Ottawa – April 12, 2013 – Today, the following letter was issued by the Canada Revenue Agency:
Mr. Hubert Lacroix
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
205 Wellington Street West
Room 4E301-B
Toronto ON M5V 3G7
Dear Mr. Lacroix:
I am writing in regard to the CBC’s recent coverage of offshore tax
havens. It is my understanding that a leak of large amounts of data
potentially exposing cases of offshore aggressive tax avoidance and
possibly tax evasion is the catalyst for these stories. I also
understand that your organization may be in possession of some or all of
this data.
You will know that the Canada Revenue Agency has already been in
touch with your organization to underscore the importance of this
information to our continuing efforts on behalf of Canadians to combat
offshore aggressive tax avoidance and evasion.
I would expect that both the CBC and you, as its president and CEO,
have an interest in ensuring that appropriate action is taken if
individuals are not respecting their tax obligations. Taking action
against individuals who are not respecting their tax obligations is in
the best interest of the public and law abiding Canadians. The provision
of the data that your organization has in its possession would allow
the CRA to pursue cases where this is occurring without in any way
infringing on your journalistic mandate.
I again respectfully request that you provide to the Canada Revenue
Agency all of the data the CBC received through its collaboration with
the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists so that the
Agency may review and take action according to its mandate. I understand
that the CBC is reluctant to provide this data, citing concerns with
journalistic independence and protecting sources. I can assure you that
the Canada Revenue Agency has not asked for the source of the
information and will treat any information you provide with strict
confidentiality in the same manner it treats all taxpayer information it
receives.
I sincerely hope that you will respond positively to this request and
agree to provide this information so that the CRA can carry out its
responsibilities.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Andrew Treusch
Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer
Canada Revenue Agency
This a a reproduction copy of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada and that the reproduction has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.
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