July 27, 2017 – After a series of meetings with MPs, the Performing Arts Tax Working Group now brings forth its plea for simplifying non-resident taxation with the Standing Committee on Finance.
On behalf of the Working Group, CAPACOA submitted a brief to the Standing Committee on Finance, as part of the pre-budget consultations in advance of the 2018 federal budget. The themes for this year’s consultations – productivity and competitiveness – are quite fitting for adressing the administrative maze of non-resident taxation.
The brief provides both a synthesis of the issues surrounding non-resident taxation and an overview of the nine recommendations developed by the working group. It claims:
“The Canadian non-resident taxation regime is particularly cumbersome and ineffective in the performing arts. It interferes with the regular business activities of Canadian performing arts organization and impedes their productivity… We sincerely hope that the Standing Committee on Finance can add its voice to the dozens of arts organizations and associations who recommend a simplification and a modernization of non-resident taxation in the performing arts.”
The brief also points out that it will soon be 10 years since the Advisory Panel on Canada’s System of International Taxation. Yet, the situation did not improve in the performing arts. In fact, it got worse.
“Under the leadership of CAPACOA, the Performing Arts Tax Working Group has invested considerable efforts in enabling foreign artists to meet their Canadian fans without having to undergo such an administrative toil. It’s about time that federal governement pays attention and makes the necessary changes,” said Martin Roy, CEO of Regroupement des événements majeurs internationaux (RÉMI) and Festivals and Major Events (FAME), two associations that collectively represent more than 40 Canadian events.
The Performing Arts Tax Working Group also requested the opportunity to appear before the Committee. Pre-budget hearings will be held in October and November.
The pre-budget consulations continue until August 4. We encourage other arts organizations to send in their own submission and to include a reference to the brief of the Performing Arts Tax Working Group.
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