News release

Revenue Minister launches Fairness Initiative

OTTAWA, March 18, 1998.... The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of National Revenue and M.P. (Vancouver South-Burnaby), today launched the "Fairness Initiative" to enhance Revenue Canada's fairness in its dealings with individuals and businesses.

"Canadians expect their customs and revenue administration to be professional, responsive and open," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "Most of all, people must believe that the system -- and the organization that administers that system -- is fair. The Fairness Initiative will help ensure that Canadians know they can and should expect the highest level of fairness when they deal with Revenue Canada."

Mr. Dhaliwal said that a key pillar of the initiative is consultations with Canadians. "We have to know what our clients think about our capacity and our ability to deal fairly with them," he said. "The most important measure of how we are doing will come from the views of the people we serve -- the people who pay taxes, cross Canada's borders, receive benefits through the tax system, and engage in international trade."

To support the Fairness Initiative consultations, Mr. Dhaliwal issued a discussion paper entitled 'Ensuring Fair Customs and Revenue Administration in Canada.' The document details the commitments that the Department has made to fairness; sets out the fairness measures that have been put in place; and gives general information on the consultation process. The document also suggests questions for discussion to support the consultations.

Revenue Canada's commitments to fairness include keeping clients well-informed, ensuring our administrative processes are fair, responding effectively to clients' concerns, offering clients an impartial redress process, and providing relief in extraordinary circumstances.

Consultations on Revenue Canada's fairness will be held over the next few months. The discussion paper will be placed on the agenda of Revenue Canada's national and regional advisory groups involving representatives from small and large businesses, senior citizens, and people with disabilities, among others. The issue will also be raised in meetings with national and regional business and professional associations. Meetings and discussion groups will also be organized with members of the general public to ensure that a wide range of views and opinions are collected. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments to Revenue Canada directly.

"The object of this consultation is to obtain feedback on fairness," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "We believe we are doing well in dealing with Canadians in an efficient and professional manner. We also believe that we deal fairly with them, but we know that 'fairness' is always something that can be improved on."

"As a result of these consultations, in the fall I plan to identify additional measures to enhance the level of fairness that Canadians should expect when they are dealing with Revenue Canada," he said. "Fairness is central to everything Revenue Canada is and should be. Canadians deserve no less of their government, and I personally will make every effort to ensure that Revenue Canada meets these expectations."

Copies of the discussion paper are available at all Revenue Canada offices, and the document is available on the Internet at www.rc.gc.ca under "What's New."

Groups and individuals responding to the discussion paper are invited to provide their comments by mail or fax to the addresses listed above.

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