An older farmer looks out over ripe field of wheat.

Carney cancels capital gains hike

Controversial tax plan drew criticism from Canadian farmers, agriculture groups

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday that a proposed hike of the capital gains inclusion rate, controversial among Canadian farmers, had been cancelled.

Legal tools are available to farmers to cushion the blow from the expanded capital gains inclusion rate, particularly in the middle of succession. | Getty Images

Navigating capital gains maze

There are ways for producers to shield themselves from increased capital gains inclusion, but it may take some legwork and consultation with an expert to determine eligibility, said a chartered professional accountant from Alberta. Last June, the Canadian government increased the inclusion rate for individuals and corporations. Capital gains increased from 50 per cent to […] Read more

“Patchwork approaches and fragmented incentives won’t deliver the economic growth and support that Canada’s grain farmers and rural communities need,” Grain Growers of Canada said in a news release. | File photo

Program changes not seen as remedy for capital gains loss

Federal government revamps Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive, but Grain Growers of Canada say the move isn’t enough

Glacier FarmMedia – Grain Growers of Canada says proposed changes to the Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive will help some grain farmers but won’t offset losses due to changes to the capital gains inclusion rate. “Patchwork approaches and fragmented incentives won’t deliver the economic growth and support that Canada’s grain farmers and rural communities need,” the organization […] Read more


Grain Growers of Canada says more than 40 percent of farmers are nearing retirement over the next decade, and the federal capital gains tax change introduces substantial uncertainty into their retirement planning.  |  Getty Images

Tax change hurts farm succession

Pity the family farmer. Once a shining centrepiece of Canada’s economic growth, our farmers are little more than an afterthought in our urban-focused world. And the federal government, which once supported small farms through helpful policies, is landing a new and devastating blow through federal capital gains tax changes. The planned changes will make it […] Read more

"Patchwork approaches and fragmented incentives won't deliver the economic growth and support that Canada's grain farmers and rural communities need," the organization said in a news release today. | File photo

Changes to Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive won’t offset capital gains losses says Grain Growers

Glacier FarmMedia – Grain Growers of Canada says proposed changes to the Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive will help some grain farmers but won’t offset losses due to changes to the capital gains inclusion rate. “Patchwork approaches and fragmented incentives won’t deliver the economic growth and support that Canada’s grain farmers and rural communities need,” the organization […] Read more


It’s fair game to complain about taxes, and it’s popular among farmers for the Grain Growers of Canada to be complaining about how much extra producers will now be paying in capital gains tax when they sell. However, don’t expect the complaints to garner much sympathy from non-farming Canadians, especially when the analysis is superficial and misleading while painting farmers as being very wealthy. | Getty Images

Recent analysis on capital gains tax is misleading

Farmers now have another reason to bash the Trudeau Liberals — the increase in the capital gains tax inclusion rate. Unfortunately, many of the arguments against the tax don’t withstand scrutiny. Certainly, taxes of all kinds are too high in Canada. In the case of the federal government, the public employee contingent has ballooned, expanding […] Read more

The author says that while only a fraction of Canadians declare high capital gains income in any given year, most who do only have such large incomes once in a lifetime, when selling assets such as a duplex, a cottage or a small business.  |  Getty Images

Capital gains tax hike wide reaching

A lot of Canadians are finding out they’re richer than they think, at least according to the tax man. The way the Trudeau government is pitching its capital gains tax hike, you’d think it’s only affecting Canada’s richest 0.13 percent of taxpayers. Unless you own your own private jet, you shouldn’t have anything to worry […] Read more

“This hike targets farmers’ retirement plans, increases costs for the next generation and threatens the long-term viability of family farms,"  said Grain Growers of Canada executive director Kyle Larkin. | Getty Images

Changes to capital gains inclusion rate now in effect

Federal gov’t has been under pressure to reverse the decision, but an economist says it is unlikely to change its mind

REGINA — The June 25 deadline to implement federal tax changes has come and gone without the exemption farmers wanted. Organizations had asked Ottawa to keep the capital gains inclusion rate for farmers at 50 per cent instead of raising it to 66.67 per cent. This rate applies to capital gains of more than $250,000. […] Read more


The Canadian Federation of Agriculture said the implementation date of June 25 for capital gains changes does not give farm businesses enough time to fully assess the potential implications for tax planning purposes.  |  Getty photo

Capital gains changes continue to draw concern

Organizations say 
increasing the inclusion rate will affect intergenerational transfer and decrease the number of family farms

REGINA — The farm lobby against federal changes to the capital gains inclusion rate is gathering steam. Grain Growers of Canada launched ProtectFamilyFarms.ca last week after revealing research showing family grain farmers would face 30 per cent more in taxes if the rate rises from one-half to two-thirds. The online lobby allows farmers to contact […] Read more

Ottawa intends to increase the rate from one-half to two-thirds on capital gains realized annually above $250,000 by individuals and on all capital gains realized by corporations and most trusts. | File photo

Capital gains changes to proceed

REGINA — Canadian finance minister Chrystia Freeland tabled a notice of motion June 10 to change the capital gains inclusion rate. The Notice of Ways and Means motion follows an announcement in the April budget that the change was coming. Legislation is to follow. Ottawa intends to increase the rate from one-half to two-thirds on […] Read more