HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-07-10, Page 9Tax breaks
for summer
day camps
(IMI Agency
For much of the year, and depending
on their age, your children are in day
cart', school or before/after school pro-
grams - so you know they're well cared
for while you pursue your vocation.
But during the summer months, when
schools are closed and day-care celltt'l'S
may curtail their hours of operation, you
have to find another way of keeping your
Oltods safe and occupied during the day.
That's why summer day camps are
ich a popular choice for parents every-
where in Canada. And here's i money-
saving fact that stakes day camps even
more attractive: day camp fees, like other
child-care expenses, may be deducted
from tt parent's income taxes. Here's how
it works.
1)ay camp expenses can he deducted
front income tax by the lower -earning
spouse of an eligible child.
The amount of child-care expenses
that can he claimed in a tax year is based
on the child's age and whether the child
has any disabilities.
'l'he deductible amount also has an
overall limit of two-thirds of the earned
income of the lower -earning parent.
The annual chilli care expense limit
per child is:
Child tinder age 7 -. $7,000
Child age 7 to 16 - $4,000
Child eligible for the disability tax
credit - $10,000
Deductions for payments to a hoard-
ing school or overnight camp have
weekly limits. For each week the child
attends the school or camp the weekly
limit is:
Child under age 7 • $175 per week
Child age 7 to 16 - $100
Child eligible for the (disability tax
credit -- $250
You can claim these deductions using
tax form '1'7711. You are not required to
bntit receipts with the form but you
ould retain them in case they are ever
requested.
(child-care expenses are tax deducti-
ble both federally and provincially,
except for (Quebec. In Quebec, child-care
expenses can be claimed as a refundable
tax credit with the credit rate varying
depending on net fancily income.
(yet all the (tax) credit you deserve for
sending your kids to day camp --- and
make sure you get maximum tax -reduc-
tion benefits from your other tax credits
and deductions. '''alk to your profes-
sional adviser about the complete roster
of tax -saving strategies that (.1111 work for
you.
This column, written and published
by Investors (roup I:ivancial Services
Inc., presents general information only
and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any
investments. For more information on
this topic please contact Audrey 1 at
519-(186-740(1 ext 2311.
'!'willt'r cum/nuclreydakin
Wednesday, July 10, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 9
Conservation authorities help prepare Ontario for flood events
Lakeshore Advance
Ihr record-setting rainfall anti large-
scale flooding, that has caused devasta-
tion in some communities in Alberta,
underlines the need in Ontario for con-
tinued effective flood forecasting,
projects to limit flooding, and the mien
agement of development in flood plains,
according to Conservation Ontario, the
organization that represents conserva
tion authorities,
the most severe flooding on record itt
Ontario occurred in October 19)54 when
I Iurricatie !laze' passed into southern
Ontario, killing eighty-one people and
causing more than $1110 million in dam-
ages. Following the devastating impact
of !laze', a flood plain mapping and
flood forecasting and warning system
was established in the Province of
Ontario.
Ontario's flood management system
Is widely regarded as a positive example
of good risk management, according to
Conservation Ontario. Ontario's 36 con-
servation authorities aur local watershed
management agencies that deliver serv-
ices and programs that protect and man-
age water and other natural resources.
Conservation authorities work with the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
under a provincial emergency manage-
ment framework to deliver a flood man-
agement program to help safeguard the
homes, belongings, and lives of ()ntari-
ans from flooding events.
Conservation authorities are respon-
sible for monitoring and predicting flood
fiows and water levels within their
watersheds, operating flood control
structures such as dams, and sending
out flood messages to focal municipali-
ties and agencies. Flood forecast mes-
sages enable conservation authorities
and municipalities to prepare for, track,
and manage local flooding. Advance
warning provides these agencies with
the opportunity to put emergency plans
Into operation, evacuate communities if
nt'l't'SSary, 1111(1 Se'('tire property in ar'i'as
1ti
'is,'-*::`, '"''`'`�`?�'IkM.lM►"Mit'i�p.+�s„�1,,.."'11,'ii.�t�0�ti7�'�r��.
Flooding In Thedford fast week
that are more likely to flood. (The
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
provides a flood management program,
through their district offices, in parts of
the province where conservation
authorities dont exist,
Conservation authorities have the
ability to restrict development in flood
plains through the (conservation Author-
ities Act (1946). Flood 'management pro-
grams delivered by conservation author-
ities prevent loss of life and reduce flood
damage costs by more than $1(X)111111 on
per year.
"Although conservation authorities
and our partners have done if good job
at minimizing risk, the reality is that
flooding remains to be the leading cause
of public emergency in Ontario, costing
millions of dollars per year in damages,"
said Kim Cavite, General Manager of
Conservation Ontario. (;Inmate change
impacts are a significant issue as they
create more frequent and more serious
flood events, (ravine said. "Flooding can
no longer be seen as a spring problem;.
she said. "It's an issue year -rotund.'
Merry Rags
SUMMER
SALE
Up to
5Q % OFF
All Summer Merchandise
2 114 km% coull►. o/' Grand Bend on llwv. 21
Open 7 Days a Week
519.238-2818
Larry Whiting Special to Lakeshore Advance
Conservation Ontario said
in it news release this week
that additional investment is
needed now to reduce costs
later to minimize the risk and
reduce overall cost to the
public. (continued funding is
needed for aging dams and
dykes that require ongoing
preventative maintenance,
repair, and replacement,
according to the conserva-
tion organization. More fund-
ing is also required to update
flood plain maps to continue
to move from the traditional
hard -copy Wraps to fmodern
digital mmapping.'These ,mod-
ernized maps can be used to
update emergency response
plans and improve prepared-
ness for future large floods,
according to Conservation
Ontario.
Fortunately, technology
has evolved, significantly
reducing the cost to update
and maintain flood plain
slapping. eche Federal Pro-
vincial I:loodplain Damage
Reduction Programs, which
historically provided funding
for flood plain mapping,
steeds to he reinstated to
update flood plain mapping
and associated computer
models. Not only will this
information help in prepar-
ing emergency response
plans but it will also support
efforts by Environment Can-
ada to provide improved
weather forecasts and
weather radar information.
Investment in hazard man-
agement is an important
underpinning of the econ-
omy that can reduce disrup-
tion during disasters and
return business to normal
much more quickly, accord-
ing to Conservation Ontario.
Ibis is one of the factors that
stakes Ontario an attractive
place to live and do business.
Most importantly, this invest-
ment will help keep Ontari-
ans safe and reduce impact
to then, during major floods.
'1'o learn more about flood
forecasting and management
in Ontario visit (conservation
Ontario's website at conser-
vation-ontario.onca or see
this link: http://www.conser-
vatfon-ontario.on.ca/
projects/flootistatus.htntl.
se"
MUNICIPAL! 1Y OP
BLUEWATER
rw.� „- .ewk, nwIv naw
2001
LET THE FUN BEGIN!
Summer Day Camp
For children aged 4 - 1 2
I .ocatit)ns: hayfield and /midi
July 8th - August 16th
Monday - Friday
Drop off between 8:00 - t):OOam
Pick up between •1:00 - 5:O0pml
(lost: $22.)11 / day
$90.111) / Nveek
$1101 / half clays
Still lots of room to register!
Come .join us for a fun -filled summer!
Questions - call Stacey 511)-236-4351
OR email: laporte.stae&' ((1' gtnail.ct►m