by October 31, 2023.
This transitional relief means that although the deadline for filing the UHT return and paying the UHT payable is still April 30, 2023, no penalties or interest will be applied for UHT returns and payments that the CRA receives before November 1, 2023. Learn more here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2023/underused-housing-tax-penalties-and-interest-waived.html
Click here for a Q&A on the UHT: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/uhtn15/questions-answers-underused-housing-tax.html
CFA is seeking an exemption to the UHT for agricultural businesses in the future to reduce the administrative burden of this tax. While CFA is seeking long-term solutions for this issue, our efforts will most likely not impact the current tax year, so we still encourage producers follow the guidance laid out below.
How does the UHT impact your farming operation?
If you operate your farm through a Canadian corporation or Canadian partnership and it owns a residential property, you will be required to file a UHT return even if no UHT is owed due to applicable exemptions noted below. If you do not file, the late filing penalty will apply.
Let's look at the example of a Canadian corporation carrying a cash crop operation. The corporation is 100% owned by Canadian citizens and possesses several residential homes on its farms. This corporation is required to file a UHT return. It would be exempt from the UHT as a Specified Canadian Corporation, but the UHT return must still be filed to claim the exemption. It could be subject to a $10,000 penalty if it does not file a UHT return on time. This penalty would apply for each year a UHT return is required and not filed by the April 30 deadline.
How much is the UHT?
The UHT on vacant or underused residential property is 1% of the home's taxable value or 1% of its most recent sale price, whichever is greater. Owners can also file an election between Jan. 1 and April 30 of the following calendar year to use the property's fair market value (FMV) to determine the owing UHT and if they can obtain an appraisal. If two or more individuals hold title to a property, each owner will be responsible for the UHT based on their ownership interest.
What are the UHT filing requirements and penalties?
Failure to file a UHT return by April 30 of the following year, when required, could result in a penalty of at least $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for other entities, such as Canadian corporations, partnerships, and trusts.
If an owner qualifies for an exemption but is not an excluded owner, the UHT return still must be filed, even if an exemption applies and no UHT is owed. The penalty for late filing will apply.
What should farm owners do next?
The UHT has received little attention since it became law, as many Canadians believe it simply does not apply to them—but the law affects a broad range of property owners. Countless numbers of farm corporations and farm partnerships across this country will have an obligation to file a UHT return, even if they owe no UHT. Non-filing can result in substantial financial penalties.
If you are concerned the UHT may apply to your farm operation, contact your advisors for guidance.
Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)
Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)
In early August 2023, the government of Canada announced the Recognized Employer Pilot
(REP) for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The Recognized Employer Pilot
(REP) will help to reduce the administrative burden and simplify the hiring process for repeat
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) employers who demonstrate a history of complying
with program requirements.
The biggest issue we continued to hear regarding the TFWP is the amount of time it takes to
process Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) each year. An LMIA confirms that there is a
need for a temporary foreign worker, that no Canadians or permanent residents are available to
do the job, ensures that the employer’s job offer is legitimate and that the employer has
complied with Program requirements to protect workers.
The new pilot will help to alleviate the administrative workload for some and simplify the repeat
hiring process of Temporary Foreign Workers for employers who demonstrate a history of
complying with the program requirements. Recognized Employers will have access to LMIA
validity for up to 36 months, and potentially simplified LMIA applications to hire additional
workers in the future.
The Best Landscaping Tools for Your Business
The Best Landscaping Tools for Your Business
There are a variety of landscaping tools available to help your landscaping company meet the needs of your clients. But which do you choose? The fact is that you don’t need every piece of equipment to get the job done. Here’s a rundown of the types of landscaping tools on the market and how to select equipment that will help you achieve your goals.
Digging tools
Landscaping tools for digging include:
• Backhoe loaders
• Wheel loaders
Choose your tool based on how much dirt you need to move and the size of the hole you need to dig. The bigger the machine, the deeper you’re able to dig in a shorter time frame.
Loading tools
If you need to load material to be moved to another location, you’ll want to explore these pieces of equipment:
• Backhoe loaders
• Skid steer loaders
• Wheel loaders
• Compact track loaders
Again, the size of the equipment determines how much you can lift in a load. A larger machine will allow you to get larger jobs done more quickly.
Grading tools
You can attach different sizes of blades and grading tools to your landscaping equipment to grade land. Grading blades can be used with:
• Compact track loaders
• Skid steer loaders
• Small track-type tractors
The size of the job will dictate which machine is right for your business.
Carrying equipment
Attaching buckets to your landscaping equipment can make it easier to move materials around your job site. Use lightweight machines and buckets for moving materials like soil and wood chips, and choose sturdier options for wet sand or rocks.
The following landscaping tools can handle buckets:
• Backhoes
• Small and compact wheel loaders
• Compact track loaders
• Skid steer loaders
To read the full article, click here.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL LANDSCAPING BUSINESS
What’s inside?
Starting your own landscaping business can be tough. That’s why we’ve put together a start-up guide to help you get going and become successful. We share strategies that will help guide your business plan and shape your operational decisions during the vital first months and years of your new venture.
Download this guide to uncover:
- Key statistics about landscaping opportunities
- Strategies for scoping your services
- Extensive equipment advice to help you grow
- Insight from a successful Canadian start-up
Finning is North America’s largest seller and servicer of Caterpillar equipment. With locations across Western Canada, we’re at arms reach to support your start-up aspirations. Our dealer services have helped small business owners select the right equipment to achieve category growth across many sectors.
5 Tips To Prepare Your Equipment For Spring
5 Tips To Prepare Your Equipment For Spring
Spring is here, and that means it's time to dust off your heavy equipment and prepare for the busy season ahead!
After sitting idle during the winter months, your machines may need a bit of TLC to ensure they're in top shape for another season of hard work. By following these five essential tips for readying your heavy equipment for renewed projects in spring, you'll be able to eliminate downtime, protect your investments, repair any damage, and improve job site safety.
01. Perform Maintenance Tasks
The first step in preparing your equipment is to perform thorough maintenance tasks before putting your machine back to work. This includes:
- Changing filters.
Clogged or dirty filters can reduce efficiency and increase contaminants in your equipment’s system. Be sure to change or clean your filters as needed. - Replacing hydraulic and engine oils.
To ensure clean and efficient system operation, replace both hydraulic and engine oils in the spring. Check with your manual to ensure you're using the right type. - Checking the coolant.
Run the engine and inspect the appearance of your machine’s coolant to ensure it is free of impurities and reflects its as-new colour. Make sure you get the appropriate grade of coolant for the weather in your area. - Lubricating machine components.
After a season in storage, your machine’s moving parts may be a little stiff. Apply lubricant to any major components to ensure that every part of your engine and equipment is capable of performing its full range of motion.
Always update your maintenance logs as you go so that you have a record of which tasks were performed and when.
02. Clean Your Equipment
After bringing your equipment out of storage, make sure to give it a thorough wash, inside and out, so that you remove any dust, dirt, and grime that has gathered over the winter. Dirt and grime buildup can also contaminate fluids and damage parts, making it essential to clean the equipment. A simple wash creates a safer, more comfortable environment for machine operators and goes a long way to ensuring your machine performs the way it should.
Cleaning your equipment's interior and exterior will also make your fleet look professional and reassure clients that you have quality machinery to execute the job.
03. Review Your Paperwork
It’s good practice to review your machine’s paperwork during the spring season. Your owner’s manual will have information specific to the make and model of your equipment, including seasonal maintenance recommendations and the types of products you should use.
If you haven’t done so already, make sure to keep the owner’s manual somewhere that you can easily locate. You should also consider making a binder for all owner manuals or downloading digital copies to a folder on your computer. You can even use your owner’s manual as the place where you keep notes on the maintenance performed and repairs done on each piece of equipment you own.
Check your machine’s warranty requirements and complete all the necessary tasks before use to secure warranty coverage. It's also a good idea to check your insurance policy to make sure it covers the machine's scope of work and accessories.
To read the full article, click here.
2022 Landscape Award Winners Announced
On March 30, we celebrated the winners of the 2022 Landscape Alberta Landscape Awards in Banff. Each year, we see beautiful, well-designed landscapes that truly showcase the best this industry has to offer. This year, stemming from 26 entries, there were 15 winners in the Merit category and 6 winners in the Excellence category.
We congratulate 2022 winners: Alpha Better Landscaping Inc., Delta Valley Landscaping Services Ltd., Jenron Creative Landscapes, JVR Landscape (2006) Inc., MaisonScapes, OnGrowing Works Ltd., Planta Landscape Inc., Salisbury Landscaping, Seasonal Impact Contracting Ltd., Terra Landscaping Ltd.
We would like to thank this year’s volunteer judges for taking their assignment seriously and giving so generously of their time and expertise: Andrew MacDonald, Lucas Steeves, Jeff Wilson, Chris Chetcuti, Bill Hardy, Christian Houle, Nathan Gill, Andrew Heighton, Mark Janzen and Wade McArthur.
National Award of Landscape Excellence Nominees
The National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) recognize Canadian companies that have actively participated in significantly raising the level of professionalism in the landscape industry. Each province nominates members from the provincial awards of excellence competition that are then entered into the national awards.
This years nominees are:
- Terra Landscaping Inc. - Schiffner Residence
- Alpha Better Landscaping Inc. – 4th avenue Flyover Park & Livingston Hub
- Delta Valley Landscaping Services Ltd. - Devon Paragon Ballpark
- Planta Landscape Inc. – Britannia Ridge Residence
Good luck to this year's nominees! See the award winning projects by clicking here.
The 2023 Awards Package is now available for download. New this year; all active members of Landscape Alberta get their first entry for free! If you have any questions on the awards program, contact Kyla at kyla.hardon@landscape-alberta.com.
EI Changes – Effective Sept 24
This is a reminder that the temporary measures to make Employment Insurance (EI) more accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic will end on September 24th. After September 24th, EI regular and special benefits (like maternity, parental, compassionate leave, and sickness) will continue to be available to workers, just as they were before the pandemic, as will other supports such as the Canada Workers Benefit.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has been there to support workers who experienced job loss or temporary job stoppage because of the pandemic. When the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) ended, the government transitioned eligible Canadians to Employment Insurance benefits or the Canada Recovery Benefits. A set of temporary measures were put in place on September 27, 2020 to support this transition and facilitate access to the EI program for a one-year period. The Government also froze EI insurance premium rates for two years so Canadian workers and businesses would not face increases to payroll deductions when unemployment was at a historic highs.
Budget 2021 announced a suite of new EI temporary measures to support workers when the labour market was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and work was scarce or sporadic. This new suite of temporary measures took effect on September 26, 2021 for a period of one year:
· a 420-hour common entrance requirement for EI regular and special benefits, with a corresponding common earnings threshold for fishing benefits and a lower earnings threshold for self-employed workers registered for special benefit coverage
· all insurable hours and earnings counting towards a claimant’s EI regular benefit eligibility and entitlement, as long as their last job separation in their qualifying period was found to be valid. This supported workers, including multiple job holders, as the recovery firmed up
· allowing claimants to start receiving EI benefits sooner by simplifying rules around the treatment of severance, vacation pay, and other monies paid following a job separation
· enhancements to the Work-Sharing Program that were introduced during the pandemic to ensure they remained available to support affected employers and workers
These temporary measures will end on September 24, 2022 and the EI program will return to regular rules.
The Government recognizes that Canada’s EI system needs to be fairer, more flexible, and more responsive to the needs of workers. Work is ongoing to modernize the EI program. This plan must be directly informed by the Canadians who use EI and are invested in its modernization, and that’s why the Government consulted with Unions, employers, workers and other partners. Budget 2021 also provided $5 million over two years to support these consultations. These consultations recently concluded on July 29, 2022. The Government is analyzing the input received from stakeholders and Canadians, along with lessons learned from the pandemic and the temporary measures, to inform a comprehensive plan for a modernized EI that meets the current and future needs of Canadian workers and employers.
More details on the regular rules for the EI program that will be in effect as of September 25, 2022 can be found at the following webpages. We encourage you to share with your networks:
· EI Regular Benefits - What these benefits offer - Canada.ca
· EI sickness benefits: What these benefits offer - Canada.ca
· Caregiving benefits and leave - Canada.ca
· EI Fishing benefits - Overview - Canada.ca
· EI maternity and parental benefits: What these benefits offer - Canada.ca