Bonnybrook Park Industrial Development Co. Ltd. v. Canada (National Revenue)

Bonnybrook Park Industrial Development Co. Ltd. v. Canada (National Revenue)

Majority: The Federal Court erred in concluding it lacked jurisdiction; the Minister’s denial of relief under s.220(3) was unreasonable and incorrect because s.220(3) is a broad discretionary power to extend time to make returns and, absent clear parliamentary language to exclude its operation, it can affect the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
2018 FCA 136
Parties
Appellant: Bonnybrook Park Industrial Development Co. Ltd.; Respondent: Minister of National Revenue
Court
Federal Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
18 July 2018
Procedural Posture
Judicial Review (tax) / Appeal From Federal Court Judgment on Judicial Review to Federal Court of Appeal
Outcome
Appeal allowed; Federal Court judgment set aside; Minister’s decision set aside; matter remitted to Minister to reconsider Bonnybrook’s applications under ss.220(2.1) and 220(3) of the Income Tax Act; costs awarded to appellant
Legal Topics
Dividend Refund, Taxpayer Relief, Extension of Time to File Returns, Jurisdiction, Adequacy of Reasons, Judicial Review
Source Language
en
Tax Law Administrative Law Statutory Interpretation Dividend Refund Taxpayer Relief Extension of Time to File Returns Jurisdiction Adequacy of Reasons +1 more

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 19 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Bonnybrook Park Industrial Development Co. Ltd.

Appellant

Minister of National Revenue

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Judicial Review (tax) / Appeal From Federal Court Judgment on Judicial Review to Federal Court of Appeal

  1. 1 Whether the Federal Court had jurisdiction to hear the judicial review application
  2. 2 Whether the Minister has statutory authority under s.220(3) (and s.220(2.1)) of the Income Tax Act to extend or waive the three‑year filing requirement in s.129(1) for dividend refunds
  3. 3 Adequacy of the Minister’s reasons and appropriateness of remitting versus deciding on the merits

Ratio Decidendi

Majority: The Federal Court erred in concluding it lacked jurisdiction; the Minister’s denial of relief under s.220(3) was unreasonable and incorrect because s.220(3) is a broad discretionary power to extend time to make returns and, absent clear parliamentary language to exclude its operation, it can affect the s.129(1) dividend refund filing condition; the Minister failed to consider s.220(2.1) and thus the decision is set aside and the matter remitted to the Minister to reconsider applications under ss.220(2.1) and 220(3) in accordance with the reasons; costs awarded to appellant.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; Federal Court judgment set aside; Minister’s decision set aside; matter remitted to Minister to reconsider Bonnybrook’s applications under ss.220(2.1) and 220(3) of the Income Tax Act; costs awarded to appellant

Orders

  • Set aside Federal Court judgment (2017 FC 642)
  • Set aside Minister’s October 12, 2016 decision