REASONS
FOR JUDGMENT
V.A. Miller J.
Preliminary Matter
[1]
As a preliminary matter, the Respondent brought
a motion for an order that the style of cause in this appeal should be changed
to the name of the partnership, “Doug Peddle, Nancy Cleveland” as opposed to
being just in the name of “Doug Peddle”. The motion was not opposed and the
style of cause has been changed.
[2]
The Minister of National Revenue (the
“Minister”) disallowed the Appellant’s claim for an Input Tax Credit (“ITC”) of
$5,850 on the basis that the Appellant did not have a commercial activity
during the period November 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. In disallowing the
claim for an ITC, the Minister also relied on an alternative position that the
invoice submitted by the partnership did not contain the supplier’s GST
registration number as required by subsection 169(4) of the Excise Tax Act
(“ETA”).
[3]
Doug Peddle and Nancy Cleveland are spouses of
one another. They wished to participate in Ontario’s micro-Feed-In Tariff
Program (“micro-FIT Program”) whereby they would be paid a guaranteed price for
all electricity they produced and delivered to Ontario’s electricity grid. To
this end, on December 29, 2011, they signed a contract for the purchase of
solar panels from Trans Canada Solar Ltd. (“Trans Canada”). The total cost of
the solar panels was $50,850.28. They paid a deposit of $22,350.03 which
included the HST in the amount of $5,850.03.
[4]
Trans Canada did not deliver the solar panels to
the Appellant.
[5]
The question is whether the Appellant had
commenced its business under the micro-FIT Program.
[6]
Section 123 of the Excise Tax Act (ETA)
provides, in part, that the definition of “commercial activity” is:
(a) a business
carried on by the person (other than a business carried on without a reasonable
expectation of profit by an individual, a personal trust or a partnership, all
of the members of which are individuals), except to the extent to which the
business involves the making of exempt supplies by the person,
[7]
“Business” is defined in section 123 of the ETA
as follows:
“business” includes
a profession, calling, trade, manufacture or undertaking of any kind whatever,
whether the activity or undertaking is engaged in for profit, and any activity
engaged in on a regular or continuous basis that involves the supply of
property by way of lease, licence or similar arrangement, but does not include
an office or employment;
[8]
The Appellant’s proposed business was to sell
electricity to the Ontario Power Authority (“OPA”) under its micro-FIT Program.
In order to be accepted into the micro-FIT Program, the Appellant had to follow
the procedure put in place by the OPA. According to the documents submitted in
evidence, the Appellant had to sign a contract with its local power authority,
En Win Utilities (“En Win”). En Win had to inspect and approve the installation
of the solar panels on the Appellant’s roof and only then could the Appellant
apply to the OPA under the micro-FIT Program.
[9]
It is my view that the Appellant’s business did
not commence during the period November 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 or at
anytime. The only step the Appellant took to commence its business was to
purchase the solar panels. One of the essential steps to the carrying on of its
business was to sign a contract with En Win: Gartry (WC) v Canada, [1994] 2 CTC 2021 (TCC). This it failed to do.
[10]
At the hearing of this appeal, Doug Peddle
stated that he suffered from dyslexia and he was given additional time to read
and respond to the cases relied on by counsel for the Respondent. A conference
call was held two months after the date of the appeal and Mr. Peddle raised the
following issues:
a)
He has been the victim of fraud. The Minister
administers the HST and she should have an obligation to investigate persons
who are registrants under the ETA.
b) His rights under section 7 and 15 of the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms (“Charter”) have been infringed because of his dyslexia. He
should be able to hire someone to do research for him and that person’s fees
should be paid for by the government.
[11]
With respect to Mr. Peddle’s first issue, the
dispute between him and Trans Canada is a private matter. There was evidence
that Mr. Peddle successfully sued Trans Canada in Small Claims Court and was
awarded the sum of $22,350.03 plus post judgment interest but he has been
unable to collect the total amount. That there was a fraud perpetrated against
Mr. Peddle is not an issue between him and the Minister or an issue within the
jurisdiction of this Court.
[12]
Mr. Peddle’s section 7 Charter rights
have not been infringed. In this case his life, liberty and security of the
person were not affected.
[13]
Mr. Peddle has stated that he could not properly
present his case because he required assistance with legal research. It was his
position that this legal assistance should be paid by the government and
failure to provide the resources so he could hire a researcher is an
infringement of his section 15 rights under the Charter.
[14]
It is my view that section 15 of the Charter
is not engaged in this appeal. There is no general constitutional right to
legal counsel or legal assistance in Canada: Christie v British Columbia
(Attorney General), 2007 SCC 21.
[15]
In conclusion, the Appellant was not entitled to
claim an ITC during the period November 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 because he
did not have a commercial activity. The appeal is dismissed.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, this 27th day of May 2014.
“V.A. Miller”
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