Tax
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May 07, 2024
Sweeping national security bill would boost state investigative powers; expand & create crimes, AMPs
The federal government has introduced a sweeping national security bill that would create a publicly accessible “foreign influence transparency” registry; expand the warrant, production and disclosure powers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency (CSIS); affect criminal accused or judicial review applicants seeking access to relevant “information related to international relations, national defence or national security”; expand the current “sabotage” offence; and create new “foreign interference” offences, along with administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) of up to $5 million and five years in prison, including for knowingly obstructing the operations of the office of a proposed new “Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner.”
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May 07, 2024
Transmission of U.S. citizenship: Blessing or curse?
Children of U.S. citizens often can go their whole lives without knowing that they actually are — already — U.S. citizens themselves. To individuals in this situation, finding out you are already a U.S. citizen can be like winning the lottery or your worst nightmare. U.S. citizenship comes with certain rights and privileges but also with certain obligations. Those who want to divest themselves from these obligations can do so but may be frustrated with how lengthy the process of renouncing or relinquishing U.S. citizenship can be.
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May 03, 2024
B.C. government protests U.S. trade court decision on Canadian softwood lumber duties
The B.C. government is decrying a recent decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ordering the U.S. Commerce Department to reinstate countervailing duties on Canadian lumber.
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May 03, 2024
The proposed enhancement of the CRA’s audit powers, part one: Under penalty of perjury
Budget 2024 proposes to substantially bolster the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) audit powers, underscoring the increasing burden on taxpayers to comply with information requests and the consequences of non-compliance. The proposals include harsher penalties for non-compliance, expanded rules for what courts may order in such cases and rules requiring taxpayers to give oral or written responses under oath.
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May 03, 2024
Tax Court judicial appointment announced
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani announced the appointment of Michael Tomka as judge of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench for Saskatchewan, a news release from the Department of Justice reported.
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May 02, 2024
New independent watchdog would assess & report how Ottawa carries out its modern treaty obligations
Ottawa says it will create an independent oversight body, led by a new “Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation” who reports to Parliament and whose role will be “to work to hold the Government of Canada accountable for its modern treaty obligations and advance key priorities.”
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May 02, 2024
Judicial appointment in Tax Court announced
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani announced the appointment of Sophie Matte an associate judge of the Tax Court of Canada, a news release from the Department of Justice announced.
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May 02, 2024
New partner joins Dentons Vancouver
Raphael Tachie joined Dentons as a partner in the firm’s national tax group.
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May 02, 2024
Proposed amendments to CRA’s information-gathering powers contained in 2024 Federal Budget
The 2024 Canadian Federal Budget was tabled on April 16 by Chrystia Freeland, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance (the budget). The Budget’s Tax Measures Supplementary Information (TMSI) contained proposed amendments to the information gathering powers of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in the Income Tax Act R.S.C., 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.). The aim of the proposed amendments was to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of tax audits and the collection of tax revenues.
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April 30, 2024
Ottawa unveils first 2024 budget bill, but doesn’t include boost to capital gains inclusion rate
The minority Liberal government says it hopes to expedite into law a newly proposed 660-page omnibus budget bill, which would enact many measures announced in this month’s federal budget, but not the government’s controversial proposal to tax capital gains at a higher rate.