Canada’s government announces Start-Up Visa Program

Canada’s federal government recently announced a Start-Up Visa Program aimed at attracting international entrepreneurs to the country. Overall it is sending the right message to global entrepreneurs, that Canada welcomes them and their ideas in the hopes of creating jobs in here in an area of growth. I hope it won’t create an uneven playingContinue reading “Canada’s government announces Start-Up Visa Program”

Hunger strikes and supporting documentation

One of the bigger news stories in Canada of late is the ongoing hunger strike of a First Nations chief, ostensibly being carried out to force a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss conditions on the remote northern Ontario Attawapiskat reservation. The legacy of the “discovery” and settlement of North America by Europeans andContinue reading “Hunger strikes and supporting documentation”

Ten principles of sound tax policy

The Tax Foundation’s Ten principles of sound tax policy are a must-read for those influencing tax policy. I think the list can be further refined down to about half that, but maybe they wanted to get an even ten. For instance, maintaining the neutrality of the system (#2) will result in broad bases (#3). It’sContinue reading “Ten principles of sound tax policy”

Canada gets a variety of tax cuts

The Canadian government released a mini-budget this past week that featured serious tax cuts. The GST goes down another point to 5% and the lowest bracket of personal tax is lowered back down to 15%. Corporate taxes continued their downward trajectory. The CICA focused first on the reduction to corporate taxes: “The government’s commitment toContinue reading “Canada gets a variety of tax cuts”

Lotteries are just regressive taxes

I like The Tax Foundation. They advocate some really smart tax policy in the US. They also have a good blog that regularly keeps me up on US tax, which isn’t something I ever need to know in my job, but is interesting nonetheless. They blogged about one of their Background Papers titled Gambling withContinue reading “Lotteries are just regressive taxes”