House of Commons Hansard #237 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was finance.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, when Stephen Bronfman was named in the paradise papers, he swore, hand on heart, that he had not had any involvement since 1998, in any way, directly or indirectly. However, today we learned that he still had ties to a trust in the Cayman Islands in 2005.
Here is a very simple multiple-choice question: a) Stephen Bronfman lied to the Prime Minister; and b) the Prime Minister misled the House. Which answer is correct?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the role Canada has taken on the international stage. Co-operation between revenue authorities, including the exchange of tax information, is an essential tool for maintaining the integrity of Canada's tax base.
That is why, as of September 30, 2017, the agency was conducting more than 990 audits and 42 criminal investigations related to offshore financial structures. We continue to work on ensuring that our tax system is fair for all Canadians.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister seems to think she is entitled to her own facts, but let us go through the facts.
The paradise papers initially revealed that Stephen Bronfman had ties to a trust in the Cayman Islands. Bronfman denied it and said he gave a loan that was quickly paid back by 1998. Well, that was false, because today we learned that as of 2005, there were still $7 million outstanding on that loan.
The government seems to be very content to accept whatever fish tale their well-connected friends cook up. When will the minister understand that Canadians are fed up with this double standard?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, no one is above the law and no one is interfering with the CRA's investigations.
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, as I just experienced myself, having participated in a planned hacking of my cellphone as part of a CBC/Radio-Canada report, Canada's networks are vulnerable. Phone conversations can be listened to and movements tracked. Every Canadian could be a potential target, from elected officials to business people.
While telecom companies have the capacity to beef up their security, what we need is leadership and legislation from the federal government.
Will the minister finally take Canadians' privacy seriously and modernize our laws?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, this matter falls under the jurisdiction of CSE, the Communications Security Establishment. It, indeed, has worked very closely with industry, including the service providers, to make sure they have the advice and the knowledge they need to correct the problem and to ensure the privacy of Canadians is secure.
If the telecoms need a little more encouragement, we would be pleased to give it to them.
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, the legislation falls under the responsibility of the current government and the House of Commons, and that is what we are asking the minister to review and modernize.
I appreciate the government's good intentions, but fine words are not the same as real action. Whether we are talking about Equifax, Uber, or even the Canada Revenue Agency, Canadians' personal information is often being put at risk. We needs laws that require transparency and provide for fines. We are lagging far behind in this area.
Will the minister commit today to reviewing the legislation and finally modernizing the legislative framework in order to protect Canadians' privacy?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, indeed, that work is already under way. A cyber review has been conducted over the last number of months. The House can expect to see at least three different initiatives coming forward in the weeks and months immediately ahead, to establish a new policy framework, to provide a strategy that is geared to the 21st century, and a suite of initiatives that will ensure that Canada can be a leader in the forefront of the rest of the world. This is a vital area and we do, indeed, take it seriously.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, on November 1, the Prime Minister said, “sunshine is the best disinfectant”.
Today, Canadians all know that the Minister of Finance put himself in a direct conflict of interest with Bill C-27 and that he earned millions of dollars, a fact that he is now trying to sweep under the rug.
The Minister of Finance is the most senior minister in this country. He used his privileged position to grow his own fortune. He broke the trust of 35 million Canadians.
Will the Minister of Finance finally let the sun cast some light on his personal finances or will he continue to hide in the shadow of his many numbered companies?
Joël Lightbound LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable knows, every parliamentarian in the House, including ministers and parliamentary secretaries, are required to sit down with the Ethics Commissioner when they arrive in Ottawa and present their entire situation in order to determine the best course of action to take. The Minister of Finance did that. The Ethics Commissioner recommended that the Minister of Finance put in place a conflict of interest screen, which she felt was the best possible measure of compliance. That screen was put in place from the beginning. The minister has said that he is going to go above and beyond the commissioner's initial recommendations so that he can continue the important work he has been doing for Canadians for the past two years.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, after the paradise papers revealed the top Liberal fundraiser's connection to a Cayman Islands tax evasion scheme, he said “Stephen Bronfman had no other direct or indirect involvement whatsoever in the Kolber Trust”, that trust being located in the Cayman Islands. We now know that connection came in the form of a $7 million loan that was still in place as of 2005.
Does the Prime Minister still believe Mr. Bronfman has no connection to this trust?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, our government understands that this is a multi-billion-dollar issue, and we have invested nearly $1 billion over the past two years to tackle it. The CRA uses the information it receives through lists shared by its international partners as part of the BEPS project. We have over 37 partners. That is why, as of September 30, 2017, the CRA was conducting more than 990 audits and 42 criminal investigations related to offshore financial structures. We are reviewing links to Canadian entities and will take appropriate action.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, when the original revelations about Stephen Bronfman's connections to a Cayman Islands tax haven came to light earlier this month, the Prime Minister said, “We have received assurances that all rules were followed...and we are satisfied with those assurances.”
Is the Prime Minister still satisfied with the assurances that his top fundraiser followed all the rules?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I repeat, these accusations are utterly ridiculous. No one is above the law, no one is interfering with the CRA's audits, and the law applies to everyone. No one is above the law.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I think I just heard the minister say that the allegations were completely ridiculous. Her job is to ensure that her department conducts these investigations totally objectively, but she has now predetermined the outcome by declaring that the allegations are ridiculous.
How can Canadians have any assurance that there will be an honest investigation into Mr. Bronfman when both the Prime Minister and the minister have declared him not guilty?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, former national revenue minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn publicly admitted that this was not a priority for the former Conservative government. It is a priority for us, however. We have invested nearly $1 billion. I said this before, and I cannot be more clear: no one is interfering with the CRA's audits.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister has not retracted her comment. She seemed to suggest in her earlier answer that the allegations were completely ridiculous. Well, those allegations have not even been investigated yet by her department.
We have new revelations from the paradise papers, suggesting a link between Mr. Bronfman and this potentially illegal tax haven. How can the minister possibly think it appropriate for her to stand and exonerate him before her department has even had a chance to conduct its investigation?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, no one is above the law, and my colleague opposite knows perfectly well that I cannot comment on any case involving the 30 million people and companies that file tax returns.
Canada Revenue AgencyOral Questions
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Mr. Speaker, we understand that this is a touchy subject for our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, given that fighting tax evasion was not a priority for their government, whereas we have made it a priority by investing $1 billion.
We are targeting four jurisdictions a year and carrying out criminal investigations.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am looking for assurance here. Will the minister assure Canadians that neither she nor the Prime Minister will stand in the way of an investigation by her department into Mr. Bronfman.
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to assure my colleague across the way by reiterating that no one is above the law and no one, and I mean no one, will interfere with the audits and investigations carried out by the CRA.
I trust that my colleague is reassured.
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Liberal government finally announced its housing strategy—
