FYI This was not the only "Automatic reply" but it was the most comical
Hey David Akin Methinks you should undersatand why I laughed at Radio-Canada's photo of signs for KPMG and the ScotiaBank at the top of this piece of CBC news N'esy Pas?
Media Relations-PAB / Relation avec les médias-DGAP (CRA/ARC)<cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca> | Thu, May 4, 2023 at 4:11 PM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
Bonjour, Hello, Thank you for contacting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Media Relations team. Our office hours are Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Eastern time), excluding national and statutory holidays. The Canada Revenue Agency is currently experiencing a labour disruption. We will endeavour to respond to your media inquiry in a timely fashion, but we may be unable to meet your filing deadline. Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience. For more information on how services may be affected in the event of a labour disruption, please see Labour disruptions impact at the Canada Revenue Agency - Canada.ca. Merci d'avoir contacté l'équipe des Relations avec les médias de l'Agence du revenu du Canada. Nos heures de service sont du lundi au vendredi, de 8 h à 18 h (heure de l'Est), sauf les jours fériés et les jours de fête nationale. L’Agence du revenu du Canada traverse présentement une perturbation de travail. Nous nous efforcerons de répondre à votre demande en temps opportun, mais il est possible que nous ne puissions pas être en mesure de respecter votre heure de tombée. Merci pour votre patience et nous regrettons cet inconvénient. Pour plus d’informations sur la façon dont certains services pourraient être touchés en cas de perturbation de travail, veuillez consulter Incidence des perturbations de travail à l’Agence du revenu du Canada - Canada.ca. Please note that if you are not a news reporter, your email will not be addressed. For information on scams or to report deceptive telemarketing, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) online at www.antifraudcentre.ca or toll free at 1-888-495-8501. If
you believe you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal or
financial information by mistake, contact your local police service. For
more information,
go to www.canada.ca/taxes-fraud- ****************************** Veuillez noter que si vous n’êtes pas un journaliste, votre courriel ne sera pas traité. Pour obtenir des informations sur les fraudes ou le télémarketing trompeur, contactez le Centre antifraude du Canada au www.centreantifraude.ca ou en composant le numéro sans frais 1-888-495-8501. Si vous croyez avoir été victime d'une fraude ou si vous avez fourni par erreur des renseignements personnels ou financiers, contactez votre service de police local. Pour plus de renseignements, consultez la page Protégez-vous contre la fraude. | |
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Thu, May 4, 2023 at 4:10 PM |
| To: "cra-arc.media" <cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca>, PABMINMAILG@cra-arc.gc.ca, John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca, rob.moore@parl.gc.ca, pierre.poilievre.a1@parl.gc.ca, Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca, mcu@justice.gc.ca, David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca, news@dailygleaner.com, nben@nben.ca, premier@gnb.ca, mike.holland@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca, dominic.leblanc.c1@parl.gc.ca, Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, jeff.carr@gnb.ca, oldmaison@yahoo.com, andre@jafaust.com, Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.gc.ca, Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca, Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca, megan.mitton@gnb.ca, David.Coon@gnb.ca, Kevin.A.Arseneau@gnb.ca, Newsroom@globeandmail.com, nick.brown@gnb.ca, robert.mckee@gnb.ca, Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca, michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca, carl.davies@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca, Diane.Lebouthillier@parl.gc.ca, warren@daisygroup.ca, bill.pentney@justice.gc.ca, Doug.Gaetz@cra-arc.gc.ca, Diane.Lebouthillier@cra-arc.gc.ca, ron.tremblay2@gmail.com, jlrisdon@gmail.com, govcarrier@hotmail.com, darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca, sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.ca | |
| Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, David.Akin@globalnews.ca, "Kim.Embleton" <Kim.Embleton@gnb.ca>, "Kim.Poffenroth" <Kim.Poffenroth@gnb.ca>, "Tom.MacFarlane" <Tom.MacFarlane@gnb.ca> | |
https://davidraymondamos3. Thursday, 4 May 2023 Canada Revenue Agency, union reach deal to end strike | |
Canada Revenue Agency, union reach deal to end strike
Tentative agreement is similar to one struck earlier this week
A second strike of federal public servants is over after a tentative deal was reached between the Canada Revenue Agency and more than 35,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members.
In separate Thursday morning news releases, the agency and PSAC's Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) said the four-year deal sends workers back to their jobs by 11:30 a.m. ET Thursday.
UTE workers, like about 120,000 other PSAC workers across about 30 government departments and agencies, went on strike April 19. They had all been without a deal since 2021.
"Finally, we can say that we got a decent contract for our members, and they deserve it," Marc Brière, national UTE president, told CBC News.
Like the tentative deal announced Monday for the larger group, the headlines of the CRA deal are a compounded wage increase of 12.6 per cent over four years, according to the union, and a one-time pensionable payment of $2,500.
UTE had been asking for a series of pay bumps worth more than 30 per cent of current wages, which it later changed to a 22.5 per cent raise over three years.
Similar remote work agreement
Both sides wrote Thursday that the tentative agreement addresses the union's key priorities, listed by the union as remote work, contracted work, working hours and seniority.
The section about remote work in CRA's news release Thursday is nearly identical to Monday's, in which the two sides agreed to a joint review of the directive on telework and to create departmental panels to advise deputy heads about employee concerns.
One difference in the union's Thursday announcement about the CRA deal is that remote work requests would be assessed individually and will be subject to grievances.
That language was not included in Monday's announcement about its other deal, and Treasury Board president Mona Fortier told reporters later Monday that the letter of intent on telework does not give employees the right to grieve those decisions; instead, it gives employees and managers a space to discuss any issues.
Also, that workers should be able to start as early as 6 a.m. if it's reasonable for their job, that workers move up to four weeks vacation after seven years of service instead of eight, and that Indigenous employees get paid leave for traditional practices.
The deal lasts until October 2025, PSAC said, and needs to be ratified.
Canada Revenue Agency workers in Ottawa on a picket line at the Canada Post building on Heron Road early Monday morning. (Mateo Garcie-Tremblay/Radio-Canada)
Despite the strike, CRA said the tax filing deadline had not changed, meaning returns should have been filed and any balance owed should have been paid by May 1.
CBC asked CRA early Tuesday afternoon about any service backlog and how long it would take to climb out of it once the strike ends. The agency had not responded by late Wednesday afternoon.
The CRA said while announcing the tentative deal that it "has already taken measures to resume its normal operations and to fully restore services that were affected."
With files from Neil Herland
Deja Vu Anyone???
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Media Relations-PAB / Relation avec les médias-DGAP (CRA/ARC)"
<cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca>
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2020 21:41:35 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Hey Sylvie Gadoury RE KPMG etc Methinks CBC
and the Justice Dept should know that I just got a call from John
Williamson's office (613 995 5550) Perhaps somebody should ask my MP
how that call concluded N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for contacting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Media
Relations team. Our office hours are Monday to Friday between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. (Eastern time).
Please note that if you are not a news reporter, your email will not
be addressed.
You can write to the Minister
here<https://apps.cra-arc.gc.
If you wish to speak with a CRA agent, please use the phone numbers below.
1. 1-800-959-8281 (Individual tax enquiries)
2. 1-800-387-1193 (Benefit enquiries)
3. 1-800-959-5525 (Businesses and self-employed individuals)
4. 1-613-940-8495 (if calling from outside Canada/USA)
For other commonly used CRA phone numbers please visit our contact
page.<https://www.canada.ca/
For information on scams or to report deceptive telemarketing, contact
the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) online at
www.antifraudcentre.ca<http://
1-888-495-8501.
If you believe you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal
or financial information by mistake, contact your local police
service. For more information, go to
www.canada.ca/taxes-fraud-
******************************
Merci d'avoir contacté l'équipe des Relations avec les Medias de
l'Agence du revenu du Canada. Nos heures de service sont du lundi au
vendredi, de 9 h à 17 h (heure de l'Est).
Veuillez noter que si vous n’êtes pas un journaliste, votre courriel
ne sera pas traité.
Vous pouvez écrire à la ministre
ici<https://apps.cra-arc.gc.
Si vous souhaitez parler à un agent de l'Agence, composez l’un des
numéros de téléphone suivant:
1. 1-800-959-7383 (Impôt sur le revenu des particuliers)
2. 1-800-387-1194 (Prestations fiscales)
3. 1-800-959-7775 (Renseignments des entreprises)
4. 1-613-940-8496 (Appels provenant de l'extérieur du Canada et É-U)
Pour les autres numéros de téléphone courrant de l'Agence, veuillez
consulter notre page de
coordonnées<https://www.
Pour obtenir des informations sur les fraudes ou le télémarketing
trompeur, contactez le Centre antifraude du Canada au
www.centreantifraude.ca<http:/
composant le numéro sans frais 1-888-495-8501.
Si vous croyez avoir été victime d'une fraude ou si vous avez fourni
par erreur des renseignements personnels ou financiers, contactez
votre service de police local. Pour plus de renseignements, consultez
la page Protégez-vous contre la
fraude<https://www.canada.ca/
https://geds-sage.gc.ca/en/
Brandon Carr - Parliamentary Assistant
Telephone : 613-995-5550
Fax : 613-995-5226
249 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Canada
Organizations
Canada
House of Commons
Members of the House of Commons
John Williamson
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Carr, Jeff Hon. (ELG/EGL)" <Jeff.Carr@gnb.ca>
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2020 21:40:03 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Hey Sylvie Gadoury RE KPMG etc Methinks CBC
and the Justice Dept should know that I just got a call from John
Williamson's office (613 995 5550) Perhaps somebody should ask my MP
how that call concluded N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I will be away from the office until January 6th, 2020.
Je serai absent du bureau jusqu'au 6 janvier 2020.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Coon, David (LEG)" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2020 21:40:04 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Hey Sylvie Gadoury RE KPMG etc Methinks CBC
and the Justice Dept should know that I just got a call from John
Williamson's office (613 995 5550) Perhaps somebody should ask my MP
how that call concluded N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. / Merci pour votre courriel.
I am currently out of the office. I will be back on Monday, January
6th. / Je suis hors du bureau. Je serai de retour le lundi 6 janvier.
I will respond as soon as possible. / Je vous répondrai dès que possible.
Please note that from December 23rd, 2019 until January 6th, 2020 the
Constituency Office for Fredericton-South will be closed. Emails and
telephone messages sent during this time will receive a response in
early January. The office will re-open Monday, January 6th. /
Veuillez noter que du 23 décembre 2019 au 6 janvier 2020, le bureau de
circonscription de Fredericton-Sud sera fermé. Les courriels et les
messages téléphoniques envoyés pendant cette période recevront une
réponse au début de janvier. Le bureau ouvrira le lundi 6 janvier.
If this is a media request for MLAs Megan Mitton or Kevin Arseneau or
myself, please call (506) 429-2285. / Pour toute demande de médias
avec les député.e.s Megan Mitton et Kevin Arseneau ou moi-même,
veuillez appeler le (506) 429-2285.
Have a safe and joyous holiday season! / Passez de joyeuses fêtes en
toute sécurité !
David Coon
MLA Fredericton South & Leader of the Green Party/
Député de Fredericton Sud et chef du Parti Vert
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2020 17:33:37 -0400
Subject: Hey Sylvie Gadoury RE KPMG etc Methinks CBC and the Justice
Dept should know that I just got a call from John Williamson's office
(613 995 5550) Perhaps somebody should ask my MP how that call
concluded N'esy Pas?
To: John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca, rob.moore@parl.gc.ca,
cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca, pierre.poilievre.a1@parl.gc.ca
Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca, steve.murphy@ctv.ca, David.Akin@globalnews.ca,
mcu@justice.gc.ca, David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca, news@dailygleaner.com,
nben@nben.ca, premier@gnb.ca, mike.holland@gnb.ca,
blaine.higgs@gnb.ca, dominic.leblanc.c1@parl.gc.ca,
Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, jeff.carr@gnb.ca, oldmaison@yahoo.com,
andre@jafaust.com, Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.
Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca, Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca, megan.mitton@gnb.ca,
David.Coon@gnb.ca, Kevin.A.Arseneau@gnb.ca,
Newsroom@globeandmail.com, sturgeon.nathalie@
nick.brown@gnb.ca, robert.mckee@gnb.ca, Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca,
Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca, Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca, rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca,
michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca, " carl.davies@gnb.ca,
carl.urquhart@gnb.ca, Cathy.Rogers@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca,
roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca, Roger.Brown@fredericton.ca,
ron.tremblay2@gmail.com
Cc: motomaniac333@gmail.com, jlrisdon@gmail.com,
govcarrier@hotmail.com, darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca,
sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.ca
---------- Original message ----------
From: Ministerial Correspondence Unit - Justice Canada <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:35:08 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: KPMG
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Thank you for writing to the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of
Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Due to the volume of correspondence addressed to the Minister, please
note that there may be a delay in processing your email. Rest assured
that your message will be carefully reviewed.
We do not respond to correspondence that contains offensive language.
-------------------
Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable David Lametti, ministre de la
Justice et procureur général du Canada.
En raison du volume de correspondance adressée au ministre, veuillez
prendre note qu'il pourrait y avoir un retard dans le traitement de
votre courriel. Nous tenons à vous assurer que votre message sera lu
avec soin.
Nous ne répondons pas à la correspondance contenant un langage offensant.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2019 13:35:02 -0400
Subject: Fwd: KPMG
To: John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca, rob.moore@parl.gc.ca,
cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca, pierre.poilievre.a1@parl.gc.ca
Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca, steve.murphy@ctv.ca, David.Akin@globalnews.ca,
mcu@justice.gc.ca, David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca
Cc: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
https://www.canada.ca/en/
Media contact list – Canada Revenue Agency
General media email cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca
General media phone line 613-948-8366
Media Relations (National)
Media Relations (National) contacts
Etienne Biram 613-952-9184
Dany Morin 613-957-3522
Atlantic contacts
Melanie Terrio-Lamothe 902-426-6310
Quebec contacts
Julie Pronovost 514-283-2226
Frédérick Fink 514-283-2628
Ontario contacts
Paul Murphy 416-952-8105
Jelica Zdero 416-952-9883
Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories) contacts
TJ Madigan 587-475-3816
Joanne De Waal 306-517-0515
Randy Westerman 780-495-4771
Pacific (British Columbia and Yukon) contacts
Gurm Kundan 604-666-0457
Cheryl Yeung 604-666-9261
Heidi Hofstad 604-666-9389
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Min.Mail / Courrier.Min (CRA/ARC)" <PABMINMAILG@cra-arc.gc.ca>
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2019 18:43:30 +0000
Subject: KPMG
To:
Dear Taxpayer:
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the KPMG case, which
attracted media attention. Thank you also for your understanding
regarding the delay of this response.
As Minister of National Revenue, my goal is to make sure the Canada
Revenue Agency (CRA) offers services that are fair, helpful, and easy
to use. This continues to be my priority and my focus as I devote my
efforts to delivering tangible results to taxpayers.
Although I cannot comment on a specific case, I can give you the
following general information. Settlements are concluded independently
from the Minister of National Revenue and the Minister's Office to
ensure the integrity of the tax system. They involve an independent
process within the CRA, in collaboration with the Department of
Justice.
In tax disputes, there is limited flexibility on settlement amounts
because CRA tax disputes are subject to the legal principles set out
in the Income Tax Act. The CRA is bound by the principles of tax law
and the rules arising from Canadian tax legislation. For example, when
a tax dispute involves an amount of $50,000, the taxpayer and the CRA
can agree on a lesser amount only if the determination of this amount
is based in law.
Settlements can also resolve tax issues that are not before the Court.
These settlements are carried out through an agreement called "minutes
of settlement," which is signed by a CRA official and the taxpayer.
Because this agreement is not public, taxpayers may see the use of
settlements as a lack of transparency. This is why I have asked the
CRA to review its procedures to find ways it can ensure greater
transparency regarding why it enters into settlements. Taxpayers
expect the tax system to be fair and equitable, and the CRA works
continuously to make sure that it is.
The CRA remains committed to combatting tax evasion and aggressive tax
avoidance. Individuals who participate in illegal tax strategies must
face the consequences of their actions, and taxpayers expect nothing
less.
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns and trust the
information I have provided is helpful.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
Minister of National Revenue
http://davidraymondamos3.
Thursday, 30 May 2019
CRA signs secret settlement with wealthy KPMG clients involved in
offshore tax scheme
https://twitter.com/
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 48 others
Methinks the CRA and Harvey Cashore should review their emails N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.
#cdnpoli #nbpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
CRA signs secret settlement with wealthy KPMG clients involved in
offshore tax scheme
2142 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks the Feds and KPMG or all theri lawyers and beancounters will
never explain how their actions generated this file long ago N'esy
Pas?
https://www.scribd.com/doc/
David Amos
Methinks my fellow taxpayers should Google the following sometime soon
then pick up the phone and call their MP N'esy Pas?
Diane Lebouthillier David Amos KPMG
Troy Bodi
For the rest of us they'll hound you for months for that $16 you owe them.
David Amos
Reply to @Troy Bodi: Methinks the CRA and Harvey Cashore should review
their emails N'esy Pas?
Troy Bodi
Reply to @Jim Roth: Who cares which government is complicit. It
shouldn't be happening period.
David Amos
Reply to @Troy Bodi: Methinks the CRA and Harvey Cashore should have
reviewed their emails by now particularly after I made a few calls as
well N'esy Pas?
Mo Bennett
Reply to @David Amos: this is what happens when you put a former
social worker in charge of money.
Richard Dekkar
No surprise, especially when you consider the head of KPMG’s public
sector practice was the chief fundraiser for the Liberals.
David Amos
Reply to @Richard Dekkar: Methinks my fellow taxpayers should Google
the following sometime soon then pick up the phone and call their MP
N'esy Pas?
Diane Lebouthillier David Amos KPMG
Lily O'Loughlin
Once again the wealthy get away with not paying their fair share of
taxes, but CRA is very quick to track down anybody who owes them $50.
Michael Philips
Reply to @Lily O'Loughlin: I know of an elderly Lady who owed the CRA
past taxes.
If she paid the taxes she could not buy her medicine, the CRA rep
told her to pay the tax bill .
Bill Dixon
Reply to @Lily O'Loughlin: A buddy of mine is an investigator and
auditor with the CRA.
Years ago, they brought in a performance criterion based on the
number of closed files, as opposed to the value of recovered taxes. My
guess is that CRA leaders wanted to be able to brag about how many
files and investigations are successfully closed (e.g., "We
successfully recover tax in 97% of cases!", as opposed to "In the 97%
of cases we close, we recover 9% of money owed to the Govt of
Canada... because unfortunately the 3% of files we don't close are
whales that are worth 93% of the money owed... Oops.") [- this is a
purely fictitious scenario I just made up, but you see my point]
He's always been involved in investigating large criminal tax dodges
that take years to unravel and bring to a close. Consequently, he was
always been ranked quite low in year-end reviews, relative to his
colleagues who follow up on very small files and small amounts owed.
In his words, that system in CRA incentivizes auditors to vigorously
chase small fish and files, and ignore the big files and large amounts
that are exclusively the result of the illicit behaviour of the rich
and the accountants they employ to avoid paying tax
Sebastian Scheele
Reply to @Bill Dixon: That is also easier for the CRA, to harass the
small fish that does not have the means to fight back... :(
Sour PJ
Reply to @Bill Dixon: WOW...
David Amos
Reply to @Sebastian Scheele: "That is also easier for the CRA, to
harass the small fish that does not have the means to fight back... :(
"
True but sometimes there are small fish with very sharp teeth that
can make the boss of the taxman have a panic attack and quit his fancy
job. Methinks the other little fish should Google my name along with
KPMG, CRA and IRS N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Bill Dixon: "In his words, that system in CRA incentivizes
auditors to vigorously chase small fish and files, and ignore the big
files and large amounts that are exclusively the result of the illicit
behaviour of the rich and the accountants they employ to avoid paying
tax."
BINGO
FYI The snobby accountants the rich employ call themelves
"Gatekeepers" and are always attached to powerful law firm just like
KPMG beancounters are,
Surf the net and you will see that I am a whistleblower against them
all. Try Googling "Harper and Bankers'
Ed Riley
WOW just WOW
This Liberal government sure loves secret out of court deals.
Second one reported JUST TODAY.
Oct. can't come soon enough !!!!
David Amos
Reply to @Ed Riley: "Oct. can't come soon enough !!!! "
I concur
Greg Crompton
And the hits just keep on coming. Why isn't this on the first page?
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Crompton: "Why isn't this on the first page?"
Methinks whereas the circus has been so busy lately this is
considered a sideshow N'esy Pas?
CRA signs secret settlement with wealthy KPMG clients involved in
offshore tax scheme
Watchdog group accuses the Liberals of covering up the KPMG affair
Harvey Cashore · CBC News · Posted: May 30, 2019 12:26 PM ET
The Canada Revenue Agency has made an out-of-court settlement with
wealthy KPMG clients caught using an offshore tax scheme that it
previously said was 'intended to deceive' tax authorities. (CBC)
The Canada Revenue Agency has once again made a secret out-of-court
settlement with wealthy KPMG clients caught using what the CRA itself
had alleged was a "grossly negligent" offshore "sham" set up to avoid
detection by tax authorities, CBC's The Fifth Estate and
Radio-Canada's Enquête have learned.
This, despite the Liberal government's vow to crack down on high
net-worth taxpayers who used the now-infamous Isle of Man scheme. The
scheme orchestrated by accounting giant KPMG enabled clients to dodge
tens of millions of dollars in taxes in Canada by making it look as if
multimillionaires had given away their fortunes to anonymous overseas
shell companies and get their investment income back as tax-free
gifts.
KPMG is a global network of accounting and auditing firms
headquartered out of the Netherlands and is one of the top firms in
Canada.
"Tax cheats can no longer hide," National Revenue Minister Diane
Lebouthillier promised in 2017.
Now, tax court documents obtained by CBC News/Radio-Canada show two
members of the Cooper family in Victoria, as well as the estate of the
late patriarch Peter Cooper, reached an out-of-court settlement on May
24 over their involvement in the scheme.
Details of the settlement and even minutes of the meetings discussing
it are under wraps. A CBC News/Radio-Canada reporter who showed up to
one such meeting this spring was asked to leave.
Journalists discovered references to the final settlement agreement
in tax court documents only by chance.
CRA cites privacy in keeping settlement details secret
The Canada Revenue Agency says strict privacy provisions of Canadian
tax law make it difficult to disclose minutes describing individual
taxpayer information.
The Isle of Man tax dodge had been active as far back as 1999 and,
according to documents filed in court by the CRA in 2015, had
"intended to deceive" federal regulators.
Still, significant details of the scheme remain a mystery, including
the role played by the KPMG's senior executives. With no public trial,
those details may continue to remain secret.
Toby Sanger, executive director of the advocacy group Canadians for
Tax Fairness, says the CRA should never have agreed to settle the
case.
"I think it's outrageous," he said. "We've had a lot of tough talk
and promises from this minister about how they will crack down on tax
evasion by the wealthy and corporations, but unfortunately we've seen
no evidence of this so far."
National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier called out tax cheats in
2017 and stated her intention to clamp down on the KPMG scheme.
(Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthlier said in an email statement to The
Fifth Estate/Enquête that while she cannot comment on specific cases,
she finds the lack of transparency about settlements brokered by her
agency "problematic."
"I have instructed the CRA to review its processes to allow for more
transparency with respect to the reasons for which a settlement is
reached," she said.
KPMG took 15% cut of taxes dodged
One member of the Cooper family, Marshall Cooper, previously told The
Fifth Estate that he was unaware of Canadian tax laws when he
emigrated from South Africa in the mid-1990s and that it was KPMG that
came up with the offshore tax plan.
Documents show KPMG planned to take a 15 per cent cut of the taxes
dodged, including $300,000 from the Cooper family. Internal records
show the scheme was marketed across the country, with successful KPMG
sales agents and accountants referred to as product "champions."
In all, more than 20 wealthy families participated in the offshore scheme.
Two years ago, Lebouthillier issued a news release on her intention
to clamp down on the KPMG scheme, publicly stating that those involved
could even face criminal charges over possible "tax fraud."
•
Exclusive
KPMG tax 'sham' used by at least 25 wealthy Canadians, document says
•Tax cheats in KPMG Isle of Man avoidance scheme could face criminal
charges: minister
"The case of KPMG is before the courts right now, and we continue to
pursue action against KPMG," Lebouthillier said in 2017.
"We will see this to the end as Canadians have asked us to do."
She said at the time that her government took the matter "very seriously."
"Those who choose to participate in these schemes must face the
consequences of their actions," she said.
Yet more than two years after that pledge, participants in the KPMG
scheme, namely, members of the Cooper family, were offered a secret
out-of-court settlement.
In her statement to The Fifth Estate/Enquête this week, Lebouthillier
said the decision to settle was not hers to make and that she had
instructed the CRA to review its settlements to "allow for more
transparency."
'We will continue to make systemic changes': minister
To "ensure integrity of our tax system," Lebouthillier said,
out-of-court settlements are made by the CRA and the Department of
Justice "at arm's length" from the minister and the minister's office.
"Canadians deserve a fair and equitable tax system, and we will
continue to make systemic changes within the CRA to make sure that
this is the case," she said in her statement.
•
CBC Investigates
Canada Revenue offered amnesty to wealthy KPMG clients in offshore tax 'sham'
•How Canada got into bed with tax havens
CBC News/Radio-Canada first revealed four years ago that KPMG, one of
the largest accounting firms in Canada, with tens of millions in
federal contracts, had for years been running a massive offshore tax
dodge for wealthy clients it had kept hidden from federal
investigators.
The Trudeau government's previous tough talk on the so-called KPMG
sham had come after a document leaked to The Fifth Estate/Enquête
showed the CRA itself had offered a secret "no penalties" amnesty in
May 2015 to many of the other KPMG clients involved in the scheme.
The CRA offered to have them simply pay the back taxes owed — but
with the condition they not tell the public about the offer.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to do a 'better job of getting tax
avoiders and tax frauders' in 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian
Press)
Stung by those revelations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in
2017 that the government had learned a lesson from the KPMG affair and
promised to do a "better job of getting tax avoiders and tax
frauders."
Since then, the Liberal government vowed to make sure those kinds of
offshore tax dodges were in the past.
In fact, it was concerns over future KPMG court cases that prompted
the Liberal-dominated Commons finance committee to shut down its own
investigation into the embattled accounting firm back in 2016.
Documents had already began to emerge detailing the extent to which
KPMG was helping clients not only dodge taxes but also hide money from
potential creditors, including circumventing the Canadian Divorce Act
by "protecting" assets from ex-spouses.
•
CBC Investigates
KPMG promoted hiding money from wealthy clients' ex-spouses in offshore 'sham'
Lawyers for KPMG had argued that the ongoing finance committee
investigation could prejudice cases before the court.
Several KPMG executives had been named to testify in the spring of
2016, but Liberal MPs voted to shut down the inquiry, arguing that any
more testimony and documents should be produced in court and not in
Parliament.
Now, it appears that those future court cases cited as a reason for
shutting down the investigation might never materialize.
The Fifth Estate and Enquête also later revealed that in June 2016,
around the same time the Liberal MPs shut down their investigation
into the accounting giant, a former senior KPMG executive was
appointed to the Liberal Party's national board of directors.
"There is no reason why the finance committee shouldn't restart their
hearings," Canadians for Tax Fairness's Sanger said.
Settlements offer 'substantial savings to the public'
Sanger said it all seems like a Liberal "coverup" to close down the
KPMG investigation.
Canadians still do not know who were the key people at KPMG involved
in running the investigation, for example, how high up it went within
the organization, or all the names of the wealthy clients who
participated.
Liberal MPs halted a parliamentary finance committee investigation in
2016 after KPMG argued the investigation could prejudice court cases.
Now, it looks like those court cases might never happen. (CBC)
Max Weder, the lawyer for the wealthy Cooper family, said he "can't
comment on the settlement."
Documents show the family paid virtually no tax over a span of eight
years — and even obtained federal and provincial tax credits — despite
receiving nearly $6 million from an offshore company worth $26 million
that KPMG helped set up.
KPMG has always maintained the scheme was legal. The firm's lawyers
claimed any money the Coopers received were gifts and therefore
non-taxable. Nevertheless, KPMG now says it would not set up this type
of offshore structure anymore.
For its part, the CRA said that the settlement was made in accordance
with the law and is "supported by the facts of this particular case."
The agency also said it "maximized revenue" by making a decision to
settle out of court, instead of facing an uncertain ruling in tax
court.
"There is generally substantial savings to the public and a benefit
to the justice system when cases are resolved through a settlement," a
CRA spokesperson said in a statement.
Please send confidential tips on this story to Harvey.Cashore@cbc.ca
or call 416-526-4704. Follow @harveycashore on Twitter.
About the Author
Harvey Cashore
The Fifth Estate
Harvey Cashore is an investigative reporter with the CBC's weekly
investigative program The Fifth Estate.
With files from Fredric Zalac, Kimberly Ivany
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
---------- Original message ----------
From: Diane.Lebouthillier@parl.gc.ca
Date: Thu, 30 May 2019 18:31:53 +0000
Subject: Réponse automatique : Methinks that CBC can never deny that
it loves to ignore abusive tax schemes for years N'esy Pas Sylvie
Gadoury, Diane Lebouthillier, Dominic Cardy and
Chucky Leblanc?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable Diane Lebouthillier, députée
deGaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
Votre courriel sera lu avec soin et recevra toute l'attention
voulue.Si votre courriel porte sur une demande ou un commentaire
concernant
l'Agence du Revenu du Canada (ARC), sachez que votre correspondance a
été acheminée au cabinet de la ministre du Revenu national. Toute
l'attention nécessaire y sera accordée et le suivi approprié sera
effectué par son cabinet dans les meilleurs délais.
Si votre courriel porte sur une demande de rencontre ou une invitation
à une activité particulière, nous tenons à vous assurer que votre
demande a été notée et transmise à notre adjointe à l'agenda.
***************************
Thank you for writing to the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, member of
parliament for Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Your email will be
read with care and will receive every consideration.
If your email is about a concern or a comment related to the Canada
Revenue Agency (CRA), please note that your correspondence has been
forwarded to the Office of the Minister of National Revenue. Your
email is receiving necessary consideration and the appropriate
follow-up will be made by the Minister's Office as soon as possible.
If your email relates to a meeting request or an invitation to a
specific event, please be assured that your request has been noted and
sent to our scheduling assistant.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Office, Press" <Press@bankofengland.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 30 May 2019 18:31:41 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks that CBC can never deny that it
loves to ignore abusive
tax schemes for years N'esy Pas Sylvie Gadoury, Diane Lebouthillier,
Dominic Cardy and
Chucky Leblanc?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>The Press Office mailbox is
monitored between 08:30-17:30 Monday-Friday.
Emails received outside of these hours will not be responded to until
the next working day.
If your message is urgent, please ring 020 3461 4411 and you will be
connected to the duty Press Officer.
Thanks
---------- Original message ----------
From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de l’Ontario <Premier@ontario.ca>
Date: Thu, 30 May 2019 18:31:34 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks that CBC can never deny that it
loves to ignore abusive
tax schemes for years N'esy Pas Sylvie Gadoury, Diane Lebouthillier,
Dominic Cardy and
Chucky Leblanc?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 May 2019 14:31:30 -0400
Subject: Methinks that CBC can never deny that it loves to ignore
abusive tax schemes for years
N'esy Pas Sylvie Gadoury, Diane Lebouthillier, Dominic Cardy and
Chucky Leblanc?
To: Harvey.Cashore@cbc.ca, diana.gibson@taxfairness.ca,
erika.beauchesne@taxfairness.
wayne.easter@parl.gc.ca, atlantic.director@taxpayer.com
Frederic.Zalac@cbc.ca, rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca, kris.austin@gnb.ca,
michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, lynn.king@gnb.ca
Cc: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
PREMIER@gov.ns.ca, premier@gov.ab.ca, premier@ontario.ca,
premier@gov.sk.ca, premier@gov.pe.ca, premier@gov.yk.ca,
premier@gov.nt.ca, premier.ministre@cex.gouv.qc.
serge.rousselle@gnb.ca, dave.seglins@cbc.ca, jfurey@nbpower.com,
Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca, Michael.Gorman@cbc.ca,
news@hilltimes.com, news@kingscorecord.com, tj@burkelaw.ca,
leanne.murray@mcinnescooper.
steve.murphy@ctv.ca, washington.field@ic.fbi.gov,
Boston.Mail@ic.fbi.gov, stateofcorruptionnh1@gmail.com
oldmaison@yahoo.com, andre@jafaust.com, jbosnitch@gmail.com,
David.Coon@gnb.ca, David.Akin@globalnews.ca, andrew.scheer@parl.gc.ca,
maxime.bernier@parl.gc.ca, BrianThomasMacdonald@gmail.com
votejohnw@gmail.com, Diane.Lebouthillier@parl.gc.ca
warren@daisygroup.ca, bill.pentney@justice.gc.ca,
Doug.Gaetz@cra-arc.gc.ca, Diane.Lebouthillier@cra-arc.
PABMINMAILG@cra-arc.gc.ca, sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.ca
David.Raymond.Amos@gmail.com, press@larouchepac.com,
Press@bankofengland.co.uk, rachel.houlihan@cbc.ca
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
CRA signs secret settlement with wealthy KPMG clients involved in
offshore tax scheme
Watchdog group accuses the Liberals of covering up the KPMG affair
Harvey Cashore · CBC News · Posted: May 30, 2019 12:26 PM ET
369 Comments
Troy Bodi
For the rest of us they'll hound you for months for that $16 you owe them.
David Amos
Reply to @Troy Bodi: Methinks the CRA and Harvey Cashore should review
their emails N'esy Pas?
https://www.taxfairness.ca/en/
Toby Sanger, Executive Director
office@taxfairness.ca
Mobile: 613 720 6955
Sasha Caldera, Program Manager, Beneficial Ownership Project
sasha.caldera@taxfairness.ca
Mobile: 647-861-6425
Erika Beauchesne, Communications Coordinator
erika.beauchesne@taxfairness.
Mobile: 613-315-8679
Office:
193 Richmond Road
Ottawa ON K1Z 6W4
Mail:
Canadians for Tax Fairness
192 Main Street,
PO Box 12015
Ottawa, ON K1S 3M1
Diana Gibson, Canadians for Tax Fairness Communications Coordinator
diana.gibson@taxfairness.ca
Mobile: 780 910 0665
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2017 10:21:52 -0400
Subject: Well so much for YOUR ethics and that of, the CBC, the RCMP,
KPMG and the Tax Man et al Nesy Pas Billy Morneau?
To: office@taxfairness.ca, "wayne.easter" <wayne.easter@parl.gc.ca>,
atlantic.director@taxpayer.com
"Bill.Morneau" <Bill.Morneau@canada.ca>,
WhistleblowerProtection@tigta.
fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>
<Dale.Morgan@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "Larry.Tremblay"
<Larry.Tremblay@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Message blocked
Your message to Bill.Morneau@canada.ca has been blocked. See technical
details below for more information.
LEARN MORE
The response was:
Message rejected. See https://support.google.com/
more information.
Final-Recipient: rfc822; Bill.Morneau@canada.ca
Action: failed
Status: 5.0.0
Diagnostic-Code: smtp; Message rejected. See
https://support.google.com/
Last-Attempt-Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2017 05:44:49 -0800 (PST)
Andre Lareau should have their lawyers talk to Wayne Easter ASAP EH?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2017 09:44:46 -0400
Subject: Re: Well I watched the Fifth Estate about KPMG and the Tax
Man et al Perhaps CBC, Dennis Howlett and Andre Lareau should have
their lawyers talk to Wayne Easter ASAP EH?
To: cbcinvestigates <cbcinvestigates@cbc.ca>, "natalie.clancy"
<natalie.clancy@cbc.ca>, leader <leader@greenparty.ca>, MulcaT
<MulcaT@parl.gc.ca>, "charlie.angus" <charlie.angus@parl.gc.ca>,
cmcinnis@osc.gov.on.ca, sylvie.anctil-bavas@lautorite.
lara.gaede@asc.ca, chait@bcsc.bc.ca, ElenaChurikova@ifac.org,
janice.leahy@gnb.ca, "Michael.Ferguson"
<Michael.Ferguson@oag-bvg.gc.
washington.field@ic.fbi.gov, Russell.George@tigta.treas.gov
WhistleblowerProtection@tigta.
media@publicintegrity.org, wfitzgibbon@publicintegrity.
tips@publicintegrity.org, jinquan.xiao@dentons.cn,
xuefeng.peng@dentons.cn, Istvan.Reczicza@dentons.com,
ddale@thestar.ca, pandrews@guelphmercury.com, halifaxmedia@state.gov,
Karen.Kraushaar@tigta.treas.
steve.roberge@gnb.ca, loyalistlaw@gmail.com,
Friday.Joe@psic-ispc.gc.ca, Catherine.Harrop@cbc.ca, "john.green"
<john.green@gnb.ca>, chiefape <chiefape@gmail.com>, plynch
<plynch@kpmg.ca>, dconache@uottawa.ca, eluongo@kpmg.ca
Cc: office@taxfairness.ca, gail.dugas@taxfairness.ca,
atlantic.director@taxpayer.com
Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>
<mark.vespucci@ci.irs.gov>, maritime_malaise
<maritime_malaise@yahoo.ca>, justin.ling@vice.com,
jfraser@mediacouncil.ca, tmaccharles <tmaccharles@thestar.ca>,
newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.ca>, "ed.pilkington"
<ed.pilkington@guardian.co.uk>
On 6/25/18, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> Trust that you people will find this email posted right here ASAP EH?
>
> http://davidraymondamos3.
>
> Monday, 25 June 2018
>
> Canada Revenue Agency falling behind as uncollected taxes owed rise to
> $44 billion
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
>
> ---------- Original message ----------
> From: "MinFinance / FinanceMin (FIN)"
> <fin.minfinance-financemin.
> Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:48:25 +0000
> Subject: RE: Your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes -
> 2017-02631
> To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
>
> The Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
> correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
> comments.
>
> Le ministère des Finances accuse réception de votre correspondance
> électronique. Soyez assuré(e) que nous apprécions recevoir vos
> commentaires.
>
>
>
> ---------- Original message ----------
> From: Green Party of Canada | Parti vert du Canada <info@greenparty.ca>
> Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:48:45 +0000
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Your various correspondence about abusive tax
> schemes - 2017-02631
> To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
>
> -- Please reply above this line --
>
>
> (Français à suivre)
>
> Thank you for contacting the Green Party of Canada. Due to the high
> volume of email we receive, we cannot guarantee that all inquiries
> will be answered. With our small team, we do our best to respond as
> staffing and resources permit.
>
> In the meantime, you might find the answer you're looking for in
> Vision Green [1], which lays out our plan to move Canada forward.
>
>
> ---------- Original message ----------
> From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2017 16:48:20 -0400
> Subject: Fwd: Your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes -
> 2017-02631
> To: Doug.Gaetz@cra-arc.gc.ca, "Diane.Lebouthillier"
> <Diane.Lebouthillier@cra-arc.
> "andrew.scheer" <andrew.scheer@parl.gc.ca>, leader
> <leader@greenparty.ca>, lisa <lisa@daisygroup.ca>
> Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>
> <Bill.Morneau@canada.ca>, "bill.pentney" <bill.pentney@justice.gc.ca>,
> "jan.jensen" <jan.jensen@justice.gc.ca>
>
>
> ---------- Original message ----------
> From: Diane.Lebouthillier@parl.gc.ca
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2017 22:23:12 +0000
> Subject: Réponse automatique : YO Jean-Yves Duclos Re My Old Age
> pension etc Well May 24th came and went and I just called you (819 654
> 5546) and your Deputy Ms Levonian (819 9535603) about my right to to
> sue you and your minions in Federal Court
> To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
>
> Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable Diane Lebouthillier, députée de
> Gaspésie - Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Votre courriel recevra toute
> l'attention voulue.
>
> Thank you for writing to the Hon. Diane Lebouthillier, Member of
> Parliament for Gaspésie - îles-de-la-Madeleine. Please be assured that
> your correspondence will receive every consideration.
>
>
>
> ---------- Original message ----------
> From: "Min.Mail / Courrier.Min (CRA/ARC)" <PABMINMAILG@cra-arc.gc.ca>
> Date: Wed, 24 May 2017 13:10:52 +0000
> Subject: Your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes - 2017-02631
> To: "motomaniac333@gmail.com" <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
>
> Mr. David Raymond Amos
> motomaniac333@gmail.com
>
>
> Dear Mr. Amos:
>
> Thank you for your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes,
> and for your understanding regarding the delay of this response.
>
> This is an opportunity for me to address your concerns about the way
> the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) deals with aggressive tax planning,
> tax avoidance, and tax evasion by targeting individuals and groups
> that promote schemes intended to avoid payment of tax. It is also an
> opportunity for me to present the Government of Canada’s main
> strategies for ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
>
> The CRA’s mission is to preserve the integrity of Canada’s tax system,
> and it is taking concrete and effective action to deal with abusive
> tax schemes. Through federal budget funding in 2016 and 2017, the
> government has committed close to $1 billion in cracking down on tax
> evasion and combatting tax avoidance at home and through the use of
> offshore transactions. This additional funding is expected to generate
> federal revenues of $2.6 billion over five years for Budget 2016, and
> $2.5 billion over five years for Budget 2017.
>
> More precisely, the CRA is cracking down on tax cheats by hiring more
> auditors, maintaining its underground economy specialist teams,
> increasing coverage of aggressive goods and service tax/harmonized
> sales tax planning, increasing coverage of multinational corporations
> and wealthy individuals, and taking targeted actions aimed at
> promoters of abusive tax schemes.
>
> On the offshore front, the CRA continues to develop tools to improve
> its focus on high‑risk taxpayers. It is also considering changes to
> its Voluntary Disclosures Program following the first set of program
> recommendations received from an independent Offshore Compliance
> Advisory Committee. In addition, the CRA is leading international
> projects to address the base erosion and profit shifting initiative of
> the G20 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
> Development, and is collaborating with treaty partners to address the
> Panama Papers leaks.
>
> These actions are evidence of the government’s commitment to
> protecting tax fairness. The CRA has strengthened its intelligence and
> technical capacities for the early detection of abusive tax
> arrangements and deterrence of those who participate in them. To
> ensure compliance, it has increased the number of actions aimed at
> promoters who use illegal schemes. These measures include increased
> audits of such promoters, improved information gathering, criminal
> investigations where warranted, and better communication with
> taxpayers.
>
> To deter potential taxpayer involvement in these schemes, the CRA is
> increasing notifications and warnings through its communications
> products. It also seeks partnerships with tax preparers, accountants,
> and community groups so that they can become informed observers who
> can educate their clients.
>
> The CRA will assess penalties against promoters and other
> representatives who make false statements involving illegal tax
> schemes. The promotion of tax schemes to defraud the government can
> lead to criminal investigations, fingerprinting, criminal prosecution,
> court fines, and jail time.
>
> Between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2016, the CRA’s criminal
> investigations resulted in the conviction of 42 Canadian taxpayers for
> tax evasion with links to money and assets held offshore. In total,
> the $34 million in evaded taxes resulted in court fines of $12 million
> and 734 months of jail time.
>
> When deciding to pursue compliance actions through the courts, the CRA
> consults the Department of Justice Canada to choose an appropriate
> solution. Complex tax-related litigation is costly and time consuming,
> and the outcome may be unsuccessful. All options to recover amounts
> owed are considered.
>
> More specifically, in relation to the KPMG Isle of Man tax avoidance
> scheme, publicly available court records show that it is through the
> CRA’s efforts that the scheme was discovered. The CRA identified many
> of the participants and continues to actively pursue the matter. The
> CRA has also identified at least 10 additional tax structures on the
> Isle of Man, and is auditing taxpayers in relation to these
> structures.
>
> To ensure tax fairness, the CRA commissioned an independent review in
> March 2016 to determine if it had acted appropriately concerning KPMG
> and its clients. In her review, Ms. Kimberley Brooks, Associate
> Professor and former Dean of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie
> University, examined the CRA’s operational processes and decisions in
> relation to the KPMG offshore tax structure and its efforts to obtain
> the names of all taxpayers participating in the scheme. Following this
> review, the report, released on May 5, 2016, concluded that the CRA
> had acted appropriately in its management of the KPMG Isle of Man
> file. The report found that the series of compliance measures the CRA
> took were in accordance with its policies and procedures. It was
> concluded that the procedural actions taken on the KPMG file were
> appropriate given the facts of this particular case and were
> consistent with the treatment of taxpayers in similar situations. The
> report concluded that actions by CRA employees were in accordance with
> the CRA’s Code of Integrity and Professional Conduct. There was no
> evidence of inappropriate interaction between KPMG and the CRA
> employees involved in the case.
>
> Under the CRA’s Code of Integrity and Professional Conduct, all CRA
> employees are responsible for real, apparent, or potential conflicts
> of interests between their current duties and any subsequent
> employment outside of the CRA or the Public Service of Canada.
> Consequences and corrective measures play an important role in
> protecting the CRA’s integrity.
>
> The CRA takes misconduct very seriously. The consequences of
> misconduct depend on the gravity of the incident and its repercussions
> on trust both within and outside of the CRA. Misconduct can result in
> disciplinary measures up to dismissal.
>
> All forms of tax evasion are illegal. The CRA manages the Informant
> Leads Program, which handles leads received from the public regarding
> cases of tax evasion across the country. This program, which
> coordinates all the leads the CRA receives from informants, determines
> whether there has been any non-compliance with tax law and ensures
> that the information is examined and conveyed, if applicable, so that
> compliance measures are taken. This program does not offer any reward
> for tips received.
>
> The new Offshore Tax Informant Program (OTIP) has also been put in
> place. The OTIP offers financial compensation to individuals who
> provide information related to major cases of offshore tax evasion
> that lead to the collection of tax owing. As of December 31, 2016, the
> OTIP had received 963 calls and 407 written submissions from possible
> informants. Over 218 taxpayers are currently under audit based on
> information the CRA received through the OTIP.
>
> With a focus on the highest-risk sectors nationally and
> internationally and an increased ability to gather information, the
> CRA has the means to target taxpayers who try to hide their income.
> For example, since January 2015, the CRA has been collecting
> information on all international electronic funds transfers (EFTs) of
> $10,000 or more ending or originating in Canada. It is also adopting a
> proactive approach by focusing each year on four jurisdictions that
> raise suspicion. For the Isle of Man, the CRA audited 3,000 EFTs
> totalling $860 million over 12 months and involving approximately 800
> taxpayers. Based on these audits, the CRA communicated with
> approximately 350 individuals and 400 corporations and performed 60
> audits.
>
> In January 2017, I reaffirmed Canada’s important role as a leader for
> tax authorities around the world in detecting the structures used for
> aggressive tax planning and tax evasion. This is why Canada works
> daily with the Joint International Tax Shelter Information Centre
> (JITSIC), a network of tax administrations in over 35 countries. The
> CRA participates in two expert groups within the JITSIC and leads the
> working group on intermediaries and proponents. This ongoing
> collaboration is a key component of the CRA’s work to develop strong
> relationships with the international community, which will help it
> refine the world-class tax system that benefits all Canadians.
>
> The CRA is increasing its efforts and is seeing early signs of
> success. Last year, the CRA recovered just under $13 billion as a
> result of its audit activities on the domestic and offshore fronts.
> Two-thirds of these recoveries are the result of its audit efforts
> relating to large businesses and multinational companies.
>
> But there is still much to do, and additional improvements and
> investments are underway.
>
> Tax cheats are having a harder and harder time hiding. Taxpayers who
> choose to promote or participate in malicious and illegal tax
> strategies must face the consequences of their actions. Canadians
> expect nothing less. I invite you to read my most recent statement on
> this matter at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/
> statement_from_
>
> Thank you for taking the time to write. I hope the information I have
> provided is helpful.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
> Minister of National Revenue
>
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