Thank you very much.
Mr. Wallace.
Evidence of meeting #26 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was region.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #26 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was region.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I'll start and then share my time with Mr. Chong, if I could. I have only a couple of quick questions.
I'm amazed sometimes at the size of things that we don't see in the main estimates, and then we see them in estimates (B), and so on. But when was the department aware that you'd have to spend this money for the softwood lumber part of the act?
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
On this particular item, when the Softwood Lumber Act was passed and we started to administer both the revenue side and the payments side, we were aware of the responsibility. The actual amounts that will be dispersed are dependent on the amounts that—
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
So you didn't put anything in the main estimates just because you didn't know what the amounts might be. Is that right?
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
That's correct. At the time, with an expenditure of this sort, it's preferable to use the supplementary estimates because we have more time to put together a more solid estimate.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
That's fair.
The advertising program, which Monsieur Laforest was following up on, I'm also interested in. If I understand you correctly, you're gearing it towards small business, for business to use electronic over paper. Is that correct?
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Specifically, for example, “My Business Account” is mentioned. That's an opportunity. Really, it replaces an inquiries function. It parallels the “My Account” feature that's geared towards individuals. It allows people to go in and obtain certain information without going through the telephone lines.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
All right. So it doesn't replace them sending in their actual forms and all the backup information that's required.
I file electronically now and I keep my stuff at home, but that's not exactly what this program is. This program is to get them to use electronic systems on an ongoing basis.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
That's correct. There are many services we provide and many ways in which we use technology, some in the processing domain, as you referred to, but also this, which is more in the client service domain.
Conservative
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
About eight years.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
So you've been through the budgets process, not just with the present government but with the previous government?
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Yes.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Okay, thank you very much.
I'll share my time with Mr. Chong.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have a question about the assumption of responsibility for the corporate tax administration in Ontario. Are they winding down their offices in Oshawa and elsewhere and we're increasing our resources here, or are you assuming the responsibility for those employees who were employees of the Government of Ontario? How is that working?
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
As part of the transition, the agency worked with the Ministry of Revenue of Ontario—
Conservative
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
—sorry, with the Ministry of Finance for Ontario—to work out our human resource requirements and to determine which of their staff might be needed to join the agency. So in fact, pursuant to that agreement we made offers to around 370 individuals, and I believe around 280 individuals have accepted those offers.
Conservative
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
No. I think for the most part they are going to be working in the southern Ontario region.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Will the new T2 General for Ontario look substantially different from the old T2 General that did not include the Ontario component?
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Unfortunately, again, that's just not my area, and I don't know the answer to that.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Okay. Thank you.
Those are all the questions I have, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Thank you.
Mr. Christopherson, I don't know if you have any questions.
