moved for leave to introduce Bill S-258, An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (reporting on unpaid income tax).
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the chamber to introduce a bill from the Senate, from Senator Downe.
This bill would do three things. First, it would amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act to require that the Canada Revenue Agency list all those individuals who have been convicted of tax evasion, whether here or abroad. Second, it would require the CRA to publish, every three years, the tax gap, which is the amount of money that the CRA believes it is owed versus what it received. Third, it would require the CRA to provide more information to the Parliamentary Budget Officer so their office can do a better job in reporting on the tax gap.
I would like to thank the senator for his wonderful work. This is the third time the bill has been introduced. The second time, in this chamber, it was narrowly defeated in the 42nd Parliament, but I believe we have the votes with all opposition parties, as we did last time, to make the bill law.
I would like to thank the member for Calgary Rocky Ridge, who has done an excellent job on the file as well.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
