Dialogue
FROM: JAN-FEB 2004 ISSUE
Proud of CCRA
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with Don Goodison's column in the September-October 2003issue. I read with enthusiasm Don's column each issue, but I think he has gone too far this time.
The article depicting the Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Markevich is interesting in the slant Don has put on the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) and the evil villains working there. It has my blood boiling.
CCRA is founded on the values of Integrity, Professionalism, Respect, and Co-operation. Every employee, including thousands of CGAs, lives by these values and is expected to demonstrate them or be held accountable. CCRA has also published the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights and fairness legislation to ensure all citizens are treated fairly.
It is fair to say that an agency with over 46,000 employees is not infallible, and from time to time, we have an employee who fails to demonstrate our values. What I find inexcusable is the painting of the agency and all who work for it as evil.
Lines like, "I was something of a crusader, bound and determined to expose the tax department for what it really was – evil" and highlighting an isolated case of poor judgment by one employee as the norm is irresponsible from Mr. Goodison and from a magazine that represents more than 60,000 professionals in Canada.
I am an FCGA and proud of our Association. I am also a Tax Services Director with CCRA, and I am proud of the agency I work for, and of the 46,000 employees who have difficult jobs yet carry out their duties with integrity, professionalism, respect, and co-operation.
I would like to suggest that if an employee of the CCRA is acting in an unethical, non-respectful, or non-professional manner, report the behaviour to the director of your local CCRA office rather than complaining about it in print years after the problem has been rectified.
Terry LeBlanc, FCGA
Past President, CGA-New Brunswick
Moncton, N.B.
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A Clear Response
Your letter to the editor has been passed on to me for comment. I am sorry that my comments upset you, and wish to assure you that there was no intention on my part to do so. The intention was to poke fun at my own naivety when I first started in practice over 30 years ago. When I look back, I find it laughable that I believed the stories I heard. As I point out in the article, they were from people who knew people, who knew someone, who knew "the victim." But, as I also said, I fancied myself as a crusader and a defender of the masses. As with most young zealots, I discovered that things aren't quite as cut and dried as I perceived them, and decided to hang up my cape.
I can honestly say that I have a great deal of respect for CCRA and its employees. I have had many excellent dealings with them in the intervening years. The incident I described took place over 30 years ago. I am sure that I could fill a column with very positive experiences I have had since then. I firmly believe that respect breeds respect, and stress this to anyone dealing with the department, or any other government agent. As I have said in previous columns, while my huffing and puffing of the past may have impressed some, it did nothing to advance my client's position, and probably cost them.
I am sincerely sorry that my comments offended you or anyone employed by CCRA. I obviously didn't do a very good job of saying what I meant to say.
Don Goodison, FCGA
Burnaby, B.C.
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