For those of you who know me, you'll know that I'm not
shy about expressing my views. While some may not agree with them,
I'm okay with that. I enjoy healthy, respectful debate on
issues of tax administration and tax policy. However, the media,
particularly the CBC, has recently been taking aim at the tax
profession with "investigative reports" suggesting
"inappropriate planning" is being done by certain
professionals. While the "investigations" might make for
good media for the average viewer, such "investigations"
are, in many cases, simply wrong or misleading and sweep in
organizations and individuals that have nothing to do with the
particular case. These reports further exaggerate the situation
with provocative language to embellish the reporter's story.
Let's be clear, the practice of taxation is complex. As Albert
Einstein said, "The hardest thing in the world to
understand is the income tax." After practicing tax for
over 20 years, I agree with old Albert. I'm
