It has become impossible for me to keep silent after an article that was published suggested that Switzerland thought of Quebec as another “offshore haven.” If the author of that piece had contacted the Ministry of Finance, he could have been given information about the measures our government has implemented to effectively fight tax avoidance and the use of tax havens; global phenomena that we take seriously, which is why our government decided to act.
Indeed, we have been very active, positioning Quebec on the cutting edge of this issue, thanks to the action plan to ensure tax equity, which we presented last November.
It goes without saying that, out of concern for equity among all taxpayers, any strategy that encourages tax avoidance is inadmissible. Our action plan is the result of rigorous analysis and is based on international best practices, chiefly following the OECD guidelines.
Through all of these measures, we will build citizens’ confidence in the tax system, ensure greater equity and improve funding for our public services. Recall that our action plan includes greater transparency in corporate affairs by bolstering the Registre des entreprises and by requiring additional information from the businesses therein. In addition, Revenu Québec is currently recruiting a team of 75 people dedicated to fighting tax evasion and ensuring an effective follow-up of the Plan.
Our government will always remain active and vigilant in order to maintain tax equity for everyone in Quebec.
Carlos J. Leitão
Quebec Minister of Finance
