The Government of Canada tabled its federal budget for 2014 on
February 11, 2014 ("Budget 2014"). Since
Budget 2014 is in direct competition with the 2014 Winter Olympics
in Sochi, Russia, several commentators had (facetiously) predicted
that Budget 2014 might struggle to maintain the top news spot in
Canada due to a lack of content and that its release may have been
timed with that very result in mind. It is true that there is very
little in the way of spending measures. Nevertheless, Budget 2014
does contain some key targeted international and domestic tax
measures and updates that will be of interest to certain groups of
individual and corporate taxpayers.
Budget 2014 seeks input on what Canada's approach should be
to address aggressive international tax planning by multinational
enterprises and the perceived abuse associated with so-called
"treaty shopping". Particular legislation on treaty
shopping is not proposed. Rather, Budget 2014 sets out the key
pieces to
