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With the growth and success of businesses at heart, once again, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton stated its position in budget proposals to the federal and Quebec governments.
The purpose of these memoranda is to foster wealth creation and give our businesses the means to achieve their ambitions. As a reminder, the recommendations covered four strategic themes to enhance business performance: a fair, incentive-based tax system, entrepreneurial succession, innovation and immigration.
These budget recommendations were sent to various federal and Quebec ministers and elected members as well as numerous key economic and business influencers.
Dedicated to advocating for the business community, the firm issued its comments as soon as the budgets were tabled (federal and Quebec), and informed taxpayers about the announced measures (federal and Quebec tax bulletins). A concerted exercise that, yet again, illustrated Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s leading role in the marketplace and its constant focus on providing taxpayers with clear information about the issues that shape their world.
There can be no denying the firm’s place among influencers—its post-budget comments were included with those of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, the Conseil du patronat du Québec, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal and the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec, among others.
Several experts were involved in producing and broadcasting these strategic documents and some of them also provided their expertise in a number of regional and national media outlets to inform the public about the new economic and tax measures. The budget proposals were highlighted in some thirty interviews with various media across Quebec.
Federal budget, March 19, 2019
Tax Partner, Sylvain Gilbert, who attended the media lockup, participated in a web interview with TVA, and a newscast with Pierre Bruneau. He also presented budget highlights to listeners of 95.7 FM (Saguenay), 95.5 FM (Témiscouata), 101.5 FM (Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce) and 107.7 FM (Sherbrooke) and viewers of L’Essentiel, hosted by Esther Bégin, on CPAC’s Parliament webcast, broadcast across Canada.
Tax Partner, Luc Lacombe, who attended the tax specialist lockup, also participated in numerous interviews: he presented the firm’s expectations and budget proposals on the eve of the budget to Esther Bégin, host of L’Essentiel, on the CPAC’s cross-Canada parliament webcast. He also presented the main tax measures to listeners of Radio-Canada (Québec City), 103.3 FM and 94.7 FM (Mauricie), 99.1 FM (Mauricie) and 103.5 FM (Saint-Georges-de-Beauce).
Olivier Levesque, Senior Tax Consultant, discussed the budget with radio announcers on 99.5 FM (Roberval), 104.5 FM (Alma) and 93.5 FM (Chibougamau) while Sarah Phaneuf, Tax Partner, presented a budget analysis to Radio-Canada (Estrie) listeners.
The firm’s reaction to the budget was quoted in Finance et Investissement and Informe Affaires among others.
Furthermore, the firm’s tax bulletin was published on world-renowned Thompson Reuters Taxnet Pro site.
Quebec Budget on March 21, 2019
Sylvain Gilbert was at the media lockup for the Quebec budget as well and provided analyses to certain media, including Le Journal de Montréal/Le Journal de Québec and TVA nouvelles. He then participated in a number of interviews for listeners of 95.7 FM (Saguenay), 97.5 (Chicoutimi), 95.5 FM (Témiscouata), 99.1 FM (Mauricie), 101.5 FM (Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce) and 107.7 FM (Sherbrooke).
For his part, Luc Lacombe, discussed with reporters from a number of media, including Radio-Canada (Québec City) and FM 103.5 (Saint-Georges-de-Beauce).
Olivier Levesque was invited by 99.5 FM (Roberval), 104.5 FM (Alma) and 93.5 FM (Chibougamau) to share the firm’s opinion on the Quebec budget.
Sarah Phaneuf was the guest analyst on Radio-Canada (Estrie) radio and television.
The firm’s release on the provincial budget was published by specialized media, including Finance et investissement and Conseiller.ca, as well as Thomson Reuters’ Taxnet Pro tax platform.
Lastly, a webinar presented on March 26th by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, in association with the Association des professionnels en développement économique du Québec, hosted by Jean-Pierre Poulin, Tax Partner, and Jean-Philippe Brosseau, Economist and Senior Manager, Consulting Services, highlighted a number of measures related to the regional economic development in Quebec.
Representations that Bear Fruit
In recent years, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s advocacy with the governments has helped bring about legislative or policy changes, for example, lower corporate taxes or more flexible tax rules for a more equitable intergenerational business transfer in Quebec.
It’s interesting to note that in this year’s federal budget, the firm’s appeal to improve the federal scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax credit program and for a fairer tax system for agriculture and fishing businesses in Canada was well received.
There is no doubt about the value of these public affairs and media activities for a firm that supports the growth of local companies!