Saskatchewan 2023 Budget Highlights

On March 22, 2023, the Saskatchewan Minister of Finance announced Saskatchewan’s 2023 budget. This article covers the most important things you need to know.

No Changes To Corporate or Personal Tax Rates

There are no changes to Saskatchewan’s corporate or personal tax rates in Budget 2023.

Corporate Tax Incentives

Budget 2023 contains several measures that impact corporate tax incentives:

It extends the Saskatchewan Manufacturing and Processing Exporter Tax, which provides a non-refundable tax credit to eligible corporations, to December 31, 2023. This incentive offers non-refundable tax credits to qualifying corporations that recruit extra full-time employees in the manufacturing and processing sector, exceeding the number employed in 2014.
$4 million has been committed to expanding the Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive, which provides a rebate on eligible drilling expenditures.
It increases funding for the Creative Saskatchewan Production Grant Program for film and television to $12 million.

Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit

The Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (SMETC) is a non-refundable tax credit available to Saskatchewan taxpayers who invest in eligible flow-through shares issued by mining or exploration companies. The budget increases this tax credit to 30% (from 10%), effective the 2023 taxation year.

Provincial Sales Tax Changes

Budget 2023 introduced the following changes to exempt all of the following from the Provincial Sales Tax:

Labour costs and materials to repair and install exempt medical equipment into real property. This is effective as of April 1, 2023.
Various rigs, including commercial geothermal drilling rigs. This is retroactive to April 1, 2017.
Storage buildings used for storing commercially grown fruits and vegetables. Also, boats with attached harvesting equipment when primarily used in rice farming. This is retroactive to April 1, 2019.

Commitments to Healthcare, Education and Social Services

Budget 2023 contains a financial commitment to improving or expanding healthcare, education, and social services:

$7.1 billion is committed to healthcare services, focusing on strengthening the healthcare system, attracting more doctors and nurses, and providing support for mental health and addiction programs and services.
$3.1 billion for education, childcare and libraries.
$1.7 billion is committed to social services. Several types of benefits, including Saskatchewan Income Support, Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability, the Seniors’ Income Benefit, and the Personal Care Home Benefit, will increase.

Infrastructure Spending

The government has budgeted almost $4 billion for capital projects this year. These are some of the highlights:

$98.6 million for the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.
$38 million for the Weyburn General Hospital.
$20 million for a La Ronge long-term care home.
$776 million on provincial roads and highways.
$152.3 million for education capital, for both renovating existing schools and constructing new ones.

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We can help you determine how this year’s budget may impact your personal or business finances. Get started today and give us a call!

Why A Buy-Sell Agreement Is Vital For Your Business

The purpose of a buy-sell agreement is to establish a set of rules or actions (that are legally binding) for what must happen to a business if one or more of the business owners is no longer involved.

Why does my business need a buy‐sell agreement?

A buy-sell agreement is vital for your business as it protects the shareholders and the business itself if one of the partners exits the business for any reason.

A buy-sell agreement offers so many benefits for your business. It:

Can help maintain the continuity of your business.

Minimize disputes between remaining co-owners and the family of the departing owner.

Decrease stress and uncertainty for all business owners.

Protect business assets and liquidity by including a solid financial and tax plan.

What are the different types of buy-sell agreements?

These are the most common types of buy-sell agreements:

A cross-purchase agreement. In this agreement, each remaining shareholder agrees to buy a percentage of the shares owned by the departing shareholder. The purchase can be funded by life insurance in case of the death of one of the shareholders.

A promissory note agreement. Each shareholder has corporate-owned life insurance in this agreement, and the corporation is the beneficiary. If a shareholder dies, the surviving shareholder(s) use a promissory note to purchase the deceased’s shares from their estate. The shareholders then use a capital dividend provided by the life insurance to pay off the promissory note.

A share redemption arrangement. This is similar to the promissory note agreement set up, but no promissory note is involved, and the capital dividend account pays for the deceased shareholder’s shares.

What do I need to cover in my buy‐sell agreement?

Your buy-sell agreement must address the following:

Valuation of the company.

Ownership interests.

Buyout clauses.

Terms of payment.

What will happen in the event of any “triggering events.”. These events can include a disagreement between business owners, a business owner getting divorced or retiring, a business owner going bankrupt or becoming disabled, or a business partner dying.

What is the best way to fund my buy-sell agreement?

This needs to be addressed when putting the buy-sell agreement together and can be challenging in the case of some “triggers,” such as a business owner getting a divorce or a disagreement between business owners.

In the case of the death of a business owner or a business owner becoming disabled, the buy-sell agreement can be funded by insurance. Insurance provides both immediate capital and significant tax benefits.

We Can Help!

Buy-sell agreements can be complex and challenging, but they are vital to protect your business and your personal interests. We can explain the best way to set one up – reach out to us today to get started!