News release

Legislation tabled to create Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

OTTAWA, June 4, 1998...The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of National Revenue and M.P. (Vancouver South-Burnaby), today tabled in the House of Commons legislation to create the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

The Government first announced its intention to create the Agency in the 1996 Speech from the Throne and the federal budget of the same year. Since then, Revenue Canada has held extensive consultations with its stakeholders, including the provinces, business groups, employees, and unions, on the mandate and structure of the Agency.

“This legislation will create an Agency which will provide improved service to the public, to businesses, and to the provinces with the added potential for significant cost savings,” Mr. Dhaliwal said.

The Agency will also have increased flexibility to administer provincial tax laws and programs. This will create an opportunity to simplify tax administration in Canada. A single tax administration can reduce overlap and duplication between the federal and provincial governments, which will in turn reduce costs for business, taxpayers, and government. An independent study conducted by the Public Policy Forum estimated that with a single revenue administration, there are potential annual savings to Canadian business of between $116 and $193 million. In addition, the study estimated savings of $37 to $62 million in administration costs for governments.

“The creation of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency is a key element in the Government’s commitment to modernize the federal public service,” said the Honourable Marcel Massé, President of the Treasury Board.

Ministerial accountability and parliamentary oversight are being fully maintained. The Minister of National Revenue will remain fully responsible for the administration of tax, tariff and trade laws. Important public service legislation will continue to apply to the new Agency, including the Public Service Staff Relations Act, the Access to Information and Privacy Act, and the Official Languages Act. The Auditor General will continue to review the Agency’s operations and report directly to Parliament on his findings.

The Agency will have a Board of Management composed primarily of provincially nominated private sector members responsible for overseeing the management and operations of the Agency.

The legislation creating the CCRA, this news release, and other background material on the Agency are available on Revenue Canada’s web site, at /agency/

Printed copies of the legislation, as well as other material on the Agency, are available from:

Distribution Centre
Room 114
555 MacKenzie Avenue
Ottawa ON K1A 0L5

Fax: (613) 941-6206

For members of the media seeking additional information, contact:

Michel Cléroux - (613) 957-3504 - Media Relations