Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on Jock Finlayson joining ICBA, more power politics over Alberta’s power grid, and small businesses looking to get a refund on their WorkSafeBC premiums. 🎉 Big news out of ICBA – Canada’s largest construction association has...
This op-ed, written by ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson, first ran in Business in Vancouver Oct. 3, 2023. As we enter the final quarter of 2023, it’s a good time to step back and ponder the key developments shaping the British Columbia job market. Total employment...
SURREY – The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), the country’s largest construction association, announced today the appointment of Jock Finlayson as its inaugural Chief Economist. This landmark hiring underscores ICBA’s commitment...
Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on small businesses hamstrung by Ottawa, the BC deficit, and how technology is changing construction (and how it’s not). 🏦 Small businesses, many decimated by government restrictions during the pandemic, continue to get kicked...
New WorkSafeBC regulations have many of our companies reaching out for Occupational First Aid training — Kerry and Jordan talk about OFA Level 2 training. Occupational First Aid Level 2 (BC) November 6-10, 2023...
Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on population shifts, BC finances, and housing starts trending down. ⬆️ Statistics Canada is out with their new population numbers, and Canada continues to climb – now more than 40 million people. Over the past year, Canada...
TRAINING THURSDAY: Navigating Taxes for Small Businesses and Self-Employed Individuals Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest (FREE!) featured course.Navigating Taxes for Small Businesses and Self-Employed IndividualsLive Online | FREE!Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 11AM – 12:30PM Pacific TimeRegister at icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/473-free-information-session-navigating-taxes-for-small-businesses...See our full course catalogue at icba.ca/coursesWouldn’t it be great to know that you are doing things right before you file your small business tax returns? Join us for a free 1.5-hour webinar where a Canada Revenue Agency Liaison Officer will explain how to avoid common errors that could end up costing you time and money. Through the Liason Officer Service, CRA offers free support and guidance to small businesses and self-employed individuals to help them meet their tax obligations. As this program is a National program, the information discussed applies to all provinces in Canada. During this webinar, a liaison officer will:• Answer tax-related questions (income tax, GST/HST, and payroll)• Discuss business tax deductions • Explain common tax errors and financial benchmarks for your industry or a comparable one• Provide an overview of helpful tools and services offered by the CRA• Explain general bookkeeping concepts and best practices or offer advice and help with setting up an effective bookkeeping system for your business.Please note that the information provided will be kept fairly general, however, participants will have the opportunity to request a one-on-one personalized visit should they want to discuss their specific situation in confidence. Your private conversation with a liaison officer is 100% confidential; the information you choose to discuss with a liaison officer will not be shared with other areas of the CRA, or anyone else. ... See MoreSee Less
TRAINING THURSDAY: Navigating Taxes for Small Businesses and Self-Employed Individuals Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest (FREE!) featured course.Navigating Taxes for Small Businesses and Self-Employed IndividualsLive Online | FREE!Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 11AM – 12:30PM Pacific TimeRegister at icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/473-free-information-session-navigating-taxes-for-small-businesses...See our full course catalogue at icba.ca/coursesWouldn’t it be great to know that you are doing things right before you file your small business tax returns? Join us for a free 1.5-hour webinar where a Canada Revenue Agency Liaison Officer will explain how to avoid common errors that could end up costing you time and money. Through the Liason Officer Service, CRA offers free support and guidance to small businesses and self-employed individuals to help them meet their tax obligations. As this program is a National program, the information discussed applies to all provinces in Canada. During this webinar, a liaison officer will:• Answer tax-related questions (income tax, GST/HST, and payroll)• Discuss business tax deductions • Explain common tax errors and financial benchmarks for your industry or a comparable one• Provide an overview of helpful tools and services offered by the CRA• Explain general bookkeeping concepts and best practices or offer advice and help with setting up an effective bookkeeping system for your business.Please note that the information provided will be kept fairly general, however, participants will have the opportunity to request a one-on-one personalized visit should they want to discuss their specific situation in confidence. Your private conversation with a liaison officer is 100% confidential; the information you choose to discuss with a liaison officer will not be shared with other areas of the CRA, or anyone else. ... See MoreSee Less
If the Canadian housing crisis improves at all in the next three years, it won't be because of any Trudeau (or any provincial) housing policies or government spending -- it will happen because the federal government is slowing immigration substantially. That's the analysis of ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson in his latest piece for ICBA Economics. Read it at: www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/04/24/icba-economics-household-formation-immigration-and-housing-mark...... See MoreSee Less
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #147: Economic Advocacy is a Mental Health IssueICBA is Canada’s largest construction association and we grew to this size largely due to our strong advocacy for the conditions that help builders succeed: a strong economy, less red tape, lower taxes, and open, fair bidding. We also run an award-winning workplace wellness program, designed specifically for construction. These two streams of work combine more often than one might realize. For example, a recent survey found Metro Vancouver residents report worse mental health and lower life satisfaction than other Canadians.Experts point to Vancouver’s housing crisis and absurdly high cost of living as factors why mental health would be worse. It makes sense – if you’re constantly worried about housing or making ends meet, it’s tough to feel mentally healthy.We know growing the economy, building more homes, and leaving more money in every taxpayer’s pocket can help: it’s time for politicians to connect the dots on these important issues. ------Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 100 companies and more than 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details. ... See MoreSee Less
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #146: Take Me Out To The Ballgame
There’s something comforting to me about watching baseball, whether live or on TV. The slower pace slowly relaxes you, yet the big moment is always a single swing of the bat away...