Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada

In the Legislative Assembly on March 24th, 1994. See this topic in context.

Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister of Finance with regard to dealing with the income tax payment and the request of the Baffin South residents.

This month, Cape Dorset people had a concern, especially the carvers. Usually they have to pay quite a bit of money to Revenue Canada. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, why do they have to pay Revenue Canada when they do their taxes? There are a lot of carvers in Cape Dorset, and they are pretty concerned, when they do their taxes that they have to pay a huge amount of money to Revenue Canada. They would like to find out what the reasons are for paying the huge amounts back to Revenue Canada. Thank you.

Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

March 23rd, 1994

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, one of the things that the federal Minister and I have been trying to do is get the tax people into the smaller communities in the Northwest Territories so that they can explain how the tax system works, why the rates are the way they are, what the deductibles are and so on. I'm hoping that as we progress through these community visits, the kind of question that I'm being asked right now will be answered directly to the community residents themselves. I'm only guessing, Madam Speaker, that they probably have to pay large, lump sum amounts simply because they may not have contributed throughout the year. I think that's one of the things that we'll be suggesting, is that there be some kind of arrangement made whereby they can pay throughout the year.

Why do they pay Revenue Canada, Madam Speaker? They pay Revenue Canada because under the Canadian tax system, everybody except Quebec works along with the Canadian government. We usually set our taxes in the Northwest Territories, Yukon or in the provinces, except Quebec, as a percentage of the federal tax. So the federal government levies an income tax on people. We levy an income tax as a percentage of the federal amount and the federal government collects it and remits it back to the provinces and the territories, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Pudlat.

Supplementary To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for your response. Can I assure my constituents who are concerned about this income tax? Will I be able to inform them that if you want to find out more about why you're paying that amount, would I be able to tell them that they have to enquire to Revenue Canada? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, I'm going from past experiences with Revenue Canada. If there's a fear in the community that they will be assessed large sums of money that they may not be able to pay at that particular time, it is not uncommon for Revenue Canada to work out some kind of payment program with people to give them some time to pay. So if there's a fear in communities that these people are going to go in there and say you owe us $15,000 and you must pay right now -- and I can't speak for the federal Minister, but I can only say that they have been reasonable in the past and I would expect them to be reasonable in the future, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I believe the Member's constituency is going to be visited by the federal tax people during the first week of April of this year. And, yes, those are the kinds of questions that they will be able to answer. They can provide information to the Member and to his constituents with regard to how much tax they should pay. I have also indicated to the federal Minister that he should be prepared to supply some information in syllabics so that people will be able to read it themselves. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Question 369-12(5): Reason For Carvers Owing Money To Revenue Canada
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 825

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 5, oral question. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.