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The Great Return: Why Remote Work Is Fading for Many Canadians

  Over the past few years, remote work reshaped how Canadians lived and worked, offering flexibility, reduced commuting stress, and a better work–life balance. But that era is shifting. A growing number of employers across Canada are signalling that remote options—once seen as a permanent fixture—are gradually disappearing. Several factors are driving this change. Many companies argue that in‑person collaboration boosts creativity, strengthens team culture, and improves productivity. Some leaders also believe that physical presence helps with mentorship and career development, especially for younger employees who entered the workforce during the pandemic. Economic pressures are also playing a role. With businesses navigating uncertainty, some executives feel that having employees on‑site provides more oversight and operational stability. At the same time, commercial real estate vacancies have pushed organizations to make use of the office space they’re already paying for. For w...
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Inheritance Tax in Canada: Myths and Facts


Inheritance tax is a tax levied on the estate of a deceased person. In Canada, there is no inheritance tax. Money received from an inheritance, like most gifts and life insurance benefits, is not considered taxable income by the CRA, so you don’t have to pay taxes on that money or report it as income on your tax return. However, this doesn’t mean that an inheritance is immune from Canadian tax laws. The deceased person’s legal representative or estate may have to pay taxes on the estate’s income before the money is released to you.

When a person dies, their legal representative, the executor, has to file a deceased tax return to the CRA. The due date of this return depends on the date the person died. Any taxes owing from this tax return are taken from the estate before it can be settled (dispersed). Once the executor has settled the estate, they must ask the CRA for a Clearance Certificate which confirms all income taxes have been paid or that the CRA has accepted security for the payment. As a legal representative, it is important to get this clearance certificate before distributing any property. If you do not get a certificate, you can be held personally liable for any amount(s) the deceased owes.

If you invest your inheritance money, and earn income (such as interest or dividends) on that investment, you will be taxed on the income earned. The same rules apply if you sell a capital asset and it increases in value from the time you inherited it.

It is important to note that while there is no inheritance tax in Canada, there is an estate tax of sorts. After a person dies, the CRA makes sure that taxes have been paid on any income they earned up to the date of death. If there is a tax balance owing, the executor of the estate is responsible to file a deceased tax return.

In summary, there is no inheritance tax in Canada. However, the estate may have to pay taxes on the estate’s income before the money is released to you. It is important to file a deceased tax return to the CRA and obtain a Clearance Certificate before distributing any property.

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