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Results: 46 - 60 of 210
View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Committee members will be the first to receive that information from us. We can send it to you after that.
We do this out of respect for the committee members who are involved, who are dedicated to working on this update and who provide us with recommendations on the disability tax credit.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
You’re asking me about the Phoenix system, but with regard to the Revenue Agency...
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you for your question.
I did, in fact, travel to the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to meet people. I can’t give you any statistics at this time, but I’ve asked the Canada Revenue Agency for more information on this. Indeed, all the people I met during my tour are concerned about this issue. Moreover, I made a public announcement on CBC that I was taking into account what people had told me and that we were going to ask the agency about it.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for his question.
As a single mother myself, I know full well what single mothers experience. I’ll say it and say it again: it’s important that people get the services to which they are entitled.
If you have specific cases to submit, you can send them to my team. I’ll make sure that the rules are respected.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
In a previous life, I was a social worker. I’ve always worked for the less fortunate and those who need the services to which they are entitled. As Minister of National Revenue, I can tell you that I’ll be there for the poor and those who need help and support. I’m telling you and I’m telling you again, if you have specific cases to submit, I would like to receive them. I’ll make sure that those people get the credits to which they are entitled.
I’m going to ask Mr. Vermaeten to give you some technical details.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I’m going to ask Mr. Vermaeten to really explain the process.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I thank my colleague for her question.
As I mentioned, the Auditor General’s report didn’t surprise me at all. We made a major change at the Canada Revenue Agency to improve services and ensure that employees develop skills in much more specific areas. In 2016, we implemented what we called service renewal. Changes were made at the Canada Revenue Agency. More specialized services have been centralized in various offices. Instead of dealing with generalist staff spread across the country, people will be able to use these specialized services and get much better information.
Agency employees work very hard. I really want to congratulate them on everything they’ve done in terms of service renewal. The agency’s 40,000 employees contributed to this effort. Phenomenal work has been done since 2016.
Mr. Vermaeten may want to add to that.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the committee's study of supplementary estimates (B).
I am joined by Commissioner Bob Hamilton, who will speak to you more about this and other topics following my remarks.
I’d also like to introduce three senior officials from the Canada Revenue Agency: Janique Caron, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch; Ted Gallivan, Assistant Commissioner, International, Large Business and Investigations Branch; and Frank Vermaeten, Assistant Commissioner, Assessment, Benefit and Service Branch.
I would like to start by providing members with an overview of some recent achievements following the second year of my mandate as Minister of National Revenue.
First, the Government is steadfast in its efforts to crack down on tax evasion and combat tax avoidance. We will increasingly identify aggressive tax planning schemes that are not in the spirit of the Income Tax Act.
The Government has invested nearly $1 billion in Budgets 2016 and 2017 to address this complex problem that is taking resources away from the services that improve the standard of living of all Canadians.
The Agency’s auditors now have access to more and better refined information, which helps them to focus on the individuals and corporations that actively seek to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.
Second, we have strengthened our partnerships and cooperation with international governments. The results speak for themselves: The Agency is currently conducting more than 990 audits related to offshore financial structures. It is investigating more than 42 corporations and individuals with offshore accounts. The Agency has also imposed $44 million in penalties on promoters and tax preparers.
Third, regarding our work to improve support for indigenous peoples and people living in remote communities, the Agency is working hard to keep the government's promise. It is increasing its outreach efforts to make these individuals aware of the benefits available to them, and reducing the challenges associated with filing their tax returns.
This past October, in Yellowknife, I announced the Agency’s Northern Consultations Action Plan. This plan outlines actions over the next two years to improve the Agency’s services for northern residents.
My main objective is to improve the client experience for Canadians who access tax services. Canadians communicate with us in good faith. They are important clients, not just taxpayers. They deserve to receive quality services in a timely manner. In order to improve the customer experience, here are some of the latest service improvements from the Agency.
The Agency has introduced enhanced electronic processes for filing tax returns, such as information auto-fill. This secure service allows Canadians to automatically fill in parts of their income tax and benefit returns with information that the CRA has available at the time of filing the return.
Last year, more than 86% of Canadians filed their taxes electronically, almost 750,000 more than the year before.
In 2017, the Agency has taken steps to improve and modernize its call centre services. We have hired more agents and we have increased self-serve options, leaving more time for agents to provide the answers to more complex questions.
The Agency is also in the process of upgrading its call queue technology, and enhancing its training programs to ensure our clients receive the quality service they deserve.
While I am proud of these accomplishments, I fully recognize that there is still work to be done. This week's Auditor General's report was clear, and I accepted all of his recommendations regarding our call centres.
In our first Budget, our government invested $50 million over four years to improve the range of services we provide to the public. Starting this year, our clients will begin seeing the results of these investments.
Rest assured, we are listening to Canadians.
We know we must explain the Agency’s actions as clearly as possible so that its intentions are not misinterpreted.
We are seeking advice from Canadians to ensure that the Government’s programs and services are tailored to fit those who need them. We encourage Canadians to enter into a dialogue with the Agency to share their concerns.
Today, I also announced that we have re-instated the Disability Advisory Committee. This committee will be made up of 12 members with different backgrounds; they will work with the Agency in order to come up with recommendations so that it can administer disability benefits in a more fair, more transparent and more accessible manner.
Outreach and consultation are key, and the Agency will continue to work with Canadians to ensure their views are incorporated into the decisions it makes.
Mr. Chair, I will now yield the floor to Commissioner Hamilton, who will speak to the Supplementary Estimates (B) and other matters of interest to the committee.
I thank you for inviting me to speak with you today.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you for your question. I would also like to thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I know that you are a dedicated advocate for Canadians living with diabetes as well as for your constituents in Brampton South. My English isn't so good, so please accept my apologies, as I will continue in French.
First, I would like to point out that we have met with people from Diabetes Canada, Diabetes Quebec, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to find out their concerns and to understand their points of view. After those meetings, I came to the conclusion that the agency clearly needs a mechanism to gather advice on these matters.
That is why, today, I announced the return of the Disability Advisory Committee. A committee of that kind had been established in 2004, but it was abolished by the Conservatives as soon as they came to power in 2006. These are the same Conservatives who now claim to be rushing to the defence of the most vulnerable.
The advisory committee will work collaboratively with the agency and will bring together major stakeholders in the field to make sure that all measures targeting persons with disabilities, including the Disability Tax Credit, are administered fairly under the provisions of the Income Tax Act.
The committee will advise the CRA on the specific needs and expectations of persons living with disabilities, will review and provide feedback on the CRA's administrative practices, in order to provide greater transparency and greater access to credits, and will make recommendations on how the agency can enhance the quality of the services we provide to persons with disabilities.
I understand completely that living with a disability can have consequences for those involved, their families and their surroundings. That is why I am committed to ensuring that the agency will administer measures for those with disabilities in a fair, transparent and accessible manner.
In the last two financial years, the number of those accepted has increased by 20%. We have worked to simplify the forms. We are working with specialized nurse practitioners who are able to fill in the forms for people living in areas where access to a doctor is more difficult. The agency has also hired nurses for the programs for persons with disabilities.
I invite the commissioner to complete my answer.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
The government is determined to renew the nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples, and to ensure that they receive the benefits and the credits to which they are entitled.
I have met with a number of indigenous communities to discuss problems with access to the agency's services, and I will continue to do so. I come from a remote area myself. So I know full well what it means to be a long way from Ottawa. As the proverb says, “out of sight, out of mind”.
The Canada Revenue Agency has published its communication materials in a number of indigenous languages. We are working in partnership with Service Canada. The agency has visited 698 indigenous communities across the country in order to provide them with information about the benefits.
Although the agency has made a lot of progress, there is still work to be done and we are going to do it in collaboration with indigenous communities and with our partners in the regions.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
As I mentioned, I am aware of the Auditor General's report and I accept all the recommendations it contains.
Right from our first budget, we decided to invest $50 million over four years, specifically to work on hiring staff in the call centres.
I can also tell you that, unlike your government, which, when Kerry-Lynne Findlay was the minister, made cuts to the Canada Revenue Agency, we have made investments in it, such as setting up a new telephone platform in order to better meet the needs of the customers who call the Canada Revenue Agency. The telephone system is 20 years old and it is out of date.
The cuts that you made also affected employee training and support. So we are working on training, because it is important to continue to provide training and support, so that Canadians can receive the best information possible.
We must also respond to the standards and needs of Canadians, not establish standards that meet only the needs of the Canada Revenue Agency.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
Not at all. I am very pleased to be able to tell you that, in the last two years, I have visited the vast majority of Canada Revenue Agency offices. I went to see the call centres, I met with the employees who work there, and I listened to telephone calls.
Starting last year, we established our action plan so that we could meet the needs of Canadians. In my two years of work in the field, I have come to realize the extent to which the cuts that your government had made had weakened, and dismantled, brick by brick, the services provided to Canadians by the Canada Revenue Agency in the call centres. You should be ashamed of what happened.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
I will let the commissioner answer your question.
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View Diane Lebouthillier Profile
Lib. (QC)
What I can tell you today is that, in my opinion, it is important to let the agency do its job. The Canada Revenue Agency takes all the information about the Paradise Papers seriously.
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Results: 46 - 60 of 210 | Page: 4 of 14

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