Message from J. Paul Dubé, Taxpayers' Ombudsman

Today, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue, and myself, jointly announced a huge step forward for taxpayer rights with an amendment to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Canadians who have a service-related complaint with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are now further protected by Article 16, "the right to lodge a service complaint and request a formal review without fear of reprisal."

My Office hears, first-hand, the issues that taxpayers face when dealing with the CRA. These issues may not always come to us as formal complaints, but rather as outcries or rumblings of a concern that has the potential to negatively affect thousands. These do not fall on deaf ears. We recognize that action must be taken.

As Taxpayers’ Ombudsman, my measurement of success is centered on the degree to which my Office can affect positive change for taxpayers. Based on this, I am proud to say that today marks a great success for my Office. Not only has the Minister heard and accepted my recommendation to include Article 16, but the CRA has also heard us and is committed to implementing Article 16 and to ensuring it is upheld.

Even if taxpayers have rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, those rights are diminished if they are afraid to use them. My Office is addressing this fear with Article 16, thus strengthening our existence as an independent and impartial Ombudsman’s office that can, and does, spark change and improvement.

To learn more about Article 16, refer to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Guide: Understanding Your Rights as a Taxpayer on the CRA’s Web site.

J. Paul Dubé

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