A Message from the CEO
A New Chapter. A Historic Win.
After years of sustained advocacy, coordinated engagement with policymakers, and a growing chorus of voices across the country, the federal government has made the Employee Ownership Trust capital gains tax exemption permanent.
This is a landmark win. It is the kind of policy change that opens doors for business owners who want to exit on their terms, for employees who deserve a stake in the companies they have helped build, and for communities that benefit when Canadian businesses stay Canadian-owned. None of this happened by accident. This achievement belongs to the many leaders, advisors, business owners, partners, and advocates who have contributed to this work over the years.
To those who pushed our conversations with government forward, who lent their names and their networks to letters and campaigns, who showed up to roundtables and hearings and webinars, and who have helped spread the word about why employee ownership matters for Canada: thank you.
We know this is not the end of your involvement. We know you will continue to work alongside us to educate business owners, to build the ecosystem, and to make employee ownership a truly mainstream option for Canadian companies at every stage of their journey.
You will see the work on our website, resources, and other assets grow and adapt over the coming months to fully reflect this landmark news. We are updating our materials, refining our messaging, and building new tools to help advisors and owners take advantage of this permanent incentive with confidence.
The permanence of the capital gains tax exemption on business sales to Employee Ownership Trusts changes everything about the conversation with owners and advisors. It removes the uncertainty that was the single biggest barrier to adoption. Now we get to focus on growth.
Warmly,
Justine Janssen
CEO (Interim), Employee Ownership Canada
Feature: Conference Tickets Are Now Open
Early Bird Pricing Ends August 14!
October 20 to 22, 2026 | Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel, Vancouver, BC
Tickets for the 2026 Canadian Employee Ownership Conference are now available, and early bird pricing is in effect. Include Membership at a discount to take full advantage of all Employee Ownership Canada offerings for the next 12 months. Save on every ticket category when you register now.
General Conference Tickets
Member Conference Ticket
Early Bird- For current members
Non-Member Ticket
Early Bird- For non-members
- Choose this ticket if you do not wish to become a member of Employee Ownership Canada.
Tickets + Discounted Memberships
Conference Ticket + Individual Membership
Early Bird- For new members
- This includes conference registration plus a one year individual membership for individuals, academics, students, not-for-profits and interested advocates.
Conference Ticket + Business Membership
Early Bird- For new members
- This includes conference registration plus a one year business membership for businesses who are considering becoming employee owned, or are already employee owned.
Conference Ticket & Service Provider Membership also available.
For new members, this ticket tier includes conference registration plus a one-year service provider membership for professional service firms that serve the employee ownership sector.
About the Conference
This October, the people building the employee ownership movement in Canada are gathering in Vancouver. The 2026 Canadian Employee Ownership Conference brings together business owners, employee-owned companies, professional advisors, and policy leaders for two and a half days of practical learning, honest conversation, and real connection.
This year’s gathering carries extra significance. We arrive on the heels of a landmark policy win, with the Employee Ownership Trust capital gains tax exemption now permanently in place. The room will reflect that energy. Whether you are exploring succession options, advising clients, or leading an employee-owned company, this is where you need to be.
The conference kicks off Tuesday evening with the Annual General Meeting and a Welcome Reception. Wednesday is a full day of main stage panels, breakout sessions, a keynote, and networking. Thursday wraps with a focused morning of sessions and lunch. Additionally, there will be multiple opportunities for companies curious about a transition to Employee Ownership to ask their questions to professional advisors. The full agenda and speaker lineup are coming soon.
Hosted at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel, Vancouver, BC. Group rate available:
At the conference, you will:
- Hear from Canadian business owners who have completed EO transitions and learn what they would do differently
- Gain practical knowledge on EOT and ESOP structures, valuation, financing, and deal design
- Get up to date on the tax and legal landscape following the permanent exemption
- Learn best practices on running an employee-owned business
- Connect directly with leading lawyers, accountants, plan designers, valuation experts, and other advisors doing this work every day
- Join a national network of people committed to keeping Canadian businesses Canadian-owned
In Case You Missed It
The EOT Tax Exemption Is Now Permanent
Canada’s Spring Economic Update delivered the news our community has been working toward for years. The $10 million capital gains tax exemption for business sales to Employee Ownership Trusts has been made permanent. This is a defining moment for employee ownership in Canada, and the coverage has reflected just how significant it is.
Read Employee Ownership Canada’s Statement: EOC Celebrates Landmark Government Decision on Employee Ownership
Media Coverage
The government’s announcement generated national coverage across business, policy, and mainstream media. Here is a selection of the stories covering this milestone:
The Globe And Mail: Tax Break To Help Business Owners Sell To Employees To Be Made Permanent
Toronto Star: Carney’s Economic Update: A Glimmer of Hope Toward More Worker-Owned Companies
CTV News: PM Carney Spending Billions To Train More Workers, Deficit Decline Short Lived
The Hub: How Ottawa’s Latest Tax Change Could Reshape Business Ownership in Canada
Future of Good: Explainer: What the Social Sector Should Know About Carney’s Spring Economic Update
Newswire: Spring Economic Update Won’t Halt the Shrinking Number of Small Businesses in Canada
Betakit: Ai Strategy Pillars, New Smb Procurement Program Revealed In Canada’s Spring Economic Update
Le Soleil: Et si vos employés étaient votre meilleur repreneur?
Investment Executive: Deficit Falls to $66.9B for 2026 Spring Economic Update
Policy Magazine: The Spring Economic Update: Canada Strong, Deficits Long
Advisor.ca: Interest in Employee Ownership Trusts Expected to Rise
C.W. Wilson: Tax Alert: $10 Million EOT Tax Exemption Made Permanent
BLG: Ten Tax Takeaways from Canada’s Spring Economic Update 2026
Mondaq: Tax Alert: $10 Million EOT Tax Exemption Made Permanent
Wealth Professional: Ottawa Rolls Out Sovereign Wealth Fund Open to Retail Investors
Read the Peak: An Under-the-Radar Tax Change Could See More Employees Become Owners in Their Workplace
Benefits Canada: Top 5 HR, Benefits, Pension and Investment Stories of the Week
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Thank You: April Webinar Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our April webinar, Building an Ownership Culture: Preparing for Employee Ownership. If you were not able to attend, the recording is now available on our YouTube channel.
UPCOMING WEBINAR: MAY 20, 1:00 PM EST
Ideal for:
- Business owners considering succession or an employee ownership transition
- Employee groups or management teams exploring a buyout or share purchase plan
- Professional service providers supporting ownership transitions
- Anyone who wants to better understand how deals are priced and structured
What’s Your Business Worth? Valuation Essentials for Employee Ownership Transactions
Whether you’re a business owner exploring an exit, an employee group preparing to buy, or an advisor guiding a client through a transition, understanding how value is determined is essential to making confident, informed decisions.
Two leading Canadian M&A and valuation experts will walk you through the valuation concepts and deal-structuring considerations that matter most in EOT, ESOP, and MBO transactions. Participants will also have the opportunity to join a live Q&A.
In this session, we will cover:
- Fair market value (FMV): what it means and how it is determined
- Quality of Earnings: why it matters and how it is assessed
- The valuation process from start to finish
- How purchase price structures, including vendor notes, earn-outs, and contingent pricing, affect the final number
- Sources of funding for employee buyers, including the nuances of accessing bank financing.
Register now and share with a colleague who would benefit from this session.
EOC Community Voices
“Canada’s next chapter of growth starts with investing at home.”
~ The Hon. Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue
These words, spoken as part of the Spring Economic Update announcement, speak directly to the spirit of employee ownership. When Canadians invest in each other, in their colleagues, their communities, and the businesses they have helped build, the result is an economy that is stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive.
The permanence of the EOT tax exemption is a direct expression of that vision. It is a policy designed to keep Canadian businesses in Canadian hands, and to ensure the wealth that workers help create stays in the communities where they live and work.
Read the full Spring Economic Update from the Government of Canada.
Get Involved
Become an EOC Member
Membership gives you access to tools, insights, and a growing national network. A 3-month free trial is available.
Join the EO Ambassador and Volunteer Network
We often need volunteers and will reach out when opportunities arise. If you would like to be considered for future volunteer roles, add your name to our volunteer list below. We are grateful to those who have already expressed interest in supporting employee ownership across Canada.
