a message from the minister

• Table of Contents
• Next

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) makes a difference in the daily lives of all Canadians. We administer an equitable and responsive tax system that forms the foundation for long-term prosperity and responsible citizenship in Canada.

Our government is committed to keeping taxes low, investing in jobs and growth, and controlling government spending. In 2011-2012, the CRA continued to implement tax relief measures designed to help individuals and families, such as the children's arts tax credit and the volunteer firefighter tax credit. For businesses, we extended the hiring credit for small business, and improved many of the online services we provide so that small businesses can be free to handle their tax affairs securely, quickly, and according to their own schedule.

Improvements to the CRA's online services during 2011-2012 include a new enquiries service available through My Business Account, where businesses can ask their questions directly to the CRA and we respond to them online and in writing. We also launched the business landing page on our Web site, a one-stop shop for CRA information and services important to businesses—all as part of our effort to cut red tape for small businesses so they can focus on what they do best: creating jobs and economic growth in communities across Canada.

Red tape is costly for all Canadians, hinders economic productivity, and gets in the way of compliance. The CRA has worked closely with the Red Tape Reduction Commission and other federal government organizations to respond to the concerns and suggestions of small businesses. We will continue to consult with businesses in Canada, their associations, and our federal government partners over the coming months as we implement the Government's Red Tape Reduction Action Plan.

The Government of Canada's efforts to reduce the tax compliance burden are having a positive impact. In PricewaterhouseCoopers' 2012 international study, Paying Taxes 2012: The Global Picture, Canada ranks higher than any other G-7 country based on the overall ease of complying with tax obligations. PricewaterhouseCoopers also identified Canada as a potential model for other countries' tax systems from the perspective of a business filing and paying taxes.

A focus on performance measurement and the efficient use of resources to identify non‑compliance and collect taxes is a solid foundation on which the CRA will continue to build. I welcome the significant progress achieved in the past year to ensure the effectiveness, fairness, and integrity of our tax system.

It is my privilege to table the Canada Revenue Agency Annual Report to Parliament 2011-2012.

The Honourable Gail Shea, P.C., MP
Minister of National Revenue

• Table of Contents
• Next

Date modified:

2012-11-08