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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Financial Planning Important For Those With Disabilities

If you or someone you know is one of the 3.8-million Canadians with a disability, you're being urged to map out a financial plan to ease the stress on your wallet now and for the future. 

A report by the BMO Wealth Institute says the number of Canadians who will become disabled is going to grow as the population ages and over 40-percent of us over the age of 75 identify as having some sort of disability. 

It's recommended that you think about opening an R-D-S-P or a Registered Disability Savings Plan. However, in order to be eligible you need to first quality for the Disability Tax Credit, which gives tax relief for people who have a severe and lengthy physical or mental impairment. 

The Wealth Institute says another of the top tools to improve the financial situation for those with a disability is a tax-free savings account.

Future Of Salmon Farming In NB Could Be On Land

With no more room for net pens in New Brunswick waters, the future of salmon farming in the province could be moving to dry land. 

An international conference on land-based, closed containment aquaculture being held at the Atlantic Salmon Federation in Chamcook, a method that seems to be gaining traction.

Research & Environment Director Jonathan Carr tells CHSJ News diseases including infectious salmon anemia and sea lice, which is a major problem in this province, is less of a worry when you farm fish on land. Carr says if disease ever did break out on land, it's maintained in your hatchery system and won't spread to other animals.

Carr says they believe farming fish on land is a more sustainable way for producing fish in the long run at a time when the global demand for fish is on an upswing. 

This was the second conference on the subject hosted by the A-S-F.

Forestry Plan Could Impact NB's Species At Risk

The future for some of New Brunswick's endangered species could be gloomy according to one environmental planner. 

The new forestry plan for the province will see the the amount of protected old growth forest go down from 30-percent to 23-percent while allowing 20-percent more softwood to be cut on public land annually. 

Margo Sheppard, who has spent more than 30 years in the environmental field, tells CHSJ News almost half of those species-at-risk in New Brunswick are associated with old forests and if those are gone, so are the animals. She says the forestry plan as its been announced is taking the province down a path of minimizing areas that are less intact for wildlife, for erosion control and for habitat.

The Alward Government says the plan will maintain and create jobs, encourage investment and manage forests in a sustainable way.