c8c54f88   
   XPost: can.general, can.politics, ott.general   
   From: C-O-A-L-I-T-I-O-N@cda.ca   
      
   The CRA has been operating like an autocratic criminal organization - much   
   like cops who   
   have arrested and held people without their being told what the charges are.    
   It's been a   
   slimey way for them to avoid many appeals of their decisions.  We'll see how   
   far the   
   Ombudsman's recommendations go under the Harper government.   
   _____________________________   
      
   "Alan Baggett"  wrote in message   
   news:8ec8bf35-0330-4dd2-90ed-44379fa96cbd@k30g2000vbn.googlegroups.com...   
   Canada Revenue Agency, Appeals & "The Right to Know" :CRA SOTW   
      
   Taxpayers' Ombudsman Releases His Special Report, "The Right to Know"   
      
   OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 9, 2010) –   
      
   The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has released a special report entitled "The   
   Right to Know," which examines the right of taxpayers to be provided   
   with reasons for decisions made by the Appeals Branch of the Canada   
   Revenue Agency (CRA).   
      
   The Taxpayers' Ombudsman is mandated to identify and review emerging   
   and systemic issues related to the CRA's service to, and treatment of,   
   Canadians, and to make recommendations for solutions to the Minister   
   of National Revenue.   
      
   The Ombudsman's systemic review concluded that when the CRA's Appeals   
   Branch does not provide reasons for its decision on a taxpayer's   
   appeal or objection, it fails to fulfill its commitments to fairness,   
   openness, and accountability.   
      
   According to the Ombudsman's findings, providing reasons on decisions   
   made by the CRA's Appeals Branch means providing basic information   
   about the decision, including a description of the decision, the   
   authority under which the decision was made, a description of the main   
   steps in the decision-making process, and reference to the main   
   factual basis for the decision. This was not being done routinely by   
   the CRA's Appeals Branch.   
      
   The Ombudsman's recommendation, based on the taxpayer's right to   
   clear, accurate, and timely information (Taxpayer Bill of Rights,   
   Article 6) and the taxpayer's right to expect the CRA to be   
   accountable (Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Article 11), is that the CRA's   
   Appeals Branch provide written explanations for a decision when they   
   inform a taxpayer of the outcome of their appeal or objection.   
      
   "The Right to Know" can be found at   
   http://www.taxpayersrights.gc.ca/rprts/rght/rprt-rght-eng.html   
      
      
   -----------------------------------------------------------   
   Miss a Tax Tale Miss a lot!   
   Visit the CRA SOTW Library at http://canada.revenue.agency.angelfire.com   
   ------------------------------------------------------------   
   Alan Baggett – Tax Collector’s Bible   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)