Gail Shea

[Taxation, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, this is all the information we have received and we take this issue very seriously. We have increased our experts in this file by 40%. Tax evasion is an international problem and Canada works very closely with our partners to share information and best practices.

If the New Democrats are so concerned with tax evasion, perhaps it is an issue the NDP leader could have raised during his trip to the United States instead of visiting with convicted cop shooters and bashing Canadian interests.

[Canada Revenue Agency, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to this government, about 830,000 Canadian seniors no longer pay taxes.

Those who cannot use a computer and file online can call a 1-800 number and have a tax form mailed to them. It does not cost them anything to file a tax form.

Last year, there was a lot of waste. About 80 million sheets of paper ended up in the garbage. That is not the best use of our resources.

[Canada Revenue Agency, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, CRA does encourage Canadians to file online, and a growing number of Canadians are taking advantage of that option. We do recognize that everyone does not have access to a computer or cannot use a computer. That is why taxpayers and seniors can call CRA and have a tax form mailed to them. Last year, roughly 1.3 million packages went unused and went in the garbage. We do not think that is the best use of taxpayer resources.

I just want to quote the Canadian Snowbirds Association, which said it applauds the CRA “for continuing to look for the most efficient use of taxpayer”--

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, that is why the Standing Committee on Finance did offer the opposition members a full briefing on the bill, so that they could be up to speed and have any of their questions answered.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians know that this government has been very good to Canadian taxpayers. As a matter of fact, we have taken 120 different tax measures to lower taxes for Canadians.

The NDP might find these gains amusing, but Canadian taxpayers do not. They are waiting for these technical tax amendments, which the NDP says it agrees with, so let us get on with passing the bill and moving it to committee stage.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member was invited to make his concerns known to the Department of Finance during briefings. All opposition members were offered to do this, as well, by the Department of Finance. They had the bill a week in advance. The bill was tabled in the House of Commons in November. That is ample time to study a bill.

It is important that we get this process going, that we get the bill to committee, in the interests of Canadian taxpayers.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the bill has been in Parliament for five months now, and most reasonable people would agree that five months is a reasonable time to study any bill. I would suggest that the hon. member and the rest of the NDP listen to their finance critic, who said:

Obviously we support the goal of closing tax loopholes and making the tax system in Canada clearer and easier to understand for Canadians...it's important that these technical changes be adopted so that there is clarity and certainty in our tax legislation.

We need to get on with this legislation and send it to committee.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the record, Bill C-48 proposes to strengthen Canada's tax system by closing a number loopholes and improving fairness for all Canadian taxpayers. For instance, Bill C-48 contains some measures that would implement a more rigorous information reporting regime for certain transactions associated with schemes to avoid taxes.

This tougher reporting machine would help the Canada Revenue Agency get earlier disclosure and detailed information on transactions that present a higher risk of abuse to the income tax system. It would assist the agency in challenging them if they are in fact found to be abusive.

I do not know what reason the NDP would have in opposing the timely implementation of some of these measures.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from the opposition during the days of debate. We have heard hours of speeches. The speeches were all saying the same thing, which was the need for this legislation. The NDP is simply playing politics with this issue. The finance critic for the NDP as much as said in committee that this bill had to be passed and that it was important.

It is important that the bill get to committee, which has already started its work. We want to get the bill to committee, and if there are concerns and issues more debate would be brought forward. We have said repeatedly that we would be open to reasonable amendments at the committee stage.

It is a long process to bring a bill to the House and have it become law. We want to get the process moving because we respect Canadian taxpayers.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the bill has been before the House in different forms before this. However, it is before the House now and the opposition has said repeatedly that 11 years is too long.

We agree that 11 years is too long. Everyone in the House agrees that the bill has to be passed to support the Canadian economy. There is no need to hold the bill up. It has been through a lot of public consultation over the years. Everyone has said the same thing in their speeches, that we need to pass the bill, so let us get on with the business of passing the bill.