April 25, 2014 - Bedford, Nova Scotia - Canada Revenue Agency
On behalf of the Honourable Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, P.C., Q.C., M.P., Minister of National Revenue, Gerald Keddy, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue, and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency met today with members of Merit Nova Scotia, a provincial organization open shop contractors in Nova Scotia, to highlight the Government of Canada's support of small and medium businesses through job creation and support for skilled tradespersons and apprenticeships.
Our Government is supporting small businesses in building a skilled workforce by giving them the tools they need to hire new apprentices in eligible trades. This includes introducing a number of important new measures since 2006, including the apprenticeship job creation tax credit, the apprenticeship incentive grant, and the apprenticeship completion grant. Skilled tradespersons and apprentices receive additional tax relief through the tradesperson's tools deduction. In Economic Action Plan 2014, we reinforced our commitment to the next generation of skilled Canadian workers by introducing the Canada Apprentice Loan. This initiative will provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year, to help cover the cost of their training
Since 2006, our Government has introduced dozens of measures to reduce the red tape burden on small businesses. M.P. Keddy highlighted several service enhancements for businesses that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is now implementing. For example, as of April 2014, corporations can file amended T2 income tax returns using commercial tax preparation software, and taxpayer representatives can submit an authorization request (Form RC59) online on behalf of the businesses they represent. In October 2014, the CRA is launching a new service that will allow businesses to manage their banking and direct deposit information online. The Government is also revising remittance thresholds for employer source deductions, a key red tape reduction measure that will reduce the number of payments that businesses have to prepare and submit to the CRA.
Rebecca Rogers
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of National Revenue
613-995-2960
Noël Carisse
Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-952-9184
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