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Results: 181 - 240 of 302
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I repeat that our government is committed to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. I must also tell my colleague once more that we have not changed any tax rules. The same provisions continue to apply.
I would also like to tell the committee that, in 2014, our colleagues here—
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
So, as I was saying, in 2014-2015, the party in power, my colleague's party, held consultations about the rules and decided to change none. The rules continued to apply and we are still applying them now.
Mr. Gallivan will be able to give you more details about the rules that apply to campgrounds.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
The job that was entrusted to me in my mandate letter is about services to Canadians, about improving services, and about the fight against tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. I have to tell you, Mr. Dusseault, that I have never given a second thought to the colour of the text in the report.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you for your question, Mr. Dusseault.
I would like to thank the committee for the report it produced. My department has accepted all 14 recommendations in your report.
As for the voluntary disclosures program, I would like to remind you that, last year, I commissioned an evaluation by an independent person, Kimberley Brooks. She evaluated the whole process to determine whether everything was in order. In this aspect, indeed, it was.
I can tell you that we are in the process of responding to the 14 recommendations. Mr. Gallivan will be able to tell you what point we have reached.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question.
That actually gives the government the opportunity to talk about all the work it has done and will do to combat tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.
As I mentioned in my remarks, our activities are currently geared towards criminal activity. Investigations are under way and are taking their course.
As for tax evasion and tax avoidance, Mr. Gallivan has a lot more technical information. We know that Canadians want to know what is happening, they want everyone to pay their fair share and, if something is considered criminal, they want it to be dealt with as such.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for her question.
Our government has in fact committed to study the tax gap, something the Conservative Party never wanted to do. Our approach is quite different, in that we work on the basis of facts. That is how I asked the Canada Revenue Agency to work. The agency is working in collaboration with the Parliamentary Budget Officer on the tax gap issue.
A first report was submitted last June. The work is continuing. Other meetings will be taking place. The important thing for us is to use all the tools at our disposal, to make sure that Canadians have trust in the fairness of our tax system.
I repeat my commitment, and the government's commitment, to continue our work and to make it public.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
A first report was submitted last June. As to how the work is continuing, Mr. Gallivan is more current as to dates and all the technical aspects.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question and for his concern for people. Indeed, not everyone has access to electronic services, and I am very aware of that.
In terms of customer service, in my opinion, everyone must be treated fairly. Just because someone sends their returns on paper does not mean that they will be treated less well than those who filed their returns online.
I am happy that almost 90% of the people send their returns to the agency electronically, but when we receive paper returns, we process them in the same way as electronic returns.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question.
At the beginning of tax season, I was told that it was difficult to find forms in French in some places. It was also difficult to get forms in some other places. I immediately contacted people at the agency to resolve the situation. Mr. Gallivan will be able to give you more information about that and to talk to you about the agreements we have reached with Canada Post in terms of paper tax returns.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question.
As my mandate letter mentions, one of the agency's priorities is customer service. Our government is committed to having the agency provide Canadians all across the country with the best service.
The objective of streamlining the services is to concentrate processing activities in the three national verification and collection centres.
I have been able to tour the agency's offices all over Canada. Actually, the tour is just coming to an end. I have been meeting with employees to see how the streamlining of services is going in the trenches, because streamlining means change. Employees and management are working together and are committed to serving Canadians. I was extremely surprised to hear employees all over the country tell me that they had never seen a revenue minister in their offices and in their regions. Streamlining the services has allowed us to consolidate our services in the regions. As I see things, all the regions of the country are important.
The only office that was closed was in Toronto, but there are already three other agency offices in that city. We made sure that we worked with the unions to support employees through all the changes that were implemented.
Everywhere I went, I met Canada Revenue Agency employees who are committed to customer service. I always take the opportunity to tell them how much of a priority customer service is for me. I am a social worker by training and, as I see it, everyone must be treated the same, from the poorest to the richest.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
You are perfectly right. The fact that there are two tax returns is peculiar to Quebec. The CRA is working closely with the Ministère du Revenu in Quebec. I have also met with my colleague, Minister Leitão, on several occasions.
With that introduction, I will ask Mr. Gallivan to answer your question in more detail.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Like us, all the committee members around this table want to work to provide a better tax system for Canadians. So I will be happy to answer your questions.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question.
I will repeat myself and tell him that we have not changed the rules.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
At the Canada Revenue Agency, we apply the legislation that is the responsibility of…. If the act is to be amended, we would have to consult the Department of Finance. At the Canada Revenue Agency, no changes have been made to tax rules. They continue to apply, as they applied when your government held public consultations when you were in power. You did not change the rules at that time and, in turn, we continue to apply exactly those same rules.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I met with the Auditor General over the winter on the objection process. We discussed his report. It was submitted and I have considered it.
We accepted all the recommendations on objections in the Auditor General's report. An action plan with the goal of reducing delays in processing objections is already being developed and will be submitted soon. We will make it public so that people know how to proceed when they have an objection.
We know that there is a backlog of objections and we really intend to reduce it. We want objections to be processed as quickly as possible. Service to Canadians is a priority for us.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you for your question.
As I mentioned before, what's important to us is that everyone pays their fair share and receives what they are entitled to. My goals are to have effective and efficient services that are geared to Canadians. That's actually at the heart of my mandate letter.
There are still services within the agency. Our goal is not to put people in difficult situations and shut down businesses, but to reach agreements with people to find the tax base that will enable the government to invest in public services, education and health, to help the poorest of the poor and to invest in infrastructure. That is what the Canada Revenue Agency is all about. There's always a way to reach a deal with the Canada Revenue Agency. Each case is treated separately. Our employees are there to help and support people, as well as to enter into agreements with them.
Perhaps Mr. Huppé could elaborate on that.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
You have two questions.
I'll answer the first one about the $51 million for children in the care of the state, of foster families or people other than their parents.
Yes, the money is earmarked for the state, because child services and foster care fall under provincial jurisdiction. The money makes it possible to provide assistance to the children, because they have specific needs when they are young and live with those families. That's what the money should be used for.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
It is understood that we cannot allocate the money directly to the children. It is allocated to the provincial governments, which in turn look after managing the social services.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I take note of your remarks. I can't give you more information, because these areas are under provincial jurisdiction.
The other question that you asked me is whether all the families have received the Canada child benefit. I will take this opportunity to convey a message that's important to me. I say this wherever I go.
Those who have not filed their tax returns are not entitled to the Canada child benefit or any tax credits. At the meetings I have, when I go to indigenous communities and when I meet with community organizations—I do some fieldwork, because it's important for me to involve the public—I tell those in charge that it's important that they talk to their people. That's the responsibility of every elected official, be they in Parliament, the provinces, municipalities and grassroots organizations, which are much closer to people and families. I tell them to check whether the people have filed their tax returns so that they are entitled to the Canada child benefit.
This is not about penalizing people. For those who have not filed their tax returns, they may go as far back as 10 years for some programs. So some people have received $15,000 or even more in tax credits, from the money they were entitled to. I therefore strongly encourage you to check in each of your ridings with your organizations and to ensure that the people file their tax returns so that they get what they are entitled to.
In terms of the agency, as long as I'm there, it will not make money on the backs of the poor. However, when it comes to the wealthiest who hide their money abroad, let me tell you—and I have said it before—I will not let them off the hook.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the committee's study of the supplementary estimates (B).
I am joined by two senior officials from the Canada Revenue Agency: 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 and the agency's chief financial officer.
Mr. Huppé will speak briefly about the supplementary estimates in just a moment, but I would like to say a few words by way of introduction.
In May when I last to spoke to this committee, I was six months into my mandate as Minister of National Revenue. At the time, I gave an overview of some of the measures outlined in budget 2016 to help the Canada Revenue Agency combat tax evasion and tax avoidance.
Now, having served as minister for more than a year I have an even deeper appreciation of the challenges involved in these activities and the CRA's other business lines. As you know, the CRA is a client-focused agency that exists to serve Canadians. I am pleased to inform the committee that the agency is becoming fairer, more helpful, and easier to use.
The CRA is delivering on the government's commitments by effectively administering the middle class tax cut and the Canada Child Benefit. And it is taking definitive steps to combat aggressive tax planning and tax avoidance, improve services for taxpayers, and enhance the role of charities in our society.
The agency has accomplished a number of objectives on the compliance front—both at home and abroad—since my last appearance. They are taking concrete steps here in Canada to crack down on tax cheats. The CRA is currently conducting audits on over 750 taxpayers and criminally investigating 20 cases of tax evasion specifically linked to offshore tax havens.
Recently, the CRA launched the hiring process to add 100 new tax professionals to its already robust audit team. These individuals will assist in auditing high-risk multinational corporations and unravelling complex offshore schemes to crack down on tax cheats. It is a strategy that will collect an estimated additional $500 million in revenue over five years.
As for service to Canadians, the CRA makes sure taxpayers have access to the information they need about taxes or benefits—on its website, through its call centres, or through mobile applications. To respond to the public's needs the agency has added resources to its telephone service and is improving upon the clarity of correspondence with Canadians.
In addition, the CRA is streamlining its processing activities and creating three new national verification and collection centres. Canadians will experience faster, more efficient processing of their tax and benefit returns and better handling of calls to the call centre.
The Canada Revenue Agency has also made a significant commitment to the charitable sector by engaging with key stakeholders. The government has pledged to further clarify the rules governing a registered charity's involvement in political activities.
To this end, the agency recently launched online consultations with the public, and starting next week, will begin in-person consultations with registered charities. This consultation will result in a better understanding of the needs of charities and help identify ways to better communicate the rules governing political activities.
It is clear, Mr. Chair, that the Canada Revenue Agency is improving its service to Canadians and acting on its commitment to crack down on tax cheats. I am proud of the accomplishments of the agency's dedicated employees. But there remains much more to be done. Supplementary funding will help the agency enrich its programs in a number of ways.
It will enhance the agency's efforts to crack down on tax cheats. It will fund measures to improve communications with taxpayers and outreach to Canadians, and it will implement and administer the new home accessibility tax credit for seniors and people with disabilities.
I could go on, but instead I will yield the floor to Mr. Huppé, who will speak to the details of the supplementary estimates.
Thank you for your attention.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
In the mandate letter I received from the Prime Minister, I was asked to focus my efforts on all of the client services provided by the Canada Revenue Agency. The work to renew the services was done all through the year. To me it was important that we maintain the regional offices.
We kept the Gatineau office. We also added 500 administrative positions to the Winnipeg office. In Rimouski, we consolidated part-time positions and other positions in regional offices. To me and to everyone who works at the agency, it was also important to make an announcement in this regard. We have two years to work on the reorganization. This makes the employees feel more secure, and everyone knows where we are going. We will also work in cooperation with the unions on this.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes.
The Canada Revenue Agency is in fact working in co-operation with Revenue Quebec. In fact, we are consulting businesses about improving our services. We are consulting Revenue Quebec in order to provide more effective help to those who do business with the agency.
I am going to give the floor to Mr. Gallivan, who can provide additional information on this.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
One factor is that we computerized our services, and we are continuing work on that. Last year, the number of people who used our electronic services increased by 2%. 84% of taxpayers now use it. This certainly is more conducive to taxpayers receiving returns as quickly as possible. As for improving electronic services, Mr. Gallivan could give you more information on the administrative aspect.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
With regard to jobs, it is important to stop the decline in the number of workers in regional tax centres. As I mentioned a few moments ago, there is an across-the-board increase in electronic services. We have consolidated some positions. We had some part-time employees who are now full-time. We are working to provide better service to Canadians. We are working on reducing wait times, and in future, the agency will be offering more specialized positions.
Mr. Huppé could tell you more about this.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
A committee has been set up to look at this. I want to thank this committee that worked on tax evasion and tax avoidance. It gave us a report that contained 14 recommendations. It is important to us to continue to work with our international partners on tax evasion and avoidance.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I really do not agree with you on that.
The agency is working on abusive tax evasion and tax avoidance. We are going after the big players.
We are talking about the G20, and I fail to see what a small business could do at the G20 level. We have multilateral agreements. The considerable funds we have received must be used to hire specialists who will work on aggressive tax evasion and avoidance. So we are talking about large enterprises and people who have offshore accounts.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
The report will eventually be made public. We are going to implement the committee's 14 recommendations.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
It was an excellent report. The committee's analysis was done in cooperation with the Canada Revenue Agency. I can assure you that the 14 recommendations are going to be implemented.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Last January we decided not to open any more investigations. The 12 investigations on organizations that are ongoing currently had already begun. It's also simply a matter of fairness toward the other organizations that were investigated. We want to finish the work we started.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would say it depends on the individuals, on their income and on what they own. We are trying to simplify the return forms. We are working on Auto-fill my Return, which is a form for people on fixed incomes. By this I mean people who receive a Canada pension or social assistance, for example. The objective of Auto-fill my Return is to make things simpler for those people.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As we said earlier, amendments to the act are really up to the Department of Finance. The Canada Revenue Agency is entrusted with its application.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I agree with you completely.
The Canada Revenue Agency is working very closely with the Department of Finance on the matter. A number of factors indeed need to be considered. The wealthy are able to look after their needs. In my view, and I would say the government's as well, what really matters is making things better for the middle class. We want to make it accessible to people and offer tax credits and benefits to those who need them most.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
It's important to understand that the majority of Canadians pay their fair share of taxes. As we mentioned in our presentation, we have to work on identifying those who set up schemes and encourage taxpayers to use them to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.
Mr. Gallivan can speak at greater length about what the agency and our government are doing to deal with the issue.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I said earlier, we want to improve client service and are focusing our efforts on specific areas. Our goal is always to become more effective and efficient.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Right now, in fact, we are working with the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. We have set up pilot projects to reach out to all indigenous communities. We are also working with Service Canada to get the poorest Canadians, those who were not receiving their benefits or who were not aware of what was available to them, the money they are owed.
I am particularly concerned about indigenous communities, people who live in the regions, Inuit, seniors, those with little education, and homeless people struggling with mental health issues. They are groups I was asked to pay particular attention to. They are all clients of the agency and need to receive the benefits they are entitled to. A number of departments have been mobilized in an effort to reach these groups.
Mr. Ouellette, you were there when we met with people who were working on pilot projects targeting indigenous communities. Through those efforts, mothers were able to get up to $20,000 in family allowance benefits. These are measures people didn't even know were accessible to them. Getting the right people the money they are owed is important.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
In Canada, 51% of the population is functionally illiterate. These are people who have trouble understanding our forms, and that's why it is so important to simplify forms with the auto-fill service. The people who really need the tax benefits have to be able to complete the necessary forms and receive the money they are due.
At the agency, we keep track of everything and we are results-oriented. We want to make sure we have comparative data for each year, so we can measure the real impact of the pilot projects and their success rates in indigenous and other communities where people need access to their benefits.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would just like to add that, as part of my mandate, at the beginning of the year, I started visiting all of the CRA's offices, precisely to reach out to employees, see what's happening, and find out what they think. I can tell you that staff are very proud of the work they're doing, and everyone is glad to do their part to achieve improvements.
In fact, when I visited the Winnipeg office, you had an opportunity to see just how much people cared about their work, wanted to do a good job, and make a contribution, whether they were involved in the small business support program or other programs.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I can talk campgrounds with you. It's an area of activity where everything is calculated on a service basis. The businesses that are entitled to deductions provide water and sewer services, Wi-Fi access, and so on. Measures are really based on the services provided. We assess situations on a case-by-case basis.
It only makes sense that an owner of a wilderness campground in the middle of nowhere who does not offer customers any services can't necessarily take advantage of the same deductions as a campground owner who provides services, engages in business development, and hires staff.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I encourage you to check the agency's website because we have received requests about that. We've posted all the information pertaining to campgrounds on the agency's website.
I've also spoken with chambers of commerce about the matter. On the Canada Revenue Agency's website, you can access detailed information about camping-related services.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
In terms of the amounts being sought, we really want to focus on improving client services and response times to lessen that feeling of insecurity people have.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am pleased to accept the committee’s invitation to discuss the Canada Revenue Agency’s actions to address aggressive tax avoidance and offshore tax evasion, and to provide the current status of the Isle of Man file.
I am joined today by Mr. Ted Gallivan, the assistant commissioner of the International, Large Business and Investigations Branch at the CRA.
Let me begin by asserting that the Government of Canada’s position on tax evasion and tax avoidance schemes is unequivocal: all participants must be identified and brought into full compliance with all their tax obligations.
The CRA systematically pursues cases of non-compliance. CRA auditors conduct over 120,000 audits every year that result in more than $11 billion in additional taxes assessed as well as penalties and interest. At least two-thirds of that amount involves international and large business aggressive tax planning, including high-net-worth individuals and multinationals.
The CRA also takes action against tax professionals who offer, assist, or create opportunities for clients to participate in offshore tax evasion and tax avoidance schemes. The CRA is very active in combatting this problem and is already achieving significant results, but we know that we need to do more. Wealthy taxpayers must pay the taxes that they owe. It’s a question of fairness.
As you know, for budget 2016, the Minister of Finance announced a historic investment of $444 million to improve the agency’s ability to detect, audit, and prosecute tax evaders in Canada and abroad.
The CRA will use some of those new funds to hire additional auditors and specialists to conduct investigations. For example, we will increase the number of auditors who focus on those who create tax schemes. We will also hire another 100 senior auditors to pursue investigations on high-risk multinationals. This federal investment will increase the number of examinations focused on high-risk taxpayers from 600 per year to 3,000 per year. That will allow the agency to better target promoters of illegal schemes, increase its audit activities, and improve the quality of investigative work focusing on criminal tax avoiders.
The CRA is also developing business intelligence infrastructure for gathering and analyzing information that will help detect tax evasion and avoidance activities. For example, on May 13, I announced that Canada and 30 of its international treaty partners signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement.
Large multinational enterprises will be required to make their global operations more transparent by providing “country-by-country reports” that contain their income, taxes paid, and economic activities. This will help ensure they pay appropriate taxes in the countries where they do business and where their profits are generated.
It also takes effective international cooperation to address offshore tax evasion. To that end, Canada has one of the world’s largest treaty networks, having entered into 92 tax treaties and 22 tax information exchange agreements. Moreover, we recently ratified the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, which further expands this international tax information-sharing network.
Canada is also a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development—the OECD—and its Joint International Tax Shelter Information Centre network. The CRA recently participated in a JITSIC network meeting to coordinate measures concerning information related to the Panama affair. The CRA is also accelerating its offshore compliance measures related to the activities of some Canadians.
We are talking about measures taken based on information gathered concerning electronic funds transfers of more than $10,000. We have also received over 17 million records of such transfers into and out of Canada. Using that information, the CRA will target up to four jurisdictions a year, without any warning.
The net is tightening. Those who hide income and assets offshore, or who evade or avoid the taxes they owe, will be identified and will face the consequences.
The first targeted jurisdiction is the Isle of Man. The CRA is in the process of contacting 350 individuals and 400 businesses that have conducted transactions there. Over 60 audits are underway, with more to come.
Mr. Chair, there has been some recent speculation in the media about the CRA’s handling of this investigation, particularly regarding its relationship with KPMG and its treatment of some of its clients.
I cannot speak about a particular taxpayer or case, beyond what is on the public record. I can say that the KPMG offshore tax avoidance scheme was discovered through the efforts of the CRA, and that legal action is underway to obtain the identities of participating KPMG clients who have not yet been exposed or come forward voluntarily.
I can also point out that very specific legislation governs what the CRA may or may not do. Its decisions within that legislation are guided by the facts available to them.
In terms of overall stakeholder relations, the CRA has a responsibility to listen to those affected by its policies and programs. That includes individual taxpayers, businesses, and those who represent them, including KPMG and similar organizations.
In meeting with these stakeholders, CRA employees help them to better understand the requirements of Canada’s tax system and improve compliance. They do not discuss specific taxpayer files.
The agency avoids circumstances that could lead to real or perceived conflict of interest or preferential treatment. At the same time, it works hard to ensure that its operations are open and transparent to the public it serves.
In a show of commitment to openness and transparency, and in following the rules that govern its actions, the CRA commissioned an independent review of its investigation of the KPMG-Isle of Man case. The review concluded that the CRA's compliance actions were in accordance with its established policies and procedures and that no inappropriate interaction took place between KPMG and agency officials involved in the case.
I remain confident that taxpayer fairness is paramount at the CRA, as it is for all Canadian taxpayers and the public in general. The substantial investment of close to half a million dollars, announced in the last budget, will help the CRA ensure that the Canadian tax system works to its full potential, and contributes to an economy that is fair and that benefits all of us.
Thank you for your attention.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would like to thank my colleague for his question.
Mr. Chair, I would like to reassure all of the members here today that the CRA's main objective is to make sure that it recovers the amounts owed to the government. The government has made that a priority. It was also part of the Liberal Party's election platform. My mandate letter clearly states that we need to work toward a tax system that is open, transparent, and fair for all Canadians.
The massive investment of $444 million will improve our ability to detect, audit, and investigate, as well as impose penalties and prosecute. Since we took office, we have improved the transmission of information to taxpayers. A total of 75% of the documentation that taxpayers receive is more accessible and easier to understand.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
You are absolutely right. This is an international problem. We are working with our international partners. Given the meeting and the agreement signed in Beijing, I would ask Mr. Gallivan, who was there, to provide more information in that regard.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
With regard to audits and investigations, the historic investment announced by the Government of Canada will be used to establish programs to stop organizations that promote tax schemes. Our goal is to examine 12 times more tax schemes. We are going to focus on high-risk taxpayers. We are going to increase the number of examinations from 600 to 3,000 per year. We are going to hire another 100 senior auditors through an independent process.
As a result of the unprecedented announcement that we made, we expect to recover $2.6 billion over the next five years.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would like to thank my colleague for his question.
I want to say that, under my direction, Kimberley Brooks conducted an independent review of the CRA last spring. This independent review, which was conducted by an external tax expert, concluded that the CRA acted in accordance with its established policies and procedures and that officials acted in accordance with the agency's code of integrity and professional conduct.
Mr. Gallivan can give you more information in that regard.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would like to make it clear to everyone around this table that the word “amnesty” is not part of the Canada Revenue Agency's practices or vocabulary. No one was given amnesty in the case in question and no one will ever be given amnesty in the future. Every taxpayer and every situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis. As we said at the beginning, the CRA's main objective is to make sure that it recovers the amounts owed to the government.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
The CRA was able to recover $11.5 billion last year. Two-thirds of that amount, or $7 billion, involved aggressive tax planning.
Maintaining the confidentiality of information is also an important rule at the agency. It is one of the CRA's fundamental principles.
Mr. Gallivan can answer your question in more detail.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I mentioned earlier, the investment of $444 million over five years will be used to detect tax evaders and improve our technology and tools so that we can deal with international cases. With regard to audits and investigations, we will be hiring another 100 auditors to work on international cases. With regard to penalties and prosecution, legal advisors will be added to the CRA's investigative teams.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I should repeat that the term "amnesty" is not in use at the Canada Revenue Agency. There has been no amnesty, and there will be no amnesty.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Caron, I'm a French Canadian as well, and I am telling you that the term “amnesty” is not in use, and will not be used—
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
First of all, I am unable to confirm the authenticity of the document. I will say it again: there is no amnesty, there was no amnesty, and there will never be amnesty at the Canada Revenue Agency. Each file is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The objective of the CRA is to—
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I would ask Mr. Gallivan to answer this question. And I must point out that I was not in the House as a minister in 1999.
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
This government has made historic investments. Our election platform made reference to such investments.
Results: 181 - 240 of 302 | Page: 4 of 6

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