Evidence of meeting #30 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was forestry.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
It won't be just me; it will be the finance minister.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Fair enough, but you're the executioner of the finance minister. He sets the numbers down on paper and you have to go get the money.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
At the moment, my job is to implement the various tax rules.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Yes, I am implementing the rules and also applying judgment from time to time, where the rules may not be appropriate. But the finance minister is ultimately responsible for changing the tax rules.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Is it fair to say that this is essentially a revenue-neutral operation, in the long run?
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Let's put it this way. We plan on certain incomes based on certain rules. I don't know if the rules will be changed. Maybe not. I don't know. I'd better not speculate on whether it's revenue neutral or not.
Conservative
Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to share the support that we all have for a decisive minister, one who doesn't necessarily listen to the advice of the bureaucrats. Although they often have good advice, it's good to see a minister who thinks on his feet.
In one of your answers you briefly referred to the FAA. Just to clarify, it seems this act gives you the authority through a remission order to allow government to give full or partial relief of federal taxes, penalties, interest, and so on. Is it actually the FAA that it gives you this authority?
Conservative
Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB
It is. Okay, thank you.
And I would assume, if you were presented with the same situation, or same circumstances, or similar circumstances, you would make the same decision.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Yes, the same circumstances; but you know, all up there are ministers.... I don't know my predecessors, and I don't know if I could ever check those facts, but for a minister this is not a frequent event.
As I said, since I've been there, it's been five so far, whereas the bureaucracy makes literally thousands of adjustments.
Conservative
Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB
You made a reference earlier, I believe through a question, about officials not being able to make the final decisions. They're bound by specific criteria, whereas you have the authority to look at the extenuating circumstances.
Conservative
Conservative
Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB
Okay, we appreciate that.
As well, thank you for explaining the difference between stock purchase plans and stock options. For those who are watching this, I think that was a good lesson.
Mr. Del Mastro can go ahead.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Minister, you indicated that you made this decision a couple of months after coming to the job, but it wasn't a new issue, was it? This had actually been an issue of public record for some time?
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Subsequently I learned that, but in my recollection, if I go back to the election of 2006, I remember my orientation then was defence. But the only two things I can recall out of that platform for revenue was the taxpayer bill of rights and the ombudsman. I wasn't aware of any of this other stuff. I only learned about it later, when I took over the department.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Okay.
I just want to note, for the record, that there was some indication that perhaps the Minister of Natural Resources had unduly influenced this decision.
I want to go back to statements made in 2004 and 2005 by then Revenue Minister McCallum. In speaking to the specific issue that dealt with the stock purchase plans, and specifically SDL Optics, he responded to the House, on February 17, 2005, as follows:
Mr. Speaker, this is a very important case and I am determined to treat it with maximum fairness and flexibility within the law. That is why I am receiving daily reports on the matter. That is why we have a team dedicated to this matter. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, who has provided me with excellent information and insight into the importance of this matter.
Again, on April 21, 2005, he mentions the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca; December 14, 2004, the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca; December 9, 2004, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca.
Mr. Minister, did you make this decision as a favour to the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca?
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
I didn't make the decision in favour of anybody.
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Yes. I mean, no one approached me about this--no one approached me about this--before; I learned about this when I took over the file. I learned about it, I read about it, and I talked to my staff about it.
No, I'm not doing any favours for the member for Juan de Fuca.
Conservative
