The Bob Lesperance Report - # 30 January 3, 2008

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"One Hundred ways to live to one Hundred = # 93 Create Solutions, not problems = Bristol-Myers Squibb"

SECTIONS:

A) Specific Comments

B) Estimated readership numbers

C) Advocacy related

D) Entertainment - Websites FOR YOUR INTEREST

E) Special Items of Interest = "Project Lifesaver Ontario" - Series = Part 6

F) Some of the Reader Feedback

G) General Comments

A) Specific Comments

How many people have or will read these emails in your Household? How many people will you forward these emails to? Please let me know.

B) Estimated readership numbers

Total estimated readership numbers for this Bob Lesperance report is 1623

C) Advocacy Related

INCOME TAX

Major tax, social benefit changes coming in 2008

Ray Turchansky, CanWest News Service, Published Monday. December 24, 2007

= In addition to enjoying a reduction in the goods and services tax from six to five per cent on Jan.1, Canadians will see a number of tax and social benefit changes in 2008.

= The federal government has announced it will increase its various tax brackets and social benefit thresholds by 1.9%, indexed for inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index.

= Federally, the recent economic statement announced that the basic personal amount upon which you pay no federal tax has been increased to $9,000 retroactive to the beginning of 2007, an amount that will grow to $10,000 in 2009. At the same time, it was announced that the lowest tax bracket rate has been reduced from 15.5 to 15% as of 2007, however that also becomes the new rate for many federal tax credits.

= In the new year, the level at which the 22% tax bracket starts will increase from $37,178 to $37,885, while the 26% bracket that started at $74,357 now opens at $75,769, and the 29% bracket that began at $120,887 now commences at $123,184.

= The federal $5,177 age-amount credit for people age 65 and over increases to $5,276, but will start to be clawed back if a person's net income is more than $30,936 and will be lost completely if net income exceeds $66,794.

= Old Age Security benefits, eligible for people age 65 and residents of Canada for at least 10 years, will begin to be clawed back when net income exceeds $63,511 and will be totally repayable if income is more than $104,819.

= The goods and services tax credit maximums increase from $237 to $242 for an adult and from $125 to #127 for a child, but they start being phased out if net family income is more than $31,524.

= The Canada child tax benefit goes from a base benefit of $1,283 to$1,307, with phase-out beginning if net family income is greater than $37,885.

= Both the GST credit and Canada child tax benefit changes take effect July 1, 2008, based on income reported on 2007 tax returns.

= Federal tax credits will be applied against a spousal or eligible dependant amount of $9,600, minus the net income of the spouse or dependent, and against a disability amount maximum that's up from $6,890 to $7,021.

= People can claim credit on medical expenses above the lesser amount of either three per cent of their net income or $1,962, the latter ceiling being increased from $1,926.

++++ Canadians will see a number of other changes to their paycheques in 2008. ++++

= Canada Pension Plan premiums will be paid on an increase of maximum pensionable earnings from $43,700 to $44,900, with an exemption on the first $3,500.

= Maximum contributions rise from $1,989.90 to $2,049.30 for employers and employees, while for self-employed people the maximum grows from $3,979.80 to $4,098.60.

= Conversely, employment insurance premiums continue to drop. Instead of employers paying $2.51 per $100 and employees $1.80 per $100 on a maximum of $40,000 in insurable earnings, during 2008 the premiums will be $2.42 per $100 for employers and $1.73 per $100 for employees on a maximum of $41,100 in insurable earnings.

= The registered retirement savings plan contribution limit goes from $19,000 for 2007 to $20,000 for 2008. That means your 2008 RRSP contribution room will be 18 per cent of your 2007 earned income from employment, minus your pension adjustment, to a maximum of $20,000.

= If you are turning 69 or 70 during 2008, you do not yet have to convert an RRSP to an income stream; you may continue contributing to an RRSP if you have room, and you do not have to make minimum RRIF withdrawals.

= One more consideration is for parents to increase registered education savings plan contributions to $2,500 per child in 2007, because that's the amount the 20% Canada Education Savings Grant is now paid on.

D) Entertainment - Websites FOR YOUR INTEREST

Chaulk Art = Some old, some new... all incredible! CHAULK ART

To try your luck/skill at piloting a helicopter through a series of hazards. Hold the left mouse button down to have the helicopter rise. Release that button and the chopper descends. Be aware that it goes down much more rapidly than it rises. HELICOPIER

This is quite interesting (or not!) MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THE AGE PREDICTION ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN. IT CHANGES AS YOU ANSWER THE VARIOUS QUESTIONS. AGE PREDICTION

Pictures = Check these out...Awesome AWESOME PICTURES

I love the piano on this one. Enjoy! PIANO SKILL

Caspian Sea Monster = Russia = SEA MONSTOR

E) Special Items of Interest

Series = Part - 6

Project Lifesaver Ontario

FM Radio Frequency Electronic Search Specialists

In Partnership with Ontario Provincial Police

Essex County, Ontario Provincial Police

Project Lifesaver International

"The Experts That Bring Your Loved Ones Home" A non-profit organization founded by public safety officers FOR public safety officers.

TEMPLE TEXAS INCIDENT

Temple police are trying to raise money for a program that could save lives.

Money raised goes to Project Lifesaver that gives bracelets to people with mental disabilities so rescue personnel can find them if they wander off.

The program could have helped in the search for 70-year-old Mattie Shoaf, who had Alzheimer’s when she wandered away from her family last month and was found dead the next day.

Woman with Alzheimer's missing in Chesapeake found safe.

Posted to: Chesapeake News

Authorities have located a 63-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s who was missing from a residential care facility.

The woman, a Project Lifesaver client, was last seen at Indian River Road and Justis Street, said Amber Whittaker, spokeswoman for Project Lifesaver.

Project Lifesaver received a call about 5:45 a.m. today that the woman was missing from the facility, Whittaker said. She was found safe before noon.

Whittaker said that authorities weren't sure how long the woman had been missing before they received the report this morning. The woman was being returned home.

We cannot predict when a loved one will become lost……….however we can prepare

HOUSEHOLD TIPS = BILL G.

• = Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
• = Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer .. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly even though the product was never advertised for this use. ( Note : Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same..and contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if you have ulcers.)
• = Honey remedy for skin blemishes .... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.
• = Listerine - therapy for toenail fungus .... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
• = Easy eyeglass protection .... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

I WONDER .... Jan B.

• = Can you cry under water?
• = How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
• = Why do you have to "put your two cents in".. . but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?
• Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
• = Why does a round pizza come in a square box ?

F) Some of the Reader Feedback comments

Please add me to your list. Your knowledge is beneficial. = Carol M.

We would like to receive your weekly letter as we have enjoyed others sharing theirs with us. ....Regards, Barbara F.

G) General Comments

If for some reason in the future you do not want to receive my email report you should op-out, email me at the following email address If or when you change Email addresses, send me an Email with your old and new Email address and you will continue to receive these information Emails.

SEE Websites - US Social Security and Pension Splitting

Income Tax Website Canada Income Tax

The "What's New" section of the canada-incometax.net website, just click on the following &nbsp: What's New

Please check out a New Website on Pension Splitting that is under Construction Pension Splitting

The Websites offer you some current information on an on going basis.

Bob Lesperance - That's all folks