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Results: 241 - 270 of 302
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
We have stated that the fight against tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance are priorities of this government.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, as I mentioned from the outset, the Canada Revenue Agency is the one who detected the scheme put in place by KPMG.
I will ask Mr. Gallivan to answer my colleague, provide additional technical information, and complete the response.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you for your question.
I do, indeed, consider client service a priority. The fact that the Prime Minister chose a social worker as Minister of National Revenue was no mere happenstance. Since we're speaking to the issue of services to the public, I should mention that, for me, people who face greater challenges, and might not have their tax returns prepared by accounting firms, are important.
In the historic budgets we announced, we stressed the importance of improving telephone service as well. Many regions of Canada still don't have cellphone service or computer access.
And we want the public to be able to receive accessible, easy-to-understand documents by mail. This is particularly important given that 51% of Canada's population is functionally illiterate. This means that, when those people receive documents, they're unable to understand the contents.
With respect to volunteers, we need to see an increase in number, and they should be given much more support. The challenge is to help people who don't have the means to pay someone to fill out their tax returns. We're working on that.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Since your question is much more technical, Mr. Gallivan will answer it.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
The 2013 program set a process in motion, in which the government determined that even more massive investments would be needed so that all amounts lost due to tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance could be recovered.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I want to emphasize that the major investments that our government is making at this time show the importance we accord to the entire tax evasion and tax avoidance issue. These investments will enable the Government of Canada to hire many more people and modernize the tools needed to address a problem that's international in scope. Mr. Gallivan will be able to complement my answer in this regard.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Indeed, international agreements have been drafted because countries noticed the problem is international in scope. And the agreements signed in Beijing last week evince a clear interest in dealing with the issue at an international level. This is why it's important that the government put all the necessary resources in place so that all Canadians can get back their fair share.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I will ask Mr. Gallivan to respond to the technical aspects of your question more precisely.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
We must work internationally, to ensure our partners can exchange information under the agreements.
Mr. Gallivan should be able to answer this by providing an update.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
It's important to specify that 17 million electronic funds transfers of $10,000 are something major in Canada. And, as I was saying, our new tools are bringing the non-compliance abroad to light.
We are on the right track toward uncovering $1 billion through voluntary disclosure programs. That's an increase of more than 400% in the course of the last six years.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Given the technical aspect of this question, I will ask Mr. Gallivan to respond.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
In the matter we're discussing—the KPMG matter—I can tell you that I wasn't present when agreements were signed on the subject. Mr. Gallivan will be able to respond to the various points in your question.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I am unable to confirm the authenticity of the document posted online by the CBC.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
We have specified that the KPMG matter is not closed. Investigations concerning the identified taxpayers are ongoing. Given the major investments our government has made, we are confident that we can continue to work on all matters related to tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance schemes.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As part of the announcement we made in April about the Canada Revenue Agency, we stated that the CRA was, indeed, going to undertake a detailed study of measures related to the tax gap. This will be done during the coming year.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes. You're correct. Resources have once again been allocated. In a summary of the situation that was given to me, I was told that, last year, people who were trying to contact the agency had to make up to 10 telephone calls before they could speak with someone and obtain information.
I was very happy to learn last week, during a meeting with my senior officials, that the number of staff had been increased and that the number of calls each person was making had decreased to two. Naturally, my objective is to ensure people can be answered as quickly as possible when they call. People have concerns, even though 95% of Canadians fill out their income tax forms and do things properly. So we need to be able to give them answers. CRA clients are Canadians. It's the CRA that works for Canadians, not the other way around.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes. I believe the agency will achieve those better results. I have every confidence in the professionals in place. Since my arrival at the department, I've established a short-term, medium-term, and long-term action plan involving CRA staff, professionals, and senior officials.
The action plan submitted to the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister's Office has enabled us to obtain, as part of an overall envelope, close to $1 billion to combat tax evasion and address all aspects of client access and client service.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank you for the opportunity to participate in the committee's study of the main estimates 2016-17.
I am joined by several Canada Revenue Agency officials: Mr. Geoff Trueman, the assistant commissioner of the legislative policy and regulatory affairs branch; Mr. Ted Gallivan, the assistant commissioner of international, large business and investigations branch; and Mr. Roch Huppé, the assistant commissioner of the finance and administration branch. Mr. Huppé will speak briefly about the main estimates and answer your questions, but I would like to say a few words by way of introduction.
I spoke earlier today to your committee about some of the proposed measures in Budget 2016 that will help the CRA combat tax evasion and tax avoidance. A secure tax base is the foundation for a healthy economy, a sustainable social infrastructure, and a strong democracy. I would like to add that the Government of Canada proposes two additional areas of investment that will also support the work of the CRA and my priorities as Minister of National Revenue. Those priorities are in my mandate letter.
Budget 2016 proposes to invest $351 million in the CRA's ability to collect outstanding tax debt, and $186 million to improve service to Canadians through better telephone access, easy-to-understand correspondence, and increased outreach for vulnerable and low-income Canadians. That is a total investment exceeding $1 billion over the next five years, a testament to the importance of the work the CRA does.
As you are aware, Mr. Chair, Canada's tax system is based on voluntary self-assessment and compliance. Within this system, the CRA plays a special role. It administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most Canadian provinces and territories, and it administers various social and economic benefit and incentive programs that are delivered through the tax system. The taxes collected by the CRA are critical to families, businesses, and communities. When Canadians meet their tax obligations, they are helping to fund health care, post-secondary education, social programs, infrastructure, and many other programs. This is why it is crucial that everyone pays their fair share of taxes, so that all Canadians can benefit.
In 2014-15, the CRA processed $469 billion in revenues and engaged with 31 million individual and corporate taxpayers. More than 92% of taxpayers file their taxes and pay the amount they owe on time. The CRA also delivers important benefits to many eligible Canadians. Last year, the CRA delivered $22 billion in benefit payments to 12 million recipients.
With new funding of $186 million, the CRA will be able to reach out to Canadians who may be entitled to benefits but not be receiving them. By offering services that are proactive, more helpful, and easier to use, the CRA will ensure that people who interact with the agency feel like valued clients, not just taxpayers.
We are confident that our proposed investment in the CRA's ability to protect the revenue base while improving service to Canadians will yield significant returns. It will also help ensure that our tax system operates as fairly and effectively as possible.
I would now like to turn you over to Roch Huppé, who will walk you through the CRA's main estimates.
Thank you.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Since taking office as Minister of Revenue, I have visited offices throughout Canada. I can tell you that telephone service is not offered between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Mr. Gallivan, who is more familiar with the improvements we are making, will be able to answer you on that point.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes, as we were saying, we have budgeted for $1 billion over the next five years.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes, this really is customer service, where we have to respond to a request quickly and be able to provide information in a form that can be understood. Access to clients means doing outreach to people with disabilities, people who live in remote areas and may not have access to electronic services, and also seniors. So it is a service that is really based on the specific characteristics of certain client groups. There are also the aboriginal communities. We have to be in contact with them in order to give them access to various programs. In the case of the aboriginal communities, we have to make sure they are able to receive the Canada child benefit. To do that, people have to fill out their tax return. All in all, it is important for us to reach the entire population so everyone has access to the programs they are entitled to.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I sincerely thank my colleague for his question.
In fact, client service is part of my mandate letter and one of the priorities of the Canadian government. We have already begun to put measures in place so that the correspondence we send people is easy to understand. We talked about telephone services earlier. We want to ensure that people are able to get responses much faster.
We have put a whole system in place for processing requests. When people have trouble paying what they owe the government, it is important to treat them well and make sure that everyone fulfills their obligations.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes, that is also part of client services. We are well aware that, in the case of the neediest or most disadvantaged clients, things having to do with the tax system are complicated. A lot of people did not have access to additional credits. The government is therefore truly committed to this. One of the CRA's priorities is to provide information when people call.
The CRA does not let people guess and search in this very complex system for the credits they are entitled to. When people call, we provide them with guidance in this regard.
The volunteer program is also designed this way. We want to enable people to get the money they are entitled to, to improve their quality of life.
Results: 241 - 270 of 302 | Page: 9 of 11

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