Summary#
This bill creates a commemorative day called International Tax Justice and Cooperation Day on June 4 each year. It does not change any tax rules or create new programs. The bill states the day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day (a day when courts are treated as closed for legal deadlines). The preamble sets out reasons tied to global tax cooperation efforts by the OECD, G20, IMF, World Bank, and UN (Preamble).
- Designates June 4 each year as International Tax Justice and Cooperation Day (Bill, “International Tax Justice and Cooperation Day” clause).
- Confirms it is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day (Bill, “Not a legal holiday” clause).
- Makes no changes to tax rates, enforcement, or reporting (Bill text).
- Imposes no duties on governments, businesses, or the public (Bill text).
- Provides symbolic recognition of international tax cooperation, including the 1923 League of Nations fiscal committee’s centennial (Preamble).
What it means for you#
- Households: No day off. No new benefits or duties. Normal daily life continues on June 4 (Bill, “Not a legal holiday” clause).
- Workers: No entitlement to paid leave or premium pay. Work schedules do not change (Bill, “Not a legal holiday” clause).
- Businesses: No required closures. No compliance or tax changes (Bill text).
- Schools and educators: No required activities or curriculum changes (Bill text).
- Federal, provincial, and local governments: No mandates to hold events or issue materials. The designation applies across Canada each year on June 4 (Bill, “Throughout Canada… in each and every year” clause).
Expenses#
Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.
- No appropriations, taxes, fees, or new programs are created in the bill text.
- No official fiscal note identified. Data unavailable.
- No direct revenue impact stated. Data unavailable.
Proponents' View#
- Raises awareness of tax justice and cooperation, which the preamble links to public trust, financial integrity, and sustainable development (Preamble).
- Aligns Canada with OECD/G20 initiatives, including the Global Forum on Exchange of Information and Transparency for Tax Purposes and the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project (Preamble).
- Signals support for the global minimum corporate tax framework proposed by the OECD, referenced in the preamble as scheduled for 2024 implementation (Preamble).
- Marks a historically relevant date: June 4, 1923, when the first international standing fiscal committee began work under the League of Nations (Preamble).
- Low administrative burden because the day is not a legal holiday and imposes no mandates (Bill, “Not a legal holiday” clause).
Opponents' View#
- Symbolic only: the bill does not change tax law, enforcement, reporting, or funding; thus it may have no measurable policy impact (Bill text).
- Could divert attention from substantive reforms on tax evasion, avoidance, or transparency, which are not addressed in the operative clauses (Bill text).
- May cause public confusion about holiday status despite the “not a legal holiday” clause, requiring communication to clarify (Bill, “Not a legal holiday” clause).
- Lacks metrics or reporting requirements to show any effect on tax justice or cooperation (Bill text).