December 2017

Your Family Trust Has a Non-Resident Beneficiary

In today’s world of international families it is not uncommon for a Canadian family to have one or more members that are non-residents of Canada. When that same family has set up a Canadian discretionary family trust that is intended to benefit its members with, say distributions from a family business, a number of complexities arise for the administration of that family trust.  Often the trustees of such a family….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, Tax Issues, U.S. Citizen

Introducing Ziggy- A Caring Companion

I am sharing my good fortune in that I am proud to be a ‘puppy raiser’ for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).I am doing so in this blog because it relates directly to aging well and philanthropic opportunities. By way of background, CNIB is a national charitable institution that is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. They work with people of all ages in their own homes….

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Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized

Sibling Rivalry Over Mother’s Competency

In 2009, Hermine Wekerle, mother of financier and Dragon’s Den star, Michael Wekerle, signed an unconditional power of attorney for property giving one of her three daughters, Caron, authority to be her substitute decision-maker. In 2016, acting under the power of attorney for property, Caron agreed to sell a little old chapel on Yonge Street in Thornhill, Ontario, which was purchased by Hermine’s late husband, Anthony Wekerle, in 1994 for….

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Family Conflict, Power of Attorney

Journalism and Charities

The interconnectedness of registered charities and journalism is growing.  In this era of digital content explosion and “fake news”, traditional media outlets — especially newspapers — are seeking new ways to serve their communities and survive.  Increasingly, public benefit non-profit journalism is becoming a charitable activity.  There are estate donors who are interested in supporting this space. In the U.S. non-profit, investigative journalism is well established.  In-depth articles funded by….

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Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized

The Application for the Disability Tax Credit to be Reviewed: Hallelujah!

As most of you know, the Disability Tax Credit is a credit to income tax otherwise payable, available for those with a severe or prolonged impairment. It is meant to provide some relief from the additional costs and expenses incurred associated with the impairment. It is also referred to by many as a gatekeeper credit because it is a cornerstone to such programs such as registered disability plans, the working….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Dependant Support, Disability, Elder Care, Geriatric Care Management, In the News, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

The Message is Loud But Not So Clear

Last week, a Washington Post article caught my eye ‘A Florida man collapsed with a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ tattoo. Doctors didn’t know what to do’. The full article in the New England Journal of Medicine  described doctors in Miami who found themselves caught in what they describe as an usual ethical dilemma.  Reportedly, an unconscious man was brought to the ER with a chest tattoo that read ‘DO NOT RESUSCITATE’; his….

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Capacity Law, Elder Care
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