Censorship Czar Guilbeault owes Revenu Quebec five-figure debt in taxes

Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault confirmed on Monday that he is in tax arrears with Revenu Quebec. Guilbeault would not say if a portion of his $274,500 cabinet salary was deducted to settle the five-figure debt.

Guilbeault, in a filing with the Ethics Commissioner, declared "arrears due to Revenu Quebec" under a Public Declaration Of Liabilities Of $10,000 Or More. The heritage minister was the only member of the 43rd Parliament to disclose unpaid taxes, reported Blacklocks.

"He has not been paying his fair share," wrote Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus in a statement. "This is typical."

Guilbeault "needs to come clean and tell Canadians how much he owes in taxes," said Paul-Hus. The minister should "pay his fair share like all other Canadian families," he added.

Guilbeault, in repeated remarks to the Commons, had said Canadians, including digital corporations operating here, must "pay their fair share" of taxes. "Anyone who profits from the system must contribute to it," said Guilbeault on December 9, 2019.

Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier, in June 22 testimony at the Commons finance committee, said all Canadians shared a duty to finance government programs. "We are all committed to making things much more difficult for those who choose not to meet their tax obligations," said Lebouthillier.

"I am proud to say the Government of Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency have shown determination and innovation in creating effective and proactive approaches to identifying those who avoid paying their fair share," said Lebouthillier.

Other political parties have disciplined MPs with tax arrears. The New Democrats in 2013 censured two members who had failed to pay taxes.

Then-MP Tyrone Benskin was stripped of his duties as official languages critic over a $58,097 tax debt. Revenu Quebec had previously sued Benskin for a $135,473 tax liability.

"For our society to be prosperous and just, each citizen must do their part," Benskin said at the time. "I have not always done mine, and for that, I apologize."

Then-New Democrat MP Hoang Mai in 2013 was also removed as vice-chair of the Commons finance committee with the loss of a $5,600 bonus for failing to pay his taxes. MP Mai lost re-election in 2015.

Then-Senator Michel Cogger in 1991 saw a portion of his parliamentary salary garnished by Revenu Quebec to recover arrears totalling $107,000. Cogger subsequently resigned from the Senate in 2000, was convicted of influence peddling and received an absolute discharge in the Québec Court of Appeal.