Diane Lebouthillier

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 30th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the above noted question, what follows is the response from the CRA.

The CRA facilitated a public stakeholder engagement session in English on July 20, 2020, and in French on July 21, 2020, to discuss the qualified Canadian journalism organization, or QCJO, designation process, as well as proposed changes to legislation. The sessions were open to the general public, such as representatives from news media organizations, journalists and individuals interested in attending this type of event.

With regard to part (a), the sessions on July 20 and 21, 2020, were not by invitation only; they were open to the general public. The CRA promoted the open sessions and the links to register on Twitter and LinkedIn in both official languages. In addition to social media promotion, the CRA sent the registration link via email distribution.

The confidentiality provisions under section 241 of the Income Tax Act prevent the CRA from releasing taxpayer information, including identifying organizations that have been designated as QCJOs. With respect to the stakeholder engagement sessions on QCJO designation held on July 20 and 21, 2020, for reasons related to the Privacy Act, we are unable to release the list of contacts who received the email to register for the sessions. Furthermore, as per standard practice with teleconferences, a list of those who attended the July 20 and 21 sessions was not kept.

With regard to part (b), as noted above, the stakeholder engagement sessions were open to the general public. The CRA promoted the sessions through social media and by email to an evergreen list of contacts. For reasons related to the Privacy Act, we are unable to release the list of contacts who received the email to register for the sessions.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 30th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the question above, what follows is the response from the CRA as of November 21, 2022, which is the date of the question.

In order for an entity to qualify for scientific research and experimental development, or SR and ED, investment tax credits, it must file a T2 corporation income tax return with the CRA, and the SR and ED work being claimed must be undertaken in Canada by or on behalf of the entity. Please note that a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign parent entity, or a foreign entity with a Canadian branch, performing eligible SR and ED work in Canada can deduct eligible expenditures and claim the SR and ED tax credits on them to reduce taxes payable.

With respect to parts (a), (b) and (c), the SR and ED program does not isolate the requested information for foreign-controlled corporations filing SR and ED investment tax credit claims. Therefore, the requested information cannot be provided in the manner requested.

[COVID-19 Economic Measures, December 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, during the pandemic, the government's job was to help businesses keep their employees on the payroll. Now that the programs have ended, the Canada Revenue Agency has an auditing job to do. We are going to do that, as promised. The work is going well. The goal is also to recover the amounts owed to our workers who also worked and paid their taxes during the pandemic.

[Finance, December 8th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, whether the Conservatives like it or not, the Auditor General really did say in her report that the programs we put in place helped save lives and jobs.

We demonstrated courage. We looked after our economy. I have met many people in the community who have told me that they are glad the Liberals were in power during the pandemic. It would have been disastrous for them had the Conservatives been in power.

We will continue to look after Canadians.

[Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, December 7th, 2022]

moved:

That this committee take note of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

[Firearms, December 7th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that, in the Gaspé region, during the hunting season, there are more people in the woods than there are along our shorelines. I would remind my colleagues that hunters hunt moose and deer; they do not to wage war on moose and deer. Their aim is to protect the meat. My father, who was a butcher, had the same goal. I hope my colleagues will support our bill.

[Auditor General, December 7th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing this party is good for is regurgitating what their leader tells them and repeating the word “triple”.

Imagine what would happen if, instead of singing from the same hymn sheet, they took a look at real issues such as tackling global challenges, supporting Canadians, supporting families, supporting seniors and protecting the environment. Then again, in order to do that, they would have to take on some real problems, and they are not capable of doing that.

I urge them to vote for Bill C-32 this afternoon.

[Auditor General, December 7th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, our government made courageous choices. We chose to save lives and save the economy by helping Canadians put food on the table and a roof over their heads.

It was either that or the Conservatives' “chop, chop, chop”.

Let me just say that I meet with organizations on the ground, and they all tell me the same thing. They tell me how fortunate it was that the Liberal Party was in power during the crisis.

We will be there to keep working for all Canadians.

[Finance, December 7th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Auditor General and her entire team for her important work and for tabling her report in the House yesterday. I want to say that I have the utmost respect for the Auditor General, her role and her independence. As we have said before, we appreciate the fact that she has confirmed that our COVID-19 benefits were effective.

We will not be distracted. Canadians have given us a mandate and we will continue to be there to support them. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and vote in favour of Bill C-32 this afternoon.

[Veterans Affairs, December 6th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, allow me to reassure my colleague. If there is anyone who does not lack courage, it is most certainly the people of Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands.

That said, CRA is working very hard to make sure that everyone who collected COVID‑19 benefits was eligible to do so. Our robust audit and recovery strategies will be thorough and compassionate. This report only goes to show that our estimates were correct.