TAX REFORM
September 27, 2017
The Honourable William Francis Morneau, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Dear Minister,
Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoC) represents over 9,000 resident doctors across Canada. Established in 1972, we are a not-for-profit organization providing a unified, national voice for our members from various geographic regions, disciplines, and stages of training. Our membership is diverse, yet united by a commitment to provide the best of health and care for our current and future patients.
We are writing in regard to the recently proposed changes to Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) tax regulations. While our membership encompasses a wide range of thoughts regarding the planned tax reforms, a recent poll of our membership has found a majority of resident doctors across Canada are opposed to the proposed changes. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the concerns we have heard from resident doctors across Canada.
RDoC shares your commitment to economic and health system improvement. We are concerned that the potential federal revenue from these tax changes has not been allocated, to our knowledge, to health system improvements or the education and social services that we and our patients rely upon.
As you are aware, many small business owners and doctors use the current CCPC tax regulations to provide for retirement planning, parental leave, or unexpected sick leave given that entrepreneurs and doctors often do not have access to these vital benefits through other sources. We are disappointed that the proposed tax reforms have not included a conversation as to how Canadians can better access retirement planning, parental leave, or other crucial benefits.
Our membership finds it particularly unfortunate that such significant reforms have been proposed with little notice and no real compensatory mechanism in place. We feel as though an extension in the consultation period is needed to reach a truly equitable solution.
Discussions about these proposed tax reforms cannot be held in isolation of a broader conversation around health system reform and economic equality in Canada. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to have a respectful, bidirectional conversation with you about these proposed tax changes, the broader health system implications, and how we might work with you, as the future stewards of the health care system, to bring about positive, coordinated changes.
Thank-you for your time and attention.
Yours Sincerely,
Melanie Bechard, M.D.
RDoC President, 2017-2018
Distribution List
The Right Honourable Justin Pierre James Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6