Senators decry tax havens, defend Inuit and seniors
Senators pressed a government minister to clamp down on tax avoidance schemes and to better respond to the linguistic and cultural needs of Canada’s Inuit during a lively and wide-ranging Question Period in the Senate on Tuesday.
Minister of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier took the hot seat as senators peppered her questions that at times had her struggling for answers. The diversity of questions showed senators defending the interests of Canadian taxpayers, indigenous people and senior citizens.
"A lot of your voters are very angry about tax havens,” Senator Serge Joyal told the minister.
Corporations avoid the Canadian taxman and can then bring back sums of money that are downright mind-boggling to people who pay their taxes and do their best to fulfill their obligations to the country honestly.
Minister Lebouthillier pointed to the government’s $440-million investment in the Canada Revenue Agency that is expected to reap $2.8 billion in taxes, but Senator Joyal was not satisfied.
"With all due respect, you seem to be confusing tax evasion with tax avoidance,” the senator said. “Tax evasion is illegal but tax avoidance is legal and sanctioned by the government. … I would like to hear what you intend to do to condemn the situation and deal with it.”
Minister Lebouthillier agreed “some things must change.”
Senator Dennis Patterson noted the population of his home province, Nunavut, is over 85% Inuit. For many residents, their first language is Inuktitut — and yet Canada Revenue Agency forms are available only in French and English.
The government used to have an outreach program to send Inuktitut speakers North so residents could ensure they received all of the benefits due to them. But now, “there’s only one employee and no outreach program,” Senator Patterson said.
"Would you consider reinstating the greatly-valued outreach program for Inuit in Inuit regions of Canada?” he asked.
Minister Lebouthillier conceded service centralization has had a “negative impact” on some people but that the government is working on a solution. Translation of documents into Inuktitut “could be done,” the minister added.
Senator Pierrette Ringuette asked the minister about the thousands of seniors who qualify for but are not getting the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
“Twenty per cent of Canada’s most vulnerable seniors do not receive the GIS that they are entitled to, including 30,000 seniors in New Brunswick,” Senator Ringuette said.
Minister Lebouthillier said she herself had been “horrified” to learn of the situation. The government is moving to automate payment processes and it intends repay seniors “with arrears,” she added.
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Senators decry tax havens, defend Inuit and seniors
Senators pressed a government minister to clamp down on tax avoidance schemes and to better respond to the linguistic and cultural needs of Canada’s Inuit during a lively and wide-ranging Question Period in the Senate on Tuesday.
Minister of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier took the hot seat as senators peppered her questions that at times had her struggling for answers. The diversity of questions showed senators defending the interests of Canadian taxpayers, indigenous people and senior citizens.
"A lot of your voters are very angry about tax havens,” Senator Serge Joyal told the minister.
Corporations avoid the Canadian taxman and can then bring back sums of money that are downright mind-boggling to people who pay their taxes and do their best to fulfill their obligations to the country honestly.
Minister Lebouthillier pointed to the government’s $440-million investment in the Canada Revenue Agency that is expected to reap $2.8 billion in taxes, but Senator Joyal was not satisfied.
"With all due respect, you seem to be confusing tax evasion with tax avoidance,” the senator said. “Tax evasion is illegal but tax avoidance is legal and sanctioned by the government. … I would like to hear what you intend to do to condemn the situation and deal with it.”
Minister Lebouthillier agreed “some things must change.”
Senator Dennis Patterson noted the population of his home province, Nunavut, is over 85% Inuit. For many residents, their first language is Inuktitut — and yet Canada Revenue Agency forms are available only in French and English.
The government used to have an outreach program to send Inuktitut speakers North so residents could ensure they received all of the benefits due to them. But now, “there’s only one employee and no outreach program,” Senator Patterson said.
"Would you consider reinstating the greatly-valued outreach program for Inuit in Inuit regions of Canada?” he asked.
Minister Lebouthillier conceded service centralization has had a “negative impact” on some people but that the government is working on a solution. Translation of documents into Inuktitut “could be done,” the minister added.
Senator Pierrette Ringuette asked the minister about the thousands of seniors who qualify for but are not getting the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
“Twenty per cent of Canada’s most vulnerable seniors do not receive the GIS that they are entitled to, including 30,000 seniors in New Brunswick,” Senator Ringuette said.
Minister Lebouthillier said she herself had been “horrified” to learn of the situation. The government is moving to automate payment processes and it intends repay seniors “with arrears,” she added.