DECEMBER 23, 2024; CALGARY, AB / TORONTO, ON – MNP and BDO, two of Canada’s leading professional services firms, announced today that MNP will acquire a select number of BDO’s Canadian offices, partners and team members, effective December 31, 2024. In total, 21 BDO Canada offices, with more than 40 partners and 420 team members will join MNP. The transaction will include selected locations in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and P.E.I.; provinces where both firms have offices. A list of the selected offices can be found below. MNP’s business model is designed to support its clients, team members and communities with a locally focused approach. The firm operates under an integrated national and local model where team members across Canada are able to access national resources to deliver whatever professional services clients may need. MNP’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Jason Tuffs, CPA, CA, shared that the transaction reflects the firm’s commitment to being ‘national in scope and local in focus.’ “MNP is a homegrown Canadian firm that was established in 1958. With the addition of the new offices we will have nearly 150 offices coast-to-coast, including in the largest urban centres, mid-sized cities, and the smaller rural cities and towns that we find across all provinces. “Our business model has always been designed to support clients in the communities where we live and work, regardless of their size. This addition reflects our commitment and focus to helping clients in the private, not-for-profit and public sectors across Canada. Our specialized services, expertise and experience will be enhanced by the BDO partners and team members who are joining us. We are thrilled to welcome these professionals to our firm.” BDO’s Chief Executive Officer, Bruno Suppa, CPA, CA emphasized that the transaction was carefully considered and is an important step into the future. “It has been a pleasure to work with our Partners and team members to serve our clients in these markets. As we prepare for 2025 and beyond, our priority is modernizing our firm to elevate the delivery of integrated solutions across our expansive network of 80+ offices nationally. "We are proud of BDO's strong history in these communities and saying goodbye to trusted colleagues is never easy.  In working with the team at MNP we have developed a supportive transition plan for our team and clients.” Both firms are aligned in their commitment to maintaining exemplary client service and business continuity throughout the transition. All impacted clients and team members have been notified. The offices included in this transaction are Collingwood, Cranbrook, Dryden, Fort Frances, Grande Prairie, Hanover, Kenora, Kincardine, Lethbridge, Lindsay, Mitchell, Mount Forest, Orangeville, Owen Sound, Peterborough, Port Elgin, Prince George, Summerside, Thunder Bay, Walkerton, and Wiarton. BDO’s Personal Debt Solutions (PDS) services and offices in these locations are not part of this transaction. Financial details of the transaction will not be disclosed. About MNP National in scope and local in focus, MNP is one of Canada’s leading professional services firms — proudly serving individuals, businesses, and organizations since 1958. Through the development of strong relationships, we provide client-focused accounting, consulting, tax, and digital services. Our clients benefit from personalized strategies with a local perspective to fuel success wherever business takes them. About BDO BDO Canada LLP is a leading provider of professional services to clients across a variety of sectors and segments. For over 100 years, our team has served communities across Canada through an integrated service offering including accounting, assurance, tax, and consulting services. This is complemented by deep industry knowledge and positions BDO to advise clients with both domestic and global needs. BDO Canada LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership, is a member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO member Firms.

The Manitoba government is bringing in a permanent 10 per cent cut to the provincial fuel tax, Premier Wab Kinew announced today. “Our government keeps our word. We said we’d cut the fuel tax and we did,” said Kinew. “We said it would last 12 months and it did. Now we’re going further by bringing in a permanent cut to the fuel tax to make it one of the lowest in Canada.” The cut to the fuel tax represents a 10 per cent reduction to the fuel tax rate that was in place previously, noted the premier. The 12.5 cent per litre fuel tax rate will be applied to gasoline and diesel across the province beginning on Jan. 1, 2025. The fuel tax holiday has helped slow inflation in Manitoba, the premier noted. Manitoba had the lowest gas prices in Canada throughout 2024.

In the first case, police responded to a stabbing report on Dec. 21, 2024, at 4:30 PM, where a male victim sustained a large arm injury and required hospitalization. A 19-year-old male suspect, arrested nearby, faces charges of Assault with a Weapon and Breach of Probation.   Hours earlier, at 1:00 PM, police were called to a residence where a 20-year-old male assaulted his girlfriend, threatened another with a knife, and fled. He was apprehended after returning at 6:00 PM and faces multiple charges, including Assault with a Weapon.

Manitoba government tax credits introduced in Budget 2024 and coming into effect in the new year will put more money into the pockets of Manitoba homeowners and renters, Finance Minister Adrien Sala announced today. “The previous government wanted to give breaks to out-of-province billionaires. We’re taking a different approach,” said Sala. “These new tax credits will provide help for all Manitobans, but particularly those who need it most.” Introduced in Budget 2024, the $1,500 Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit will benefit more than 80 per cent of Manitobans, the minister noted. The School Tax Rebate for farm properties is being maintained at 50 per cent as part of the Manitoba government’s commitment to support producers and their families, noted the minister. This new tax change will make it easier for young Manitobans to buy their first home and easier for homeowners to afford their mortgage payments, the minister added. Starting in the new year, the maximum Renter’s Tax Credit will be increased to $575, which marks the first step to the Manitoba government’s four-year commitment of fully restoring the Renter’s Tax Credit to $700.

The City of Brandon is pleased to announce that a complimentary and safe bus service will be available for New Year’s Eve, courtesy of Brandon Transit and its generous community sponsors. From 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) until 3 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day), Brandon Transit will provide FREE TRANSIT across all transit routes and Brandon Access Transit services. Manitoba Public Insurance proudly continues to support Brandon Transit by sponsoring the New Year’s Eve Transit program.