Finance committee  Yes, but it becomes a little bit like pushing mercury. Outside of the G-20, even if you implemented a FATCA for the G-20, there might be a 21st, a 23rd country that would not comply with FATCA. There are probably financial institutions that are not complying with FATCA because they may not want to carry on business in the U.S.

Finance committee  Lawyers have an obligation to their clients, first and foremost, to be advocates for the client in a situation of either litigation or criminal matters. We have an obligation to be frank with our clients and to provide them with legal advice; in other words, to interpret the law, for example.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I'm honoured to have been invited to appear today to assist in your study of tax evasion and the use of tax havens. I have been a tax lawyer in Toronto for over 25 years. Our clients are primarily private companies, entrepreneurs, owner-managed businesses, professionals, and high net worth families and individuals.