tax retums now NEVER leave year-end tax planning to the end of the year. Start at least a month ahead to make sure you complete all the transactions and paperwork in time. B Capital chatlenge: If you have — or could realize — capital gains or losses, work out a strategy to maximize your benefits. Last securities trading date for this year is Dec. 22. Let’s say you have carried forward unused Jusses. Would it make sense to sell some investments to realize capital gains those losses could then offset? If you have or will have capital gains for this year, should you sell some losing invest- ments to help reduce or eliminate the capital gains? ~ The rule change allowing you to declaré only half of capital gains effective Oct. : 48 means you will need math smarts (or 2 computer program or a tax adviser) to do the calculations. @ The “69s dollar question”: Tf you turnled) 69 this year, ‘you must decide what to do busine SS CHANGES to preg- “nancy and parental leave under the - Employment . Standards Act will Come into effect | December 31. _- : A> birth ‘mother who : begins leave on or after Dec, 31 will be entitled to up to -17--weeks unpaid pregnancy a leave Plus a further 35 weeks with your RRSPs as you can no longer have a plan after Dec. 31. You must also make any final contribution — and possibly an over-contribution — by that date. Talk to the RRSP expert at your finan- cial institution. Spousal rule: Always con- tribute to a spousal RRSP by Dec. 31 tc reduce the three- year attribution waiting peri- od by up to a year. W@ Pay in advance?: Make your 2001 donations by Dec. 31 and enjoy the tax savings this year. The same applies to medical expenses, union and Professional dues, investment expenses, qualifying moving expenses and so on. @ Scratch out the clawback: If you receive Old Age Security benefits and your net income is likely to exceed of unpaid parental leave. A birth mother who does not take pregnancy leave can take up to. 37 weeks unpaid parental leave. Birth fathers and adopt- ing parents who begin leave on or after Dec. 31 can take up to 37 wecks of unpaid pareoral leave. The new parental leave entitlement only applies if leave begins on or after Dec. $53,960, look for deductions and ather ways to reduce this figure to minimize the claw- back of your OAS. B Make the right move: Plan any move to another province to ensure you are living in the province with the lower tax rate on Dec. 3h. Leaky shelters: Before you invest in a tax shelter, get expert advice co make sure it’s a sound investment with solid deductions. B Good business: Pay family members who worked in your sideline or full-time business, or on vour rental property. @ Buy depreciable assets before Dec. 31 to claim depreciation. Don’t sell such assets until after Dec. 31 so you can claim depreciation for one more year. Mike Grenby is a colum- nist and independent person- al financial adviser; belt answer questions in this col- tonn_as space allows but can- not reply personally, Contnet him by e-mail at mike@gren- by.com and see previous columns. at cmmwmgrenby. com>, 31. Hf parental leave begins before that, the maximum time off is 12 weeks. Pregnancy leave can begin up to 11 weeks before the expected birth date. Parental leave can be taken any time within one year of the birth or adoption but must be taken ali at once. More info is available at . Heated Towel Rails ‘Double Towel Bar w/Shelf ‘from $169.00 in white 4199. 090 i in chrome .. in chrome $79.00. brushed nickel $109.00 ‘-Norsurn LIGHTING AND BATH CENTRE Trad@max locates in West Van CERRITOS Holdings, Inc., a movie industry company based in Tucson, Arizona, is set- ting up its North American headquarters for a new division in West Vancouver. Cerritos, which trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol CERH, announced Thursday the for- mation of the Trad@max, Ltd. division. Trad@max_ will operate end-to-end (e2e) closed trad- ing market systems. Trad@max intends to develop vertical market places for commodities such as cof- fee, rice, fruit, and oil field equipment. The company plans to launch the first trading system in December. The company has feased 15,000 sq. ft. of office space in West. Vancouver. Ssid Darby Kirby, vice president of business develop- ment for Cerritos, about the choice of West Vancouver, “We had some assuciates located there. The space came up and it was the right price.” Trad@max is in the process of moving in to the Kapilano 100 building across trom Park Royal South. Kirby said Trad@max expects to hire some 20 to 40 people, with jobs ranging from administrative to tech support. According to Cerritos Holdings, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC}, as of July 21, 2000, the company had Growth spurt ne employees. According to Cerrito’s financial summary for the quarter ending June 30, 2000, the company had no revenue. The SEC filing noted that Cerritos intends to position itself to evolve inte a vertical- ly integrated, diversified glob- al media entertainment com- pany. The company intends to acquire a number of diversi- fied entertainment companies that will allow for. the pursuit of opportunities currently available in the global market- place. The company antici- Pates generating revenues from several sources, includ- ing, production of new and existing feature films, as well as expanding into other areas of the entertainment industry. — Michael Becker BILL Swansberough of PAeridex was the featured speaker at an early-moming |. information session held by the North Vancouver Chember of Commerce recently. as part of its ongoing Grow Your Business with the internet breakfast series. . It's time John Reynolds e and the Reforr/ Alliance. came clean'on their. abortion policy. “Tan McKay's position i is: Clear: “In Canada, women © » have the right to choose." “Ing a ‘tight f race, your: vote. may be decisive. — Tan McKay says NC to “any Reform/ Alliance. referendum on. abortion : ‘Period, 1573 Marine Drive ' _ West Vancouver www.danmekay.com , tings S t., Burnaby 299-0666 |