CRA acknowledges that remuneration of an employee resident in Country X from Canadian offshore drilling work generally will be Treaty-exempt (if for under 183 days) where the non-resident employer is resident in Country B, even if that remuneration is deductible respecting a deemed PE of that employer

Art. 15, para. 2 of most Treaties indicates that employment income of a non-resident employee of a non-resident employer from the exercise of employment in Canada for less than 183 days in any 12-month period will be Treaty-exempt provided that the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment in Canada of the non-resident employer. In 2009-0319951I7, CRA indicated that it is the country of residence of the employee (“Country X”) rather than of the employer (“Country B”) which determines which country’s treaty should be applied in determining whether the non-resident employer has a PE in Canada for Art. 15 purposes.

CRA has now quite openly acknowledged that in most instances this means that the employer (“B Co”) will not be considered for these purposes to have a Canadian PE, even if under the treaty between its country of residence (Country B) and Canada it is considered to have a Canadian PE because, for example, it is engaged in offshore drilling activity which is deemed to be a Canadian PE. CRA states:

[O]n a purposive reading, one would expect that Canada (i.e. where the PE is located) should be able to tax Mr. X’s remuneration for employment exercised through the PE since BCo is allowed a deduction from the profits taxable in Canada attributable to the PE for the remuneration. However, we doubt that, when applying subparagraph 2(c) of Article 15 of the Canada-State X treaty, it was intended that Canada or State X should look for a definition in a treaty between Canada and a third country [i.e., Country B] to find out if the remuneration can be taxed in Canada.

Neal Armstrong. Summary of 20 July 2015 Memo 2012-0457671I7 under Treaties - Art. 15.