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June 29th 2016 Edition

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Featured Business

A solution to your tax season trauma – Nuages Consulting Inc., Chartered Professional Accountants, Certified Public Accountants

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Photo Credit: Bxlicia

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

How did it come to this? Taxes… You always push them off until the last minute. Now, where did you put that receipt? Suddenly, the phone rings, startling you. You answer nervously “Hello?”

“Good afternoon, this is Agent Jones from the Canada Revenue Agency. I’m calling regarding your overdue tax returns.”

Your eyes widen in horror and you frantically search for an explanation. “Oh, uh, hi… Yes, I’ve been meaning to get to those. Just a small delay, you know, busy with business and all…”

The agent say’s firmly, “I understand, but we can’t overlook the matter any longer. Your taxes are considerably overdue, and there are penalties accruing. We need you to file them immediately.”

Your heart sinks as the weight of the situation hits you. “I… I’ll get right on it, I promise. Just give me a little more time.”

“I’m afraid we can’t grant any more extensions. You have to take action now, or we’ll have to pursue further measures.”

You hang up the phone, feeling overwhelmed and trapped. You slump back into your chair, staring blankly at the computer screen.

That’s right everyone; it is tax time, the dreaded season of the year, one that makes the majority of us anxious, but today we are going to introduce to the community a solution to your tax season trauma.

Founded in 2000, Nuages Consulting INC., Chartered Professional Accountants have had a single mission: to be the most successful, supportive, creative, and community focused Chartered Professional Accountants in the GTA. Nuage is French for Cloud, and this strategically represents the fact that even though they are centralized in Toronto, Ontario, Canada they are virtually everywhere. They have a team of: educated, determined, intelligent and energetic consultants with a passion to approach each of their clients with fresh eyes, and develop customized and unique strategies to assist you with your world-wide income.

They partner with their clients from start to finish, focusing on their needs while providing new ideas, developing effective strategies, and designing high quality and scalable solutions. They exist to solve the critical issues facing their clients, both large and small.

I had a chance to sit down with founding partner Gloria Kapuku, CPA, and she shared with me what separates Nuages Consulting Inc. from other consulting companies. “Our unique approach is not only what differentiates us, but also what makes us successful. We provide a broad range of services and solutions to help organizations: facilitate change, achieve their vision, and optimize performance and productivity.

We examine what organizations are doing to stay relevant and competitive in this fast-paced world, and which ones are doing it best. We then strategize using smart tools and global resources in order to understand the implications of every choice our clients can make.”

“How does your firm approach client relationships to build trust and long-term partnerships, especially if they are in the middle of a tax nervous breakdown?”

“With every single client, we take our time,” Gloria shares. “We partner  with our client from start to finish. There is no rush. It is like having a best friend, someone who listens to your issues, allows you to vent, and then helps you come up with solutions. We give them confidence; taxes are a daunting experience.”

“What specific services does your firm offer that sets it apart from others in the field?”

“We offer complete income tax services for: businesses, individuals, partnerships, charities, and not-for-profit organizations.  We don’t just file and go, we explain information to our clients as simply as possible to help them better understand their tax situation and the impact that various decisions may have on their return.”

Nuages Consulting Inc. tax services include:

  • Corporate Tax Return
  • Self-Employed Tax Return (Sole Proprietorship)
  • Personal Tax Return
  • Sales Tax return (HST and GST)
  • Payroll Taxes (PD7A, T4 slip, ROEs and Dividend)
  • Investment Income

What I realized when speaking with Gloria is that what really differentiates her consulting firm from others is the personal care that is put into their client support. She shared with me six FREE services that clients get with signing up with a Nuages Consulting Inc., Chartered Professional Accountant, and Certified Public Accountants:

  • They will represent you in all CRA matters, even making calls to the CRA on your behalf.
  • Free re-files – If you forgot to include anything, they will re-file for you FREE of charge.
  • CRA Audit and Re-assessment.
  • Pre Return Assessment (Review the process of your tax year)
  • Post Return Meeting (November). They reconnect with the client and see how their client is doing. With these updates, they can help their clients plan for the next tax season.
  • Open Door Policy – Anything you need we will answer FREE of charge.

“No one else is doing this in the industry,” Gloria shares. “It is a lot of work, which is why it is not being done. We do it because we are committed to bridge the gap between complexity and clarity when it comes to taxes. We want to equip individuals and businesses with the insights needed to navigate the intricate world of taxation successfully.”

I visited their website, and found that they also offer a Bootcamp and Knowledge Hub. It is a six hour Small Business Bootcamp that provides access to funds, grants, and loans for your business, not-for-profit, or charity. They dive deep into vital topics like: business registration, bookkeeping, business structure, marketing, and funding, guided by our experts. You will also receive six hours of CPD/CPE credits!

The Knowledge Hub is a blog series focused on unraveling the complexities of taxes and holds numerous benefits for readers navigating this intricate landscape. Taxes, often viewed as convoluted and daunting, can intimidate individuals and businesses alike. However, this well-structured blog series serves as a beacon of clarity amidst the confusion. By stripping away the dense jargon and presenting information in a straightforward manner, the Knowledge Hub demystifies tax concepts, empowering readers with understanding and confidence.

Most importantly, all consultants and accountants at Nuages Consulting Inc. stay current with changes in Canadian accounting standards and tax laws, which is essential for a firm to provide clients with accurate and up-to-date advice.

“We do a lot of professional development and educational programs,” Gloria shares. “Every month we do about 10 hours of educational programs (CPE ). We pay very close attention to trends in the financial market, and we sit down with the CRA and go over changes.”

Time to take charge of your financial future? Visit Nuages Consulting Inc., Chartered Professional Accountants, Certified Public Accountants to ensure your taxes are completed accurately and efficiently. Don’t wait until the last minute—let their expert team guide you through the process and maximize your returns.

Your financial peace of mind awaits! Contact them at info@nuages.ca, or 416-477-1324.

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Women Empowered

Chika Ofoha – Helping the community tap into their creativity

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Whether it is photographs or works of art, images create a memory of people, places, and things that we hold with us forever. For Black women art has created a new space of recognition and has presented an opportunity to both celebrate and immortalize their contributions. It has created a new space of recognition.

Art does not show people what to do, or how to feel; great works of art create synergy between your senses, body, and mind. It can help you navigate your emotions, and this can spur thinking, engagement, and even action.

Most of us know the feeling of being moved by a work of art, whether it is: a song, a play, a poem, a novel, a painting, or a spatio-temporal experiment. Most recently I met a young woman, and upon seeing her work, I was transported to a new place that was, nevertheless, strongly rooted in a physical experience. I became aware of a feeling that I do not actively focus on. This transformative experience is what art is constantly seeking.

Quietly, Chika O has been experimenting with her artistic ability, finding ways to express herself, and help others express their innermost feelings. She specializes in curating inspirational and expressive paint events that enable those who are open to doing so tap into their creativity.

I was introduced to Chika O through a mutual friend of ours Nigel Birch; upon meeting her I knew that she was a phenomenon. It was on Friday, March 24th, 2023, that I saw the extent of her magic. She was the art curator at the LEGUP Secure your Wealth Symposium, and to see what she was able to do with the space, to turn a hotel common area into an art gallery; it was incredible. I decided right there and then that I wanted to share her talents with the world, so we sat down, and I went on an artistic journey with her.

“I went to school for the arts, but I didn’t do anything for myself,” Chika tells me. “I didn’t use my talent for anything. One day, I realized something had to change.

I was born in Mississauga, then my parents moved out to Newmarket. After my parents separated, myself, my four siblings, and my mother moved to Markham.

As a child, I was very vocal about what I wanted to do: be creative or play outside. All my gifts were focused on art. Give me paints, give me crayons, and give me a pencil crayon that is what I wanted. It was like this until I was 12 years old. School takes art seriously, so I used school as an outlet for my art.

They would spend more money on art supplies, and it allowed me to do more. There is basic art, but I wanted to be challenged. I wanted to learn techniques. From 10 to 12, that urge to learn more came up. My mom put me in art camp, and there I learned colour theory, sculpting, and how to work with clay.”

There was no denying; she was born an artist.

“I would win competitions at church because of the detail that I put into their work. There is so much that can be told by looking at a child’s art. You can learn so much from their world.”

She was very detailed explaining what art does for a child, and I knew that there was a story there.

“I was seven or eight when my parents separated. I learned a lot during that time. You never know what a child has to deal with. When I was younger, I was very attached to my dad. I copied everything he did. When my parents separated, the picture of my life was destroyed. When I had to shift to the new picture, I resented it. I didn’t like this new picture. Single mom, going to school, with the absence of my father; my world had revolved around him. I didn’t know what to revolve around anymore.

There was a gap, a hole. I woke up unhappy. Now I know that it was depression. My mom did the best she could. She would keep us connected to our community as much as possible, but it never filled the void.

It is only now that I am older; I realize why I focus on women in my art so much. It can be very difficult for us, especially when dealing with the opposite sex. Back then, I didn’t even have the words, so I put it in my art.”

Chika O takes her responsibility as an artist seriously; the idea that artists have responsibilities may come as a surprise to some – it is to help people not only get to know and understand something with their minds but also to feel it emotionally and physically. By doing this, art can mitigate the numbing effect created by our daily experiences. So, what she has done is find a way to bring art to the community in an interactive and engaging way.

“I curate events for organizations, and I also have fun with my paint nights. This gives me an opportunity to engage with individuals on another level. I want to inspire people to keep that creative muscle in their brains moving.

Art is what I do so that I do not self-inflict. How you process pain is unique for each person. When I am in my artistic space, I am reliving my pain, but in the way that heals me. When you don’t have the words to express how you feel, it can be really frustrating.

My paint nights are special to me. I am given complete creative control.”

Each month Chika holds a themed paint party; her next one is themed the Green Garden happening on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, from 7:30 PM  9:30 PM. Whether you are looking for a fun bonding activity for a group or a more personal experience, her events offer a perfect blend of social interaction and individual exploration. As your host, she is there every step of the way, guiding you towards creating a beautiful work of art that you can be proud of, and there is more…

I don’t want to give away too much about what Chika told me, but on May 6th, 2023, Toronto is going to be formally introduced to Chika O. A group of us will be working alongside Chika on a project that reflects the unique experiences of Black women. We will be fusing art and words to tell the story of a Black woman’s experience living in the diaspora. Her struggles, her joy, her pain, her celebrations; it will be a recognition of Black women all over the world.

“I have been working on things for a long time, and now is the right time to showcase what I have to the world. I am really excited about it, and what I will tell you is to start looking out for event details in the first week of April. For now, you can FOLLOW me on Instagram @paintwithchikaoh, or @artby.chikaoh.”

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Community News

Bill C-63 is the conclusive end to Canadians Freedom of Speech

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

One “wrong” post on the internet, and you’re silenced… forever…

I have to admit; I am genuinely frightened by the federal government’s latest bill and its impact on OUR Freedom of Speech and Expression. This grim reality is something straight out of a science fiction movie, or at the very least, an online censorship law directly imported from an authoritarian regime like: China, Iran, or North Korea. “That can’t be happening here,” you say. Oh yes, it is.

Justin Trudeau’s (In) Justice Minister Arif Virani introduced Canada, and the world, to Bill C-63, the “Online Harms Act.” He is calling for a piece of legislation aiming to reduce online “hate” and “hate speech.” The definitions of “hate” and “hateful speech” are so vague that they could include almost anything: critical opinions, political commentary, even memes.

I get it. This might be in reaction to the fact that he has been at the receiving end of what could be called “hate speech.” An Angus Reid poll showed that the three most used words to describe Trudeau were: “arrogant,” “dishonest,” and “corrupt” with the fourth word being “charismatic,” which still doesn’t actually speak to a positive quality of his character.

Is this why there will be an update to section 318 and 319 of the CCC, that will introduce hate, or hateful speech as anything that “incites violent extremism or terrorism,” “incites violence,” and “foments hatred” (specifically)?

The implications are far-reaching and frightening since this bill will not just force social media and big tech giants to merely terminate your social media account. It’s a social media jail incarnate, where you will pay the physical price for sharing the “wrong” opinions by going to actual jail.

If the Trudeau Liberal government gets away with it, this will be the new normal in Canada. Let’s take a quick look at the proposed amendments:

  1. Update the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC)’s definition of “hate speech” and “hatred” to include ambiguous terms like “incites violent extremism or terrorism,” “incites violence,” and “foments hatred” (specifically section 318 and 319 of the CCC).
  2. Expand the federal bureaucracy by instituting a “Digital Safety Commission” (aka Canada’s very own Ministry of Truth) and a “Digital Safety Ombudsperson” to receive complaints about “hate speech” and enforce speech “standards” on internet platforms (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, Rumble, etc.).
  3. Grant even more power to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, allowing them to force content removal and impose fines up to $70,000, with a maximum of $20,000 to the offended anonymous complainants. The same commission that labeled Christmas as “racist” last December.
  4. Raise the maximum punishments for “hate propaganda” to life imprisonment.
  5. Enact “protective measures” enabling a judge to act on anonymous reports of hate crimes by requiring accused individuals to wear an electronic monitoring device, undergo house arrest, be banned from public spaces, or have a restraining order against them.

It’s unclear how these claims of “hate crimes” will be verified, opening the floodgates for anonymous complaints from anyone, anywhere in the world.

If this bill passes, we could see media outlets like the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper lose our right to provide balanced, and transparent information, especially when it comes to what is going on in our world, the information that is quietly circulated behind your backs.

The passage of Bill C-63 could bring the Trudeau Liberals’ vision of turning Canada into a so-called “basic dictatorship,” one step closer to becoming an actual-livable reality, but in this dark time, there is still a glimmer of hope.

We’ve seen the massive public backlash against The Liberal government’s failed attempts to pass similar censorship bills over the last several years. This is why I am asking you to act now. If you don’t, you will lose the ability to openly discuss and debate important issues, first online and then in person.

Only with your help can we successfully defend all Canadians from authoritarianism and preserve OUR fundamental human right to Free Speech and Expression!

We want to help you voice your thoughts, and below I am going to show you how you can do this:

  • Find your MP’s official email address on the official parliamentary website, or their personal website.
  • Clearly state your concerns in a well-written and respectful email. Clearly articulate your concerns and provide your contact details for a follow-up. Include your name, address, and contact information for a more personalized response.
  • Engage with your MP on social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Publicly share your concerns and ask for their response or action.
  • Gather with members of the community who have similar concerns and schedule an appointment to meet with your MP at their constituency office. Face-to-face meetings can have a more significant impact as you can use the opportunity to voice your concerns in a public forum.

Remember to be respectful and clearly articulate your concerns when reaching out to your MP. We have to move past emotion and take ACTION. Providing factual information and potential solutions will strengthen your case. Additionally, encouraging others in your community to voice their opinions can contribute to a collective effort in influencing change.

REFERENCES:

Federal Politics: Conservatives open seven-point lead over Liberals as past PPC voters migrate to Poilievre

Liberals’ “online hate” bill contains $70K fines for speech and life imprisonment for hate crimes

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/online-harms-hate-crime-sentences-1.7128596

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-justice-minister-defends-house-arrest-power-for-people-feared-to/

https://montrealgazette.com/news/national/virani-says-new-measures-meant-to-help-prevent-hate-crimes-will-come-with-safeguards

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/feds-target-online-content-that-foments-hatred-in-new-bill-seek-steep-penalties-5595412

https://www.rebelnews.com/liberals_table_promised_online_harms_censorship_legislation

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/trudeaus-online-harms-bill-threatens-freedom-of-expression-constitutional-lawyer-warns

https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/C-63/first-reading

https://em.citizengo.org/OTA3LU9EWS0wNTEAAAGRsmcQVWSchhVlH2Ays8BxQcP1xgK9KWmoK10MvOrCKgkK3zxb9g3G_qM7UDTgAByqcmm6YM8=

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