Canada v. Salaison Lévesque Inc.

Canada v. Salaison Lévesque Inc.

The Tax Court judge did not err: Salaison discharged its burden of demolishing the Minister's assumptions with prima facie evidence that the named agencies supplied the services, the judge properly exercised discretion in refusing to draw a negative inference, and the Crown failed to prove on a balance of...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
2014 FCA 296
Parties
Appellant: Her Majesty the Queen; Respondent: Salaison Lévesque Inc.
Court
Federal Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
17 December 2014
Procedural Posture
Tax Appeal / Appeal — Federal Court of Appeal
Outcome
Main appeal dismissed except with regard to $2,348.29 and $855.09 which respondent never disputed; matter remitted to Tax Court judge to redetermine amount of costs; respondent awarded costs on appeal.
Legal Topics
Input Tax Credits, Invoices of Convenience, Burden of Proof, Negative Inference From Absent Witnesses, Costs, Excise Tax Act S.285 Penalty
Source Language
en
Tax Law Administrative Law Procedural Law Statutory Interpretation Input Tax Credits Invoices of Convenience Burden of Proof Negative Inference From Absent Witnesses +2 more

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Parties

Her Majesty the Queen

Appellant

Salaison Lévesque Inc.

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Tax Appeal / Appeal — Federal Court of Appeal

  1. 1 Whether respondent established prima facie that Minister’s assumptions underlying the ITC assessment were incorrect
  2. 2 Whether invoices were invoices of convenience or otherwise false
  3. 3 Whether the Tax Court judge impermissibly shifted the burden of proof

Ratio Decidendi

The Tax Court judge did not err: Salaison discharged its burden of demolishing the Minister's assumptions with prima facie evidence that the named agencies supplied the services, the judge properly exercised discretion in refusing to draw a negative inference, and the Crown failed to prove on a balance of probabilities that the invoices were invalid; appeal dismissed except for undisputed amounts and costs remitted to the Tax Court judge for redetermination.

Court Disposition

Main appeal dismissed except with regard to $2,348.29 and $855.09 which respondent never disputed; matter remitted to Tax Court judge to redetermine amount of costs; respondent awarded costs on appeal.

Orders

  • Appeal dismissed except as to $2,348.29 and $855.09 which remain in issue for correction
  • Remit to Tax Court judge to redetermine costs after allowing parties to make representations