2021 Will Bring Several Changes for Sask. People Changes to Taxes and Ban on Single Use Plastics
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Whitewood Inn Restaurant, Bar & Grill Open - In Town Deleivery Available j33199;!8ধ2+!;¤Wj,32'f¤ff¤ $150 PER COPY (GST included) www.heraldsun.ca Publications Mail Agreement No. 40006725 -YPKH`1HU\HY` Serving Whitewood, Grenfell, Broadview and surrounding areas • Publishing since 1893 =VS0ZZ\L Provincial and federal updates 2021 will bring several changes for Sask. people Changes to taxes and ban on single use plastics By Elaine Ashfield Grasslands News It’s the new year. Everyone has been waiting to put the old year of 2020 with all of the negative happenings behind them. So what exactly do we know or predict for the year 2021? In Saskatchewan, it has been announced commer- cial property tax changes have been lowered. The Saskatchewan government has adjusted property tax percentages of value for commercial, industrial, eleva- tor, railway, resource and pipeline properties to 85 per cent for the upcoming year, a savings of 15 per cent. A series of new and returning provincial income tax credits and other tax-reduction initiatives will help make life more affordable for Saskatchewan people in the new year. All Saskatchewan income tax brackets and tax credit amounts will once again be indexed in 2021, sav- ing the province’s taxpayers an estimated $15 million. The level of indexation in 2021 will be 1.0 per cent, matching the national rate of inflation. “We are pleased to resume the indexation of income tax brackets and tax credit amounts in 2021,” Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said. “Indexation protects Saskatchewan taxpayers from bracket creep, and helps keep the tax system fair, com- petitive and affordable.” Saskatchewan families with children enrolled in sports, arts and cultural activities will also be able to claim the Active Families Benefit once again on their 2021 taxes. “Restarting the Active Families Benefit to make children’s activities more affordable was a key election commitment of our government,” Harpauer said. “As promised, the Active Families Benefit will provide a non-refundable tax credit of $150 per year per child to eligible families. Families of children with a disability will receive an additional $50, for a total tax credit of $200 per year per child.” The restarting of the Active Families Benefit will be part of the 2021-22 Budget and will be retroactive to January 1, 2021. Parents who enroll their children in sports, arts and cultural activities in the new year are therefore reminded to keep their receipts so they may claim the benefit with their 2021 tax filings. ALVIN NIXON | GRASSLANDS NEWS Saskatchewan residents who are planning to ren- Rare woodpecker ovate their homes may also be able to claim the re- Wapella area photographer Alvin Nixon got a photograph of a pileated woodpecker recently. The cently announced Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax bird is a large, crow sized woodpecker that is about 18 inches in length. The largest woodpecker Credit. in Canada, it is uncommon in Saskatchewan and rarely scene. Under this non-refundable tax credit, Saskatchewan homeowners may save up to $1,155 in provincial in- come tax in 2021 by claiming a 10.5 per cent tax credit Some of the new rules and regulations set to come ment and Violence Prevention Regulations” come into on up to $11,000 of eligible home renovation expenses into effect federally in 2021 include the loss of legal effect on Jan. 1, forcing federally-regulated organiza- incurred between October 1, 2020 and December 31, tender status on some bills of money. tions to formulate a workplace harassment policy, with 2021. A further $945 in savings may be claimed in Hundreds of millions of $1, $2, $25, $500, and $1,000 an assessment of harassment risk factors and employee 2022 in respect of eligible expenses incurred between bank notes will lose their legal tender status on Jan. 1. harassment training to be completed by Jan. 1, 2022. January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Eligible ex- Stores can still accept the bills if they choose to, While predictions to lessen the number of cases penses include the cost of permits, contractor labour however, this doesn’t mean that the bills are worthless from COVID-19 are flowing freely due to the newly and professional services, building materials, fixtures as they can potentially be sold for more than face value acquired vaccines, there are not many who have given and equipment rentals. to collectors. a prediction to when, or in what manner the pandemic For more information about the Home Renovation There will be a ban on single-use plastics. The fed- will end or when and what the “new normal” may be. Tax Credit, including examples of eligible renovation eral government announced plastic bags, cutlery and 2021 may be full of as many surprises as 2020 but expenses, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/home-ren- other hard-to-recycle plastic items would be banned by let’s hope for improvements to health, safety and ovation-tax-credit or call 1-800-667-6102 (toll free), or the end of 2021. the tough economic times that many are struggling email [email protected]. The federal government’s new “Workplace Harass- through. 2 January 8, 2021 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV Grasslands News Melville Legion makes donations 68%0,77('_*5$66/$1'61(:6 5*&RPEH9&/HJLRQRI0HOYLOOHUHFHQWO\PDGHWZRGRQDWLRQVRIHDFK7KHÀUVWZDVWR6W3HWHU·V+RVSLWDOIRUDUHFOLQHUIRUSDWLHQWXVHDQGWZR IXWRQVIRUSDWLHQWV·IDPLOLHVWRXVHZKHQYLVLWLQJ7KHVHFRQGGRQDWLRQWR6W3DXO·V/XWKHUDQ+RPHIRUWKUHHSRUWDEOHVRXQGV\VWHPVWKDWFDQEHXVHGE\ FOHUJ\DQGLQWKHUHFUHDWLRQDUHDZLWKEHWWHUTXDOLW\VRXQGDQGFODULW\IRUWKRVHZKRDUHKDUGRIKHDULQJ3UHVHQWLQJLV%ULDQ0RUULV OHIW 3RSS\&KDLUPDQ/LVD $OVSDFK OHIWSLFWXUH 6W3HWHU·V+RVSLWDO6KHUL+RQH\ZLFK6W3DXO/XWKHUDQ+RPH ULJKWSLFWXUH DQG7UHYRU%DQFDU]3UHVLGHQWRI5*&RPEH9&/HJLRQ Local Legions receive financial boost from VOESF By Emily Jane Fulford provided via the Veterans Organizations Emergency pandemic. Grasslands News Support Fund (VOESF), a program run by Veterans Ten branches of the Royal Canadian Legion located Affairs Canada. VOESF is used to provide grants to within Yorkton-Melville area will receive a combined non-profit and registered charitable organizations that total of $101,091. Foam Lake will be receiving $13,585 in Members of The Royal Canadian Legion branches support veterans and their families. The grants are support; Kamsack will be provided with $6,625. Quill in Melville, Yorkton and neighboring communities specifically designed and intended to help with the fi- Lake will be issued $10,000 and Canora, $5,000. Pleas- will be receiving financial support this year. It will be nancial burden which was caused by the COVID-19 antdale and Norquay will each receive just over $3,000, Esterhazy with $14,871 of funding, Sheho with $12,560 and Melville and Yorkton both with $15,605. Cathay Wagantall, MP for Yorkton-Melville, who sits on the Standing Committee for Veterans Affairs, said that she was very pleased to see government sup- port coming to assist Legions. She is not a stranger to Yes Sir, That’s the work they do to support veterans, having heard first-hand of the challenges facing veterans. “In my work with the Standing Committee for Veterans Affairs, I receive calls from veterans from right across Canada who are seriously struggling, mentally and financially,” said Wagantall. “Many feel Our Baby abandoned by their government due to a backlog of outstanding disability claims and issues with other services, but the one place those veterans can continue to turn to is the Legion.” Wagantall stated, during a recent meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, that the Ex- ecutive Director of the Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command testified about the efficient work being done to care for the immediate needs of veterans. “Mr. Wagner testified they can have a veteran come into their office at 10 a.m. in need of shelter, food or medical attention. Throughout their various networks – be it Social Services, Legion branches or various service groups – they can have housing established, WIN $50.00 VISA GIFT CARD food provided, and usually a stream of income through Social Services, plus they can set up medical appoint- ments and start the process for Veterans Affairs ben- GRASSLANDS NEWS would like to Salute all Babies Born in 2020 efit claims, all by the end of the day. It’s all in the and to do that we will publish SPECIAL PAGES in the process and removing barriers, and it starts with em- powering the front line,” said Wagantall. January 29, 2021 edition of the Melville Advance, Fort Qu’Appelle Times and “The caring and efficient work of our Saskatche- Whitewood Grenfell Herald Sun featuring the babies of 2020. wan Command and local Legions is, and could be, even If you’d like a picture of your baby to appear, fi ll in the form below or e-mail more significant in ensuring immediate emergency support and timely care for our veterans and their (send a clear snapshot) of your baby along with a cheque (made out to Grasslands News Group), families, if the process was less onerous,” VISA or Mastercard number for $20.00 (GST included). The VOESF’s entire aid package for Legion loca- tions internationally totaled $20 million, with $14 mil- A draw will be made Turesday, January 26, 2021 for a $50.00 VISA gift card lion of that allocated to Canadian branches. for the lucky parents. Enter today and win! Entry Deadline Monday, January 26, 2021 2020 Winner ENTRY FORM Parent’s Name ............................................................................................................................. ......................................................................................................................................................