Porotti v. Canada (National Revenue)
The Tax Court judge correctly identified and applied the legal test from 1392644 and, having assessed the evidence and credibility, reasonably concluded the parties intended an independent contractor relationship and that objective factors supported that finding; therefore the appeal is dismissed.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- 2016 FCA 29
- Parties
- Appellant: Michelle Porotti; Respondent: The Minister of National Revenue
- Court
- Federal Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Judgment Date
- 27 January 2016
- Procedural Posture
- Appeal From Tax Court Decision Concerning Employment Status for CPP and EI Contributions / Federal Court of Appeal Judgment Stage (appeal Heard and Decided)
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Employee Vs Independent Contractor Status, Insurable and Pensionable Employment, Application of Appellate Standard to Findings of Credibility
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Michelle Porotti
Appellant
The Minister of National Revenue
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Appeal From Tax Court Decision Concerning Employment Status for CPP and EI Contributions / Federal Court of Appeal Judgment Stage (appeal Heard and Decided)
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appellant was an employee or an independent contractor for the period January 1, 2012 to August 8, 2012
- 2 Whether the Tax Court judge erred in law or made a palpable and overriding error in applying the legal test from 1392644 Ontario Inc. O/A Connor Homes v. The Minister of National Revenue, 2013 FCA 85
- 3 Whether the parties' intention and objective factors support finding of independent contractor status
Ratio Decidendi
The Tax Court judge correctly identified and applied the legal test from 1392644 and, having assessed the evidence and credibility, reasonably concluded the parties intended an independent contractor relationship and that objective factors supported that finding; therefore the appeal is dismissed.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed
Orders
- Appeal dismissed with costs
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
Porotti v. Canada (National Revenue) Court (s) Database Federal Court of Appeal Decisions Date 2016-01-27 Neutral citation 2016 FCA 29 File numbers A-458-14 Decision Content Date: 20160127 Docket: A-458-14 Citation: 2016 FCA 29 CORAM: PELLETIER J.A. DE MONTIGNY J.A. GLEASON J.A. BETWEEN: MICHELLE POROTTI Appellant and THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE Respondent Heard at Vancouver, British Columbia, on January 26, 2016. Judgment delivered at Vancouver, British Columbia, on January 27, 2016. REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY: DE MONTIGNY J.A. CONCURRED IN BY: PELLETIER J.A. GLEASON J.A. Date: 20160127 Docket: A-458-14 Citation: 2016 FCA 29 CORAM: PELLETIER J.A. DE MONTIGNY J.A. GLEASON J.A. BETWEEN: MICHELLE POROTTI Appellant and THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE Respondent REASONS FOR JUDGMENT DE MONTIGNY J.A. [1] Ms. Porotti appeals a decision of the Tax Court judge upholding the Minister’s decision that she was not employed in insurable and pensionable employment by Royal Ascot, but was rather engaged as an independent contractor during the period from January 1, 2012 to August 8, 2012. [2] Despite Ms. Porotti’s able arguments, I have not been convinced that the Tax Court judge erred in coming to her conclusion. She identified the correct legal test as set out by this Court in 1392644 Ontario Inc. O/A Connor Homes v. The Minister of National Revenue, 2013 FCA 85, and made no palpable and overriding errors in applying it to the facts of this case. [3] Having regard to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, the Tax Court judge could properly find that the parties’ intention was that the appellant be engaged as an independent contractor, and that the usual objective factors are consistent with such a finding. [4] As a result, I would dismiss the appeal, with costs. "Yves de Montigny" J.A. “I agree J.D. Denis Pelletier J.A." “I agree Mary J.L. Gleason J.A." FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD Docket: A-458-14 (APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OF THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE JUDITH M. WOODS, DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2014, NOS. 2013-2800(CPP) AND 2013-2801(EI).) STYLE OF CAUSE: MICHELLE POROTTI v. THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE PLACE OF HEARING: Vancouver, British Columbia DATE OF HEARING: January 26, 2016 REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY: DE MONTIGNY J.A. concurred in by: PELLETIER J.A. GLEASON J.A. DATED: January 27, 2016 APPEARANCES: Michelle Porotti For The Appellant Nadine Taylor-Pickering For The Respondent SOLICITORS OF RECORD: Self-represented Burnaby, British Columbia For The Appellant William F. Pentney Deputy Attorney General of Canada Ottawa, Ontario For The Respondent