Montréal-Nord construction business owner guilty of tax evasion

Montréal, Quebec, November 19, 2015… The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that Jean-Éliodor Fortuné, shareholder and administrator of 9049-5151 Quebec Inc. (J.E.F. Construction et Rénovations), pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges on September 21, 2015, before the Court of Quebec in Montréal. He was fined $38,811, which represents 100% of the federal tax he tried to evade. In addition to this fine, Mr. Fortuné will have to pay the full amount of tax owing, plus related interest and any penalties that apply.

The CRA investigation revealed that, for the 2006 and 2007 tax years, Jean-Éliodor Fortuné voluntarily contravened the Income Tax Act by failing to report a total of $192,901 in payments made by clients of his business, J.E.F. Construction et Rénovations , that he took as his own. For the most part, the amounts were traced back to Mr. Fortuné’s personal bank account without him declaring them on his personal income tax returns.

All case-specific information above was obtained from the court records.

The CRA takes tax evasion very seriously. When a person or business does not comply with the law, honest taxpayers and businesses are unfairly burdened and the integrity of Canada’s tax base is jeopardized.

If you have ever made a tax mistake or omission, the CRA is offering you a second chance to make things right through its Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP). If you make a valid disclosure before you become aware that the CRA is taking action against you, you may only have to pay the taxes owing plus interest. More information on the VDP can be found on the CRA's website at www.cra.gc.ca/voluntarydisclosures.

Additional information on convictions can be found on the Media page of the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/convictions.

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For media information

Julie Pronovost
Regional Spokesperson
Telephone: 514-283-2226

Date modified:

2015-11-20