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Results: 61 - 120 of 302
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would say that your question is too complex to be answered with a yes or no answer. What I can say, though, is that all the programs we put in place really serve to protect the workers and employees of companies, regardless of who their employer is. I can assure you that we continue to fight against companies that use these stratagems.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.
As I was telling you, Mr. Green, this type of case is complex because people use very sophisticated schemes. We will continue to protect employees, no matter who they work for. My goal is really to make sure that Canadians have money to pay for their groceries and their housing. Companies that use schemes will be prosecuted and held accountable. That could go as far as jail time.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Among other measures we've taken in recent years, we have been working with the OECD. We assess four countries a year and exchange information. Our goal remains the same: to have everyone pays their fair share.
The Agency is only responsible for administering the programs. With respect to the creation of the programs and their eligibility criteria, Minister Morneau will be in a much better position to answer you. We have listened to the concerns of our colleagues and Canadians and we will continue to work to find solutions.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I was saying to my colleague, my job as minister is to manage the programs. If my colleague wants more information on the criteria, I suggest he addresses his question to the Minister of Finance.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for the question.
The Government of Canada is indeed working very hard. We are experiencing the most severe crisis we have had since the Second World War. A lot of money...
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I was saying, the agency has verification mechanisms. Right now, we are focusing all our energies on putting money back into the taxpayers' pockets. When the crisis is over, we will use our usual verification mechanisms.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
We recognize that there is a problem with the high volume of applications for all the new programs we have put in place. For this reason, we strongly encourage people to use the online services. I am very proud of the fact that we have been able to reach close to 7.5 million Canadians. There is more work to be done. It's not perfect, but we look for solutions on an ongoing basis.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I mentioned earlier, given the exceptional global situation—on this we agree—our government's priority is to ensure that people receive the Canada Emergency Benefit and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. So we've put all of our energies into getting money back to Canadians. We continue to process tax returns so that people receive their money as quickly as possible.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
These programs were put in place to ensure that people were able to pay for their groceries and housing, despite the high number of applications. When we talk about the 7.5 million people who have applied for the CERB, we can see that there was an urgent need to reach out to Canadians. We have put these programs in place and counted on the good faith of Canadians, trusting that people will only apply for them if they really need them.
As I was saying, there are mechanisms in place. Mr. Vermaeten is responsible for this area. He could tell you what kind of auditing could be done with the taxpayers.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I can tell you that we have a process in place for reviewing research and development applications. We have equipped staff to prepare them to resume service to Canadian companies.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question. As I mentioned, the Agency put in place a simple and quick program to respond without delay to Canadians who were in great need. We also know that people may have inadvertently made mistakes. I would not want to assume that people are dishonest. As Mr. Vermaeten mentioned earlier, audits will begin next year. In any event, it is part of the agency's mandate to conduct audits. We are going to make sure that people who owe money to the agency turn that money over.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I think the answer is very simple: this is a historic situation. Canadians were experiencing great hardship and losing their jobs. The fact that 7.5 million people applied shows how important this program was to our population.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
When the audits are done, we will be able to recover the money, but my primary objective was really to ensure that families, single mothers, people in our community, workers who had lost their jobs and seniors who were in financial difficulty because of COVID-19 received money to help them get through this crisis.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
When we have responded to the population's plight, when we have fed our people, when we have made sure that people's housing is paid for and that our families and our people are safe, we will be happy to do the checks and give that information to my colleague.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his important question. Indeed, when we made the request to the agency's employees, we knew that we would need additional call centre staff. Seven thousand five hundred Canada Revenue Agency members offered to help.
For the much more technical details, I'll direct you to Commissioner Hamilton.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I know this is a very important issue for you. I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Ted Gallivan, who can answer you about the very technical aspects. It's a lot more complex than you think.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I recognize that some Canadians have not been able to access the usual services, such as the community volunteer income tax program. That is because of the current situation. We have received your letter and those of other members of Parliament, and we will take your comments and recommendations into consideration.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
We are working to make sure that anyone who tries to circumvent the rules faces serious consequences.
We are asking businesses to designate a representative to attest their claims. Any employer receiving the subsidy who is deemed ineligible will have to repay the full amount. Anyone who abuses the program could face fines of up to 225% of the subsidy amount as well as five years in prison.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
We will keep going after companies that engage in tax evasion.
I want to be clear. We will target those who are responsible, not innocent workers. An employee is an employee, regardless of who they work for.
The wage subsidy program does not hand a blank cheque over to employers. It is meant to help Canadians pay their bills, keep their jobs and get through the crisis.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, as soon as we took office, in 2015, our government made cracking down on tax evaders in Canada and abroad a priority. That's precisely why we put nearly a billion dollars towards that effort. I realize that my fellow member is impatient, but he has to understand that this is a very complex issue.
Under our leadership, in three years, the Canada Revenue Agency has undertaken twice as many audits related to offshore tax evasion as it did in the 10 years the Conservatives were in power.
As we speak, the agency is conducting more than 50 criminal investigations tied to international tax evasion. I repeat, this is a top priority for our government.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, our government is taking unprecedented steps through the Canada emergency wage subsidy measure to support businesses and workers affected by COVID-19. This is largely a trust-based program, and we will not tolerate abuse. Anyone who tries to bypass the rules will face serious consequences.
Applicants have to designate an individual to attest to the truth of their claim. What's more, any employer receiving the subsidy who is deemed ineligible will have to repay the full amount. Anyone who abuses the program could face a fine of up to 225% of the wage subsidy amount and up to five years in prison. The Canada Revenue Agency also has a myriad of tools at its disposal to detect a fraudulent claim.
As I mentioned, cracking down on tax evasion is a priority for our government.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, thanks to a historic billion-dollar investment, our government has given the agency the resources it needs to do the job, and we are starting to see results.
I set up an expert advisory committee to provide us with guidance and recommendations. We tightened the rules for the voluntary disclosures program. We signed tax information exchange agreements with a number of countries. We audit four jurisdictions a year. We also work closely with the OECD.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
This is a tough time for Canadians, and our government is doing everything it can to support them. More than 7 million Canadians have applied for the Canada emergency response benefit, which the Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada administer.
I want to say how proud I am of the work the agency is doing; staff worked tirelessly to get the program up and running in record time. Minister Qualtrough is responsible for developing the eligibility criteria and processing the claims.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, as soon as our government took office in 2015, we made it a priority to crack down on tax cheats. Our government's historic investments of almost $1 billion have ensured that the agency can access the necessary resources for its work. We're already starting to see the results.
As I was saying, I established an expert advisory committee to advise us. We've also been working on tightening the rules of the voluntary disclosures program. We've entered into country-by-country agreements that make it possible to share information. We're auditing four countries a year. We're working with the OECD. Currently, over 50 criminal investigations are related to international tax evasion.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Madam Chair, I completely understand my colleague's impatience. However, she must understand that this type of issue is very complex. Under the former Conservative government, the issue wasn't a priority at all. Regarding tax evasion abroad, our leadership made it possible for the agency to conduct twice as many audits in three years as it conducted in 10 years under the Conservatives. Over 50 criminal investigations related to international tax evasion are ongoing.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, good afternoon.
I want to take the time to answer my colleague properly because his question is really important.
Our government has invested unprecedented amounts of money—nearly $1 billion—to fight tax evasion. Over the past few years, we have worked on tightening the rules, including through the voluntary disclosures program. We have worked in tandem with the OECD. Every year, we have ensured to conclude agreements with every country to exchange information. Our government's priority is to continue to work on everyone paying their fair share.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, as I was explaining to my colleague, at my request, an expert panel has been created at the Canada Revenue Agency to advise us on the measures to take to avoid people getting involved in tax evasion or in abusive tax avoidance.
As I was saying, this is a key issue for us and for taxpayers. Our government has invested the most money—nearly $1 billion—to give the agency the tools to fight tax avoidance and tax evasion. We will continue to do everything we possibly can for everyone to pay their fair share.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank my colleague for her important question.
I want to reiterate that the fight against tax evasion in Canada and abroad is a priority for our government. With respect to tax evasion abroad, under our leadership, the agency has conducted twice as many audits in three years as it conducted in 10 years under the Conservatives. The agency is currently conducting over 50 criminal investigations related to international tax evasion. As we said, we've made unprecedented investments of almost $1 billion. We've given the agency the tools that it needs to fight tax evasion and tax avoidance.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to answer my colleague's important question.
We expect to receive almost one million applications from businesses for the Canada emergency wage subsidy. Of that number, 100,000 businesses generate annual revenues of over $5 million. Each application from these 100,000 businesses will be checked manually by auditors.
We'll take all the necessary measures to maintain the integrity of the tax system and to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes. It should also be noted that the wage subsidy implemented by our government is really designed to protect employees, not businesses.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll give a straightforward answer to my colleague so that he understands the response. Tax evasion and tax avoidance are really a priority for our government. Since 2015, we've invested almost $1 billion to fight these issues.
With respect to tax evasion abroad, as a result of our leadership, the agency has conducted twice as many audits in three years as it conducted in 10 years under the Conservative government.
Currently, there are over 50 criminal investigations related to international tax evasion. We've given the agency the tools that it needs to do its job effectively. We'll continue to work to maintain the integrity of the tax system, Mr. Chair.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As we said, tax evasion and tax avoidance are a priority for our government. We made historic investments of $1 billion to fight these issues. We have agreements with countries and we conduct country-by-country audits each year. We tightened the rules of the voluntary disclosures program and we're working with the OECD. We're implementing measures. We've given the agency the tools that it needs to fight tax evasion. We'll continue working along exactly the same lines, Mr. Chair.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes, Mr. Chair.
The fight against tax evasion is a priority for our government.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Hello, Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen.
I would like to thank you for this invitation to provide you with more information on the "Compliance Activities of the Canada Revenue Agency" report, which is part of the 2018 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada.
This morning, I am accompanied by Bob Hamilton, Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency, and Ted Gallivan, Assistant Commissioner, International, Large Business and Investigations.
First, I would like to thank the Auditor General for his important work. I welcome his recommendations regarding the Canada Revenue Agency's compliance activities.
Since my appointment as Minister of National Revenue, I have always worked toward a fair and equitable tax system that meets the needs of all Canadians.
Unlike the Conservatives, who made cuts without thinking of the consequences, our government has decided to reinvest in the agency and in the service it provides to Canadians.
Today, I want to reiterate that I am firmly committed to making sure that all Canadians are treated fairly and equitably by the agency. They must receive the benefits and credits they are entitled to, and assurance that everyone pays their fair share of income tax.
In light of some recommendations that were made, what the Auditor General is telling us in this report is that we can always do more; that we can always do better.
In October, I announced the appointment of the first chief service and data officer. That appointment confirms our wish to establish a service culture within the agency, a culture that maintains Canadians' trust, a culture that puts people at the centre of our decision-making process.
We therefore accept the recommendations regarding our reporting and our processes. I assure you that we will continue to put every necessary effort into making these improvements.
Regarding reporting, Canadians expect us to be able to better report on our results. To do this, I believe that every organization should have access to reliable data and indicators to make the best decisions.
We already started the work in 2016 by estimating the tax gap, and we will continue our work with the chief data officer.
Regarding processes, I agree that the law has to be applied consistently and fairly in all regions of the country. We work with millions of Canadians and businesses. However, each case is different. Some are more complex, others are simpler. However, in all cases, the compliance programs have only one goal: to make sure that the tax system is fair and equitable for everyone across the country. This is the assurance that we must give Canadians.
In response to the concerns the Auditor General raised, the agency has developed an action plan. A copy has been submitted to your committee. This plan illustrates the measures that will be taken to address the recommendations from the Auditor General, in addition to describing the approach that the agency intends to adopt in revising its internal processes and procedures.
A fair tax system is one that works for all Canadians.
As Minister of National Revenue, I will always be open to putting measures in place that ensure the fairness of our tax system and that make it easier for Canadians to meet their tax obligations.
Thank you very much.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his important question and congratulate him for asking it in French.
Since we've been in power, I've observed the legacy the Conservatives left to the agency: it was really in poor shape as a result of their decisions. According to the report published by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada that was forwarded to us last week, the thoughtless cuts suffered by the agency during the Harper era had devastating consequences. The report clearly states:
The single most destructive event occurred as a result of the 2012 budget when, in one fell swoop, $250 million and 1,200 jobs were cut from CRA’s budget. All told, successive austerity initiatives resulted in almost $900 million in projected cuts and the scheduled elimination of almost 3,000 jobs.
As you'll understand, those deep cuts undermined services and investment in technologies.
When we came to power, my mandate letter was very clear: the CRA had to serve its clientele. That was really the thrust of my mandate letter. We therefore invested in clientele services in addition to allocating historic budgets to combating tax evasion. On my watch, we've appointed the first chief service and data officer, who really puts the clientele at the centre of our decision-making process.
We've worked hard for three years to change the agency's culture. The work has begun. There are 40,000 employees at the agency. It's a big ship, and it's changing course. I very much hope that my legacy will be improved services and that the culture change we've made is permanent.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question.
I'm determined to improve the agency's services to meet the needs of all Canadians. The purpose of everything the agency has put in place in the past three years is to make the client our central concern.
We've introduced a new service, File My Return, an automated telephone service accessible to more than 950,000 taxpayers who have straightforward tax situations. We've clarified and simplified the use of our My Account service and also launched the CRA BizApp application.
We've reinstated the Disability Advisory Committee.
We've launched two series of Serving You Better consultations with small and medium-sized enterprises to determine with them how the agency can further simplify the way it works with them.
We've improved the objection process.
In February 2019, we'll be opening service centres for northern communities in the territorial capitals. What people in the north are experiencing is important to us. Their situation is very different from that of people in the south
We've completed installation of the new call centre platform, and it will be functional very soon. Business information requests directed to call centres migrated in November, and the service line for benefit information requests migrated on December 3.
We've also appointed the chief service and data officer, who will ensure the clientele is treated equally in the Canada Revenue Agency's various areas of activity.
We have simplified the agency's letters and forms. Last year we mailed tax packages to Canadians who chose to file their returns on paper, and we will do the same thing this year.
As I mentioned, the agency is still working to put the client at the centre of its actions.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question.
First of all, I would like to remind my colleague that the horrific situation at the Canada Revenue Agency occurred during the 10 years of the Harper government's mandate. As I mentioned in my presentation, the report clearly states: "The single most destructive event occurred as a result of the 2012 budget when, in one fell swoop, $250 million and 1,200 jobs were cut [by the Conservatives] from CRA’s budget."
Having said that, I'm determined that Canadians will be treated fairly and equitably and that everyone will pay their fair share.
I'd also like to say that tax files are all different: some are simpler, others more complex. The complexity and extent of information influence the agency's approach. People who can't meet a deadline set by the agency can contact it and explain their situation.
I would ask the commissioner to add to that information.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his very important question.
I'd like to remind him that the Conservative government made cuts without any vision for the future of the agency and without any consideration for clients, who must be treated properly.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
The call centres had inadequate equipment. Service business hours and employee training had been cut. I don't need any lectures from the Conservatives.
The work we've done at the Canada Revenue Agency in the past three years has helped us respond more effectively to the recommendations of the Auditor General of Canada.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
We also modernized our call centres in response to the Auditor General's report last year. The call centres for business information requests migrated in November, and everything is working very well. Online information request services also migrated on December 3. From those new facilities, we'll be able to provide training to employees, which will enable them to respond more effectively to clientele requests.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his important question.
As I said, I've been determined since the start of my mandate to ensure that Canadians are treated fairly and equitably and that everyone pays their fair share. I'd also remind you that all tax files are different, some are simpler, others more complex. The complexity and scope of information requests influence the agency's approach. People who can't meet a deadline set by the agency may communicate with it and explain their situation. Those explanations are taken into account.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I'm telling you, I'm repeating to you, and I will repeat indefinitely that, as far as I'm concerned, everyone will be treated fairly and equitably.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Sir, if you came and visited my riding, given my reputation there, everyone would tell you that I treat people fairly and equitably. It's a point of honour for me.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I can tell you that our government has made historic investments in the fight against tax evasion. We're the first government that has invested nearly $1 billion in the fight against tax evasion. Furthermore, under our leadership, the agency has hired 1,300 auditors and conducted twice as many audits relating to offshore activities as were done under the Harper government.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Federal tax amounts associated with convictions have increased from $12.5 million in 2014-2015 to $45.4 million in 2017-2018.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I'm going to turn the floor over to the commissioner. He can answer your question.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I told you, we've hired 1,300 new auditors and conducted twice as many audits as the Harper government did in the 10 years of its mandate.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
The Canada Revenue Agency is currently conducting audits in more than 1,100 cases and criminal investigations in more than 50 offshore tax evasion cases. Our plan is working, and we're starting to see results.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his important question.
According to my information, the Canada Revenue Agency has identified more than 3,000 foreign entities associated with more than 2,600 owner beneficiaries who have connections with Canada, and it has already audited 80% of them. We have chosen to tighten the rules of the voluntary disclosures program, the VDP, to prohibit access to taxpayers who are named in the Panama Papers or in information leaks.
Under my leadership, we have struck a committee to determine how to tighten the agency's rules in tax evasion cases as well as the rules of the VDP. In the first year of my mandate, we began to review four countries a year under country-to-country agreements. When the agency intervenes with respect to a country, people who have assets in that country no longer have access to the VDP.
So we're doing everything necessary to ensure all taxpayers pay their fair share. I've said this, and I'll repeat it: we've given the agency tools to tighten the vice. I invite people to disclose their information voluntarily before the agency begins looking into what's going on in a particular country as part of the country-to-country exchange of information.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Pardon me, but I'd don't really understand your question.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes, indeed. I want to remind everyone here that Jean-Pierre Blackburn, a Conservative who was Minister of National Revenue, said that efforts to counter tax evasion were not a priority for the Conservatives when they were in power.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, I'd simply like to say this to my colleague Mr. Poilievre: I get up at 4 a.m.; if you had held a meeting at 6 a.m., it would've been a pleasure for me to spend more time with you.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I have another meeting at that time.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Hello everyone, and thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Standing Committee on Finance to discuss the main estimates.
I would also like to thank the agency’s four assistant commissioners who are with me today: Ms. Kami Ramcharan, Mr. Ted Gallivan, Mr. Frank Vermaeten, and Mr. Geoff Trueman.
At the Canada Revenue Agency, putting tools and services into the hands of Canadians, so that they can easily file their taxes and receive the benefits to which they are entitled, is what drives the work we do.
As Minister of National Revenue, I made a commitment to the Prime Minister on behalf of all Canadians to adopt an approach focused on our clients, the Canadian people.
The needs of Canadians and the environment in which the agency operates are constantly changing. That’s why the agency must adapt and improve its services on an ongoing basis. This is true both for people who file electronically and for those who file on paper. Regardless of how Canadians choose to interact with the agency, we have made improvements.
Allow me to list some of the ones that are already benefiting millions of Canadians.
More and more Canadians are filing their taxes online. This year, more than 90% of the approximately 24 million returns Canadians filed were completed online. My Account, the agency’s digital portal, now has more than 7.9 million users.
Enhanced digital services, such as Auto-fill my return and Re-FILE, allow Canadians to file or edit their tax returns online.
You may also have noticed that you can now access your notice of assessment instantly. In fact, the Express Notice of Assessment is now available in certified tax software.
The agency is also simplifying its communications. Indeed, providing Canadians helpful information depends on the use of clear, simple, easy-to-understand language. In 2017, the agency simplified the language it uses in most of its correspondence to Canadians. The Clerk of the Privy Council, in his 25th report on service excellence, commended the agency for this effort.
Responding to the questions of Canadians is also a key service that the agency must absolutely provide by phone. That is why we have an action plan to improve the quality of the services that our call centre agents provide. During the recent tax-filing period, the agency hired additional agents, and more than 3,000 of them were able to answer questions from Canadians.
In addition, we have increased the number of self-serve options to help callers get the information they need more quickly and easily. These improvements and other new measures, such as better training for agents and the implementation of a new telephone platform, will allow more callers to have access to telephone queues, which means fewer lines will be busy.
As I mentioned earlier, it’s also important to continue meeting the needs of Canadians who use traditional methods to file their taxes. This year, we’ve made it easier for those who choose to file on paper to do their taxes by mailing approximately two million forms and guides directly to them.
In addition, people can now make tax payments in person at any of the 6,000 Canada Post outlets. This new in-person payment service makes life easier for taxpayers who live in remote areas and who may not be close to a bank or have easy access to Internet service.
Another new telephone service that was launched this year is File my Return. This service helps Canadians with low or fixed incomes, whose situations remain unchanged from year to year, to file their income tax returns by answering a few questions through an automated phone service. This year, we sent out more than 950,000 invitations to Canadians who may be eligible for this new service.
Lastly, I’d also like to highlight the important work done by volunteers from the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, the CVITP. This program has been around for a long time, helping eligible people who have modest incomes and simple tax situations file their returns. The funding announced in Budget 2018 will allow the program to open more year-round tax preparation clinics, which will help more Canadians access the benefits to which they are entitled.
To conclude, I’d also like to briefly touch on the agency’s recent accomplishments in fighting tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. The agency has taken concrete and effective steps to crack down on tax cheats. It has broadened the scope of its tools for improving its risk assessment systems. It can now assess the risks associated with all multinationals every year.
These improvements, as well as those made to other systems, provide the agency with more relevant information to better identify large businesses and individuals who may be participating in aggressive tax avoidance schemes or avoiding tax laws.
Moreover, with the implementation of country-by-country reporting, as of this year, the agency will automatically have access to information from other jurisdictions. As of March 31, 2018, audits of more than 1,112 taxpayers were underway with respect to offshore non-compliance, and the agency was conducting criminal investigations into over 42 tax evasion cases. In 2016–2017, the agency’s efforts resulted in 37 convictions, over 50 years in jail terms, and $10 million in fines imposed by the courts.
And I’m pleased to inform the committee that the fiscal service improvements offered to Canadians will not stop there, because this is an ongoing process. The agency must absolutely ensure that Canadians receive the benefits to which they are entitled. That is my priority. Budget 2018 announced the implementation of a measure to automatically register individuals for the Canada Child Benefit. Accordingly, I am pleased that approximately 300,000 additional low-income workers will receive the benefit.
Let me end by saying that improving service delivery to Canadians will continue to drive our efforts. This will ensure that Canada’s tax system is fair, helpful, and easy to use.
I will now yield the floor to Ms. Ramcharan, who will speak about the main estimates.
Thank you for your attention.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for her question.
To begin with, I would say that our government is the one that has decided to invest in fighting tax evasion and tax avoidance. The budgets allocated in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to fight tax avoidance and tax evasion amount to nearly $1 billion. Over the past two years, we’ve been working to create a structure that will allow us to fight tax evasion and tax avoidance.
Auditors are currently being hired. The Canada Revenue Agency is able to assess 100% of large multinationals. I would also like to thank the committee, which recommended tightening the rules regarding the voluntary disclosures program. That is being implemented. Thank you very much for your recommendations.
We have also targeted four countries a year, we work with the OECD, and we have signed more than 60 information disclosure agreements, country by country.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you for your question.
As mentioned in my mandate letter, customer service is a priority for our government. Budget 2018 will allow us to make concrete improvements through investments of more than $200 million in agency services. This considerable amount of money has allowed us to make significant improvements to the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
I had the opportunity to tour the offices of the Canada Revenue Agency, and everywhere I stopped, I made a point of meeting the volunteers. They mentioned that they had been left to their own devices and had received little support over the years. This has become a priority for me. As we know, volunteers work with the most vulnerable. We will therefore continue to work towards that end and take into account the information provided by volunteers across Canada.
Furthermore, thanks to new investments, we are working to modernize our digital and telephone services. We have restored postal service for seniors. Many people live in the regions and don’t have access to Internet. I think it’s very important to invest in services, contrary to the previous government, which had decided to reduce them.
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