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Tax filing season begins on Monday

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You can officially begin filing your taxes on February 23.

More than 614, 000 New Brunswickers chose to file their 2024 tax return online, which is 95 per cent.

More than 35,000 people in New Brunswick received assistance from a free tax clinic through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program to help them file their returns.

Across Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) received more than 33 million tax returns, with 93 per cent filed online. Over 19 million refunds were issued.

The deadline for most to file and pay without an interest penalty is April 30.

If you need assistance to complete your return, there are free tax clinics available.

Further information can also be found on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

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Fort Frances presses for new tax classification on microbrewers

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The town of Fort Frances is lobbying for tax changes affecting microbreweries.

Ontario’s tax laws classify them as industrial due to the presence of brewing equipment on site.

Mayor Andrew Hallikas says they do not justify a higher tax rate.

“What’s not fair to me is that classification applies to the entire premises. Although the part that’s actually doing the brewing could be a very, very small part of the footprint of the business,” says Hallikas.

Hallikas says the entire building, including the restaurant, bar and other public seating areas, falls under the industrial classification, using the same tax rate that would be applied to a sawmill, auto plant or other manufacturing facility.

He says brew pubs are primarily hospitality venues.

Hallikas pressed the idea of a mixed tax rate to officials with the Ministry of Finance while attending the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto.

“We get a lot of people coming to town because of the good name of our local brew pub,” says Hallikas.

“They’re a really essential part of revitalizing downtown cores of small communities. So we want to make sure that they’re treated fairly under the current tax framework.”

Microbreweries received a tax cut last year when the province introduced lower alcohol tax rates.

Koochiching County Board meeting Dec 9 2025

Koochiching County prepared to approve 6% tax levy increase

A lack of state funding is being cited as a reason for a proposed tax levy in Koochiching County.

The County is considering a 6% increase.

County Administrator Adam Coe says much of the increase is attributed to supporting the public health and human service department and its ability to deliver State-mandated programs.

Administrator Adam Coe says 98% of services are required to be provided locally.

“The state share of helping pay for those is not keeping up with the cost of providing those mandated services, so additional local funds were needed to help maintain that,” says Coe.

He adds that the department has been running deficits of over $300,000 for the past two years, exhausting its reserve account to cover the shortfall.

An additional $34,366 from the levy increase is proposed to go to a general revenue fund that is used to offset wage and health insurance rate increases.

The total spending is targeted at $39,333,971.

Coe says it is a 1.91% reduction over last year, when jail construction costs are not factored.

“We reduced and eliminated many capital projects to offset the increases in other areas to result in that 1.91% decrease,” says Coe.

It includes a decision not to fill two positions within the public health and human services.

Total revenues are budgeted to be at $39,556,559, a slight decrease from 2025.

“We had some specific projects, like the remonumentation grant and other grants that we’re not receiving.”

County Commissioners are expected to formally approve the budget at their meeting next Tuesday.