The Committee recommends:

1. That the federal government, in an effort to promote transparency and better prevent international tax evasion, continue to pursue tax information exchange agreements with appropriate countries. These agreements should be based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s international standard.

2. That the federal government provide the Minister of National Revenue with more authority to obtain business identification information, such as in relation to a business’ operating name and legal name, ownership, business activities and contact details. The authority should include the ability of the Canada Revenue Agency to withhold certain refunds claimed by a business until the requested information is provided.

3. That the federal government, consistent with the announcement in the 2013 federal budget, establish a whistleblower program through which the Canada Revenue Agency can pay rewards to individuals who provide it with information about major international tax non-compliance that leads to the collection of outstanding tax.

4. That the federal government require all entities obliged to report under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to obtain information about the beneficial ownership of customers that are corporations, trusts or other entities. The reporting entities should take reasonable measures to ascertain, and keep a record of, this information.

5. That the federal government continue to support the efforts of the Group of Twenty finance ministers and central bank governors to develop measures to address base erosion and profit shifting, to take necessary collective actions and to examine the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s forthcoming comprehensive action plan.

6. That the federal government continue to encourage all jurisdictions to sign the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and to support the work of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.

7. That the federal government continue to maintain taxpayer morale by ensuring clear messaging of ongoing efforts directed to ensuring fairness and transparency in Canada’s tax system.

8. That the federal government continue to examine proposals to improve the caseload management of the Tax Court of Canada and to explore the possibility of further ways in which to facilitate more rapid prosecution of tax evaders.

9. That the Canada Revenue Agency commit to applying the General Anti-Avoidance Rule in the Income Tax Act to aggressive international tax planning.

10. That the federal government create an efficient system to identify and prioritize the continuous closure of loopholes and the development of tax legislation to curb egregious forms of tax avoidance.

11. That the Canada Revenue Agency extend the period of time during which the names of individuals, corporations and trusts convicted of either tax evasion or a failure to file income tax returns are listed on the Canada Revenue Agency’s website. The period, which is currently six months, should be increased to one year.