Category: Chrystia Freeland

Finance Department Faces Grilling by MPs Over Tax Rules in Sale of Family Businesses

OTTAWA — Parliament’s legal expert says the Liberal government waded into uncharted territory when it decided to delay enacting tax rule changes on the sale of small businesses between family members. A Conservative private member’s bill passed in late June rewrote part of the Income Tax Act so business owners could pass on companies to…


Global Corporate Minimum Tax Sceptics Say ‘Cartel’ Will Lead to Higher Taxes

The global minimum tax has its share of sceptics who foresee higher taxes and other economic hits from the scheme aimed at large multinationals that avoid paying taxes by shifting profits to tax-friendly countries. 


Global Corporate Minimum Tax Skeptics Say ‘Cartel’ Will Lead to Higher Taxes

The global minimum tax has its share of sceptics who foresee higher taxes and other economic hits from the scheme aimed at large multinationals that avoid paying taxes by shifting profits to tax-friendly countries. 


Cities Should Redo Planning, Permitting to Align With Housing Strategy, Minister Says

OTTAWA—The federal minister in charge of affordable housing says he would like municipalities to reshape local rules to more quickly build units through the government’s national housing strategy. Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says some cities and towns have already started to align their permitting and planning process with the federal strategy, but adds many…


Liberals Move to Cut Debate, Force Vote on Bill to Implement 2021 Budget

OTTAWA—The Trudeau Liberals moved on Monday to force an end to debate in the House of Commons on the government’s budget bill and bring it to a vote. Bill C-30 contains multiple measures from the April budget, including changes to business and worker supports. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government is worried the bill…


Air Canada Says Senior Executives to Voluntarily Return 2020 Bonuses

MONTREAL—Air Canada says its senior executives have chosen to return their 2020 bonuses in response to “public disappointment.” The airline company says in a news release the president and CEO, as well as executive vice-presidents of Air Canada, have volunteered to return their bonuses and share appreciation units. Former president and CEO Calin Rovinescu, who…


First Call Between Freeland, Harris Highlights China’s Arbitrary Detention of Kovrig and Spavor

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland held her first phone call with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday. Among the range of issues they talked about were the various aspects of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the close economic ties between the two countries, and the importance of free flowing trade and investment. According to…


Liberals to Unveil Federal Budget on April 19, Freeland Says

OTTAWA—Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal Liberals will table a budget on April 19. It will be the first federal budget in more than two years, after the government opted not to introduce one in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Canada. It will also be Freeland’s first budget as finance minister;…


Liberals’ Two Billion Trees Promise to Cost $2.78 Billion More Than Planned, PBO Says

OTTAWA—The parliamentary budget office says a pledge by the Trudeau Liberals to plant two billion trees could cost almost double what the government says. The tree-planting spree, spread over a decade, is supposed to start in the spring and cost $3.16 billion over that time, based on federal estimates. Getting to the 2030 target means…


Freeland Hints at Potential Hotel Quarantines for Returning Travellers

OTTAWA—Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is “looking seriously” at tougher travel measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, including mandatory hotel quarantines for air travellers returning from non-essential trips abroad. “I would like to stress that we are taking this measure very, very seriously. We are considering the issue very, very seriously,”…