C-31 (45-1) - Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2

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Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-30 12:26:14.0
Tags: [National, Finance, Taxation, Economy, Governance]

Bill C-31 (45th Parliament, 1st Session), titled the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 and sponsored by Minister of Finance and National Revenue, has advanced to the report stage in the House of Commons following committee review by the Standing Committee on Finance, which presented its report with amendments on October 30, 2026. The legislation implements provisions stemming from the federal budget tabled on November 4, 2025, and the 2026 Spring Economic Update titled 'Canada Strong For All'. The Senate has concurrently authorized pre-study of the bill's subject matter across multiple standing committees, including the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and specialized sectoral committees assigned to specific divisions of Part 4 of the bill.

2025-26 Public Accounts Volume 2 Released

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-29 23:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Finance, Governance, Taxation]

The Government of Saskatchewan released the 2025-26 Public Accounts Volume 2, detailing expense and revenue information for ministries, the Legislative Assembly, and its officers from the General Revenue Fund. Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Jim Reiter noted that ministry travel expenses reached $45.1 million in 2025-26, representing a 1.1 per cent or $0.5 million increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, government-wide communications expenses decreased by $1.2 million to $12.1 million in 2025-26 compared to $13.3 million in 2024-25, continuing a 28 per cent reduction from $16.8 million in 2007-08. The report also includes pension plan and trust fund balances, a Statement of Remission of Taxes and Fees, and the Road Use Fuel Tax Accountability Report, following the release of Volume 1 on June 30, 2026.

Minister Pardy Introduces Legislation to Reduce Gas Tax to Zero

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-29 18:55:16.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Taxation, Finance, Affordability, Energy]

On October 29, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Finance Craig Pardy introduced legislation to reduce the provincial tax on gasoline and diesel to 0 cents per litre, down from 7.5 cents and 9.5 cents respectively. Factoring in the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), drivers will save 8.625 cents per litre on gasoline and 10.925 cents per litre on diesel amidst record high fuel prices. The legislative amendments also establish a protective mechanism to keep provincial fuel taxes at zero for as long as oil prices remain above a specified threshold. This measure is part of the Provincial Government's broader Budget 2026 initiative, which has invested over $275 million in cost-of-living relief.

Minister Pardy Introduces Legislation to Reduce Gas Tax to Zero

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-29 18:55:16.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Taxation, Affordability, Finance, Energy]

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through Minister of Finance Craig Pardy, introduced legislation to reduce the provincial tax on gasoline and diesel to 0 cents per litre. This policy removes the existing provincial taxes of 7.5 cents per litre for gasoline and 9.5 cents per litre for diesel, resulting in total savings at the pump—including Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)—of 8.625 cents per litre for gasoline vehicles and 10.925 cents per litre for diesel vehicles. Furthermore, the legislative amendments establish a safeguard mechanism to maintain the provincial fuel tax at zero as long as oil prices stay above a specified threshold, forming part of the provincial government's broader $275 million cost-of-living relief initiative.

A Plan to Protect Ontario

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Finance
Date: 2026-10-29 18:10:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Taxation, Finance, Trade, Industry]

Ontario Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2026 Ontario Economic and Fiscal Review: A Plan to Protect Ontario, projecting a deficit of $16.9 billion in 2026-27 and a return to a balanced budget in 2029-30. The fiscal plan features an $8 billion Ontario Competitiveness Tax Cut tied to the federal Productivity Mega Deduction, an $8.7 billion Canada-Ontario action plan targeting the steel, automotive, and critical minerals sectors, and nearly $30 billion in cumulative tariff relief and business supports implemented since April 2025. Additionally, the government committed to streamlining 35 to 50 percent of the province's 375 business-facing permits by the end of 2028 and restoring capital expenditures as eligible under the Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit and Ontario Innovation Tax Credit to provide over $50 million in tax support over three years.

Province Announces $8 Billion Ontario Competitiveness Tax Cut to Support Investment and Create 30,000 Jobs

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Finance
Date: 2026-10-28 14:08:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Taxation, Economy, Finance, Trade, Industry]

The Ontario Ministry of Finance announced the $8 billion Ontario Competitiveness Tax Cut as part of its multi-year Tax Action Plan to counter U.S. tariffs and lower business investment costs. Administered as the provincial counterpart to the federal Productivity Mega Deduction, the policy allows eligible businesses to immediately write off 100 per cent of capital investments in assets such as fibre-optic cables, software, aircraft, machinery, and patents. The measure is projected to drive at least $11 billion in new capital investment, add $6 billion to the provincial GDP, and support the creation of 30,000 new jobs over five years. Combined with prior initiatives from Budget 2026, total business tax relief will exceed $12 billion over five years, reducing Ontario's Marginal Effective Tax Rate to 3.6 per cent.

Provincial Government Cutting Gas Tax on Gasoline and Diesel to Zero Beginning December 1

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-26 14:15:53.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Taxation, Affordability, Energy, Finance]

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through Minister of Finance Craig Pardy, announced that the provincial gas tax on gasoline and diesel will be reduced to zero cents per litre from December 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The Provincial Government will introduce legislative amendments in the House of Assembly to enact these changes and establish a permanent mechanism to keep the provincial fuel tax at zero whenever fuel prices exceed a specified threshold. This measure represents $25 million in affordability relief, contributing to a broader $79 million cost-of-living package that also includes the accelerated Churchill Falls Electricity Rebate and a doubled Home Heating Supplement.

Premier Wakeham Announces $54 Million in Additional Affordability Relief

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-22 12:50:01.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Affordability, Energy, Taxation, Finance]

Premier Tony Wakeham and Minister of Finance Craig Pardy announced a $54 million affordability package to assist residents of Newfoundland and Labrador with winter energy costs. The initiative accelerates the implementation of the Churchill Falls Electricity Rebate starting in January 2027, providing residential customers of Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro a 15 per cent reduction (up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours per month) estimated at $351 annually, costing $45 million for the remainder of the 2026-27 fiscal year. Additionally, the maximum Home Heating Supplement for households relying on furnace or stove oil is doubled from $500 to $1,000 for the 2026 program, providing roughly $9 million in relief to approximately 9,000 current applicants.

N.W.T. finance minister says no emergency relief from fuel price shock, but pushes Ottawa for support

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-21 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Finance, Energy, Taxation, Affordability]

Northwest Territories Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek rejected calls from MLAs to slash the territorial gas and diesel tax—which generates an estimated $15 million annually—or provide immediate emergency heating fuel subsidies ahead of winter. Testifying before the federal standing committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Wawzonek criticized federal funding programs like the $2-billion heat pump initiative as unsuitable for northern climates and pressed Ottawa for customized support to address energy and affordability challenges where transport and heating costs are double the national average. She noted the territorial government already provides over $18 million in direct annual energy subsidies and warned that low water levels threatening the hydro system will force the territory to rely more heavily on costly diesel generation.

S-217 (45-1) - Fairness for All Canadian Taxpayers Act (measuring the tax gap to fight international tax evasion)

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-20 18:20:18.0
Tags: [National, Taxation, Finance, Governance]

Bill S-217, titled the Fairness for All Canadian Taxpayers Act (measuring the tax gap to fight international tax evasion), is a Senate Public Bill introduced by Senator Percy E. Downe to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act regarding reporting on unpaid income tax. After completing its stages in the Senate, the bill crossed over to the House of Commons where it achieved second reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) on October 20, 2026. The legislation builds upon similar previously introduced bills, such as S-258 from the 44th Parliament and S-243 from the 42nd Parliament, aimed at improving fiscal transparency around Canada's tax gap.

Ontario Celebrates Small Business Week

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-10-19 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Taxation, Finance, Industry, Labour]

In recognition of Small Business Week, Associate Minister Nina Tangri highlighted that Ontario's over 500,000 small businesses employ nearly 2.5 million people. The 2026 Ontario Budget cut the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent, providing $1.1 billion in relief and up to $5,000 in annual savings to over 375,000 small businesses. Additionally, the government is investing a record $49 million over the next three years in the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres (OSBACs) network across more than 50 locations, alongside ongoing investments in Futurpreneur and Summer Company.

Minister Pardy Tables 2025-26 Public Accounts

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-16 16:05:45.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Finance, Economy, Taxation, Infrastructure]

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador released its independently audited 2025-26 Public Accounts ahead of the November 1 statutory deadline, revealing a deficit of $377.6 million, which is $5.8 million higher than originally budgeted. Total revenue exceeded the budget by $420.8 million, bolstered by offshore royalties reaching $1.7 billion—approximately $350 million higher than the previous year—along with increased taxation and federal revenues. The province invested approximately $774 million in capital acquisitions for public infrastructure, transportation assets, health care facilities, and schools, while net debt at year-end was approximately $434 million lower than originally budgeted and the unfunded pension liability declined by approximately $483 million.

He followed a debunked conspiracy theory to claim a tax refund. So why did the CRA agree to a $40M payout?

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-16 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, British Columbia, Taxation, Finance, Public Safety]

An investigative report by CBC's the fifth estate revealed that individuals following "sovereign citizen" conspiracy theories have successfully defrauded the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) of millions of dollars in bogus tax refunds due to severe gaps in fraud detection systems. In the summer of 2023, ironworker Jonathon Pearce of Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, filed false tax returns claiming more than $40 million, resulting in the CRA depositing over $10 million into his personal bank account despite internal red flags and a pre-refund phone call where he outlined his anti-tax beliefs. Leaked internal records show nearly $300 million in bogus claims linked to the same tax scheme were identified between May 2023 and January 2024, prompting the CRA to launch criminal investigations and execute search warrants against promoters such as Bernard Yankson and Angela Albright Bowolin in British Columbia.

Provinces call on Ottawa to expand mining credit

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-10 12:17:12.0
Tags: [National, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Taxation, Economy, Resources, Mining, Finance]

Nearly half of Canada's provinces and territories—specifically Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon—are urging the federal Liberal government to fulfill its 2025 election promise to expand the mineral exploration tax credit to include engineering and feasibility study costs. The Association for Mineral Exploration and the Nunavut and N.W.T. Chamber of Mines argue this measure is crucial to help junior mining companies navigate the late-stage 'valley of death' financing gap. An Ernst & Young report commissioned by the association indicates that covering feasibility and economic viability studies could generate between 14,000 and 34,000 jobs and add $5.2 billion to $12.2 billion in GDP over 10 years. While Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's office highlighted recent federal initiatives such as the Productivity Mega Deduction and the Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, federal expenses under the Canadian exploration expenses framework still exclude economic assessments and feasibility studies.

With city's next four-year plan less than a month away, Edmonton's budget deliberation process unveiled

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-06 20:29:58.0
Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Finance, Taxation, Governance, Affordability]

The City of Edmonton unveiled its upcoming four-year budget deliberation process, which will encompass five distinct budgets: the capital, operating, utility services operating and capital, office of the city auditor, and climate budgets. Draft budgets are scheduled for publication on November 2, followed by a public hearing beginning on November 23 that will remain open for up to 10 days until December 18 or budget approval. In an 8-5 vote, City Council approved raising the city's franchise fee to 19.4 per cent to match Calgary's rate, aiming to offset property tax pressures on residents and businesses while the city works to rebuild its financial stabilization reserve back to the $150-million baseline.

Large businesses and post-secondary institutions could see five-digit utility fee hike if Epcor franchise fee increase approved

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-05 21:00:32.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Taxation, Finance, Energy]

The Edmonton City Council utility committee voted to send a proposed increase in the city's franchise fee charged to Epcor from 17.65 per cent to the provincially capped maximum of 20 per cent to the full city council. If approved, the hike takes effect on January 1, 2027, generating an estimated additional $14.8 million for the municipality while increasing monthly utility bills by up to $31,500 for post-secondary institutions, $10,400 for large commercial properties, and $6,250 for hospitals.

Health spending helped push New Brunswick deficit to record $1.3B in last fiscal year

Source: New Brunswick - Regional News
Date: 2026-09-25 13:46:00.0
Tags: [New Brunswick, Finance, Healthcare, Social Services, Economy, Taxation]

The Government of New Brunswick announced a record deficit of $1.3 billion for the previous fiscal year, more than double the $549-million shortfall projected in the March 2025 budget by the Liberal government. Provincial revenues fell short by nearly $217 million due to lower harmonized sales taxes and reduced corporate and personal income taxes. Conversely, expenses exceeded expectations by almost $538 million, primarily driven by increased spending on healthcare and social development. Finance Minister René Legacy noted that the province closed the fiscal year with a net debt of $13.9 billion while facing ongoing cost pressures and potential U.S. trade tariffs.

Only 150 first-time homebuyer GST rebates approved as of June

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-24 21:28:16.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Taxation, Finance, Affordability]

Federal data reveals that as of June, only 150 first-time homebuyer GST rebate applications out of 7,500 received have been approved by the federal government under its program eliminating the GST on newly built or substantially renovated homes worth up to $1 million. The data indicates that 620 applications were denied, 6,700 remain pending with an average processing time of 50 days, and a total of $3,577,000 has been paid out at an average of about $24,000 per rebate. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne acknowledged the slow rollout, while Department of Finance officials attributed the initial delays to uncertainty surrounding the passage of Bill C-4, which received royal assent in March 2026.

Ontario Investing $49 Million to Strengthen Supports for Small Business

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-09-24 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Taxation, Industry, Finance]

The Ontario government is investing a record $49 million over three years into the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres (OSBAC) network—formerly known as Small Business Enterprise Centres—to provide business support services across more than 50 locations. Backed by Associate Minister of Small Business Nina Tangri, the funding aims to help entrepreneurs navigate economic uncertainty and U.S. tariffs by streamlining access to one-on-one consultations, advisory services, and provincial programs like Summer Company, Starter Company Plus, and Succession Ontario. This initiative is part of a broader economic plan that also includes cutting the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 percent to 2.2 percent, saving over 375,000 small businesses up to $5,000 annually and providing $1.1 billion in total tax relief over three years.

C-38 (45-1) - Canadian Fuel Affordability Act

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-09-21 15:16:00.0
Tags: [National, Taxation, Finance, Affordability]

Bill C-38, titled the Canadian Fuel Affordability Act, was introduced and read for the first time in the House of Commons on September 21, 2026. Sponsored by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the bill proposes to amend the Excise Tax Act to extend the federal fuel excise tax relief. The legislation is currently at the second reading stage in the House of Commons during the 1st session of the 45th Parliament.