Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006 (S.C. 2006, c. 13)

Marginal note:Extension of time by Minister

• 55 (1) If no objection to an assessment is filed under section 54 within the time limited under this Act, a person may make an application to the Minister to extend the time for filing a notice of objection and the Minister may grant the application.

• Marginal note:Contents of application

  (2) An application must set out the reasons why the notice of objection was not filed within the time limited under this Act for doing so.

• Marginal note:How application made

  (3) An application must be made by delivering or mailing, to the Assistant Commissioner of the Appeals Branch of the Agency, the application accompanied by a copy of the notice of objection.

• Marginal note:Defect in application

  (4) The Minister may accept an application even if it was not made in accordance with subsection (3).

• Marginal note:Duties of Minister

  (5) On receipt of an application, the Minister shall, without delay, consider the application and grant or refuse it, and shall notify the person of the decision by mail.

• Marginal note:Date of objection if application granted

  (6) If an application is granted, the notice of objection is deemed to have been filed on the day of the decision of the Minister.

• Marginal note:Conditions for grant of application

  (7) No application shall be granted under this section unless

  • (a) the application is made within one year after the expiry of the time limited under this Act for objecting; and

  • (b) the person demonstrates that

    • (i) within the time limited under this Act for objecting, the person

      • (A) was unable to act or to give a mandate to act in their name, or

      • (B) had a bona fide intention to object to the assessment,

    • (ii) given the reasons set out in the application and the circumstances of the case, it would be just and equitable to grant the application, and

    • (iii) the application was made as soon as circumstances permitted it to be made.

Appeal

Marginal note:Extension of time by Tax Court of Canada

• 56 (1) A person who has made an application under section 55 may apply to the Tax Court of Canada to have the application granted after either

  • (a) the Minister has refused the application; or

  • (b) 90 days have elapsed after the application was made and the Minister has not notified the person of the Minister’s decision.

• Marginal note:When application may not be made

  (2) No application may be made after the expiry of 30 days after the decision referred to in subsection 55(5) was mailed to the person.

• Marginal note:How application made

  (3) An application must be filed in the Registry of the Tax Court of Canada, in accordance with the rules of the Court made under the Tax Court of Canada Act.

• Marginal note:Copy to the Commissioner

  (4) The Tax Court of Canada must send a copy of the application to the Commissioner.

• Marginal note:Powers of Tax Court of Canada

  (5) The Tax Court of Canada may dispose of an application by dismissing or granting it and, in granting it, the Court may impose any terms that it considers just or order that the notice of objection be deemed to be a valid objection as of the date of the order.

• Marginal note:When application to be granted

  (6) No application shall be granted under this section unless

  • (a) the application under subsection 55(1) was made within one year after the expiry of the time limited under this Act for objecting; and

  • (b) the person demonstrates that

    • (i) within the time limited under this Act for objecting, the person

      • (A) was unable to act or to give a mandate to act in their name, or

      • (B) had a bona fide intention to object to the assessment,

    • (ii) given the reasons set out in the application under this section and the circumstances of the case, it would be just and equitable to grant the application, and

    • (iii) the application under subsection 55(1) was made as soon as circumstances permitted it to be made.

Marginal note:Appeal to Tax Court of Canada

• 57 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who has filed a notice of objection to an assessment may appeal to the Tax Court of Canada to have the assessment vacated or a reassessment made after

  • (a) the Minister has confirmed the assessment or has reassessed; or

  • (b) 180 days have elapsed after the filing of the notice of objection and the Minister has not notified the person that the Minister has vacated or confirmed the assessment or has reassessed.

• Marginal note:No appeal

  (2) No appeal under subsection (1) may be instituted after the expiry of 90 days after notice that the Minister has reassessed or confirmed the assessment is sent to the person under subsection 54(10).

• Marginal note:Amendment of appeal

  (3) The Tax Court of Canada may, on any terms that it sees fit, authorize a person who has instituted an appeal in respect of a matter to amend the appeal to include any further assessment in respect of the matter that the person is entitled under this section to appeal.

Marginal note:Extension of time to appeal

• 58 (1) If no appeal to the Tax Court of Canada under section 57 has been instituted within the time limited by that section for doing so, a person may make an application to the Tax Court of Canada for an order extending the time within which an appeal may be instituted, and the Court may make an order extending the time for appealing and may impose any terms that it considers just.

• Marginal note:Contents of application

  (2) An application must set out the reasons why the appeal was not instituted within the time limited under section 57 for doing so.

• Marginal note:How application made

  (3) An application must be filed in the Registry of the Tax Court of Canada, in accordance with the rules of the Court made under the Tax Court of Canada Act.

• Marginal note:Copy to Deputy Attorney General of Canada

  (4) The Tax Court of Canada must send a copy of the application to the office of the Deputy Attorney General of Canada.

• Marginal note:When order to be made

  (5) No order shall be made under this section unless

  • (a) the application was made within one year after the expiry of the time limited under section 57 for appealing; and

  • (b) the person demonstrates that

    • (i) within the time limited under section 57 for appealing, the person

      • (A) was unable to act or to give a mandate to act in their name, or

      • (B) had a bona fide intention to appeal,

    • (ii) given the reasons set out in the application and the circumstances of the case, it would be just and equitable to grant the application,

    • (iii) the application was made as soon as circumstances permitted it to be made, and

    • (iv) there are reasonable grounds for the appeal.

Marginal note:Limitation on appeals to the Tax Court of Canada

• 59 (1) Despite section 57, if a person has filed a notice of objection to an assessment, the person may appeal to the Tax Court of Canada to have the assessment vacated, or a reassessment made, only with respect to

  • (a) an issue in respect of which the person has complied with subsection 54(2) in the notice and the relief sought in respect of the issue as specified by the person in the notice; or

  • (b) an issue described in subsection 54(5) if the person was not required to file a notice of objection to the assessment that gave rise to the issue.

• Marginal note:No appeal if waiver

  (2) Despite section 57, a person may not appeal to the Tax Court of Canada to have an assessment vacated or varied in respect of an issue for which the right of objection or appeal has been waived in writing by the person.

Marginal note:Institution of appeals

60 An appeal to the Tax Court of Canada under this Act shall be instituted in accordance with the Tax Court of Canada Act.

Marginal note:Disposition of appeal

61 The Tax Court of Canada may dispose of an appeal from an assessment by

• (a) dismissing it; or

• (b) allowing it and

  • (i) vacating the assessment, or

  • (ii) referring the assessment back to the Minister for reconsideration and reassessment.

Marginal note:References to Tax Court of Canada

• 62 (1) If the Minister and another person agree in writing that a question arising under this Act, in respect of any assessment or proposed assessment of the person, should be determined by the Tax Court of Canada, that question shall be determined by that Court.

• Marginal note:Time during consideration not to count

  (2) For the purposes of making an assessment, filing a notice of objection to an assessment or instituting an appeal from an assessment, the time between the day on which proceedings are instituted in the Tax Court of Canada to have a question determined and the day on which the question is finally determined shall not be counted in the computation of

  • (a) the four-year period referred to in subsection 53(1);

  • (b) the period within which a notice of objection to an assessment may be filed under subsection 54(1); or

  • (c) the period within which an appeal may be instituted under subsection 57(2).

Marginal note:Reference of common questions to Tax Court of Canada

• 63 (1) If the Minister is of the opinion that a question arising out of one and the same transaction or occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences is common to assessments or proposed assessments in respect of two or more persons, the Minister may apply to the Tax Court of Canada for a determination of the question.

• Marginal note:Contents of application

  (2) An application shall set out

  • (a) the question in respect of which the Minister requests a determination;

  • (b) the names of the persons that the Minister seeks to have bound by the determination; and

  • (c) the facts and reasons on which the Minister relies and on which the Minister based or intends to base assessments of each person named in the application.

• Marginal note:Service

  (3) A copy of the application shall be served by the Minister on each of the persons named in it and on any other person who, in the opinion of the Tax Court of Canada, is likely to be affected by the determination of the question.

• Marginal note:Determination by Tax Court of Canada of question

  (4) If the Tax Court of Canada is satisfied that a determination of a question set out in an application will affect assessments or proposed assessments in respect of two or more persons who have been served with a copy of the application and who are named in an order of the Tax Court of Canada under this subsection, it may

  • (a) if none of the persons so named has appealed from such an assessment, proceed to determine the question in any manner that it considers appropriate; or

  • (b) if one or more of the persons so named has or have appealed, make any order that it considers appropriate joining a party or parties to that appeal or those appeals and proceed to determine the question.

• Marginal note:Determination final and conclusive

  (5) Subject to subsection (6), if a question set out in an application is determined by the Tax Court of Canada, the determination is final and conclusive for the purposes of any assessments of persons named by the Court under subsection (4).

• Marginal note:Appeal

  (6) If a question set out in an application is determined by the Tax Court of Canada, the Minister or any person who has been served with a copy of the application and who is named in an order of the Court under subsection (4) may appeal from the determination, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Tax Court of Canada Act or the Federal Courts Act, as those provisions relate to appeals from the Tax Court of Canada.

• Marginal note:Parties to appeal

  (7) The parties who are bound by a determination are parties to any appeal from the determination.

• Marginal note:Time during consideration not counted

  (8) For the purpose of making an assessment of a person, filing a notice of objection to an assessment or instituting an appeal from an assessment, the periods described in subsection (9) shall not be counted in the computation of

  • (a) the four-year period referred to in subsection 53(1);

  • (b) the period within which a notice of objection to an assessment may be filed under subsection 54(1); or

  • (c) the period within which an appeal may be instituted under subsection 57(2).

• Marginal note:Excluded periods

  (9) The period that is not to be counted in the computation of the periods described in paragraphs (8)(a) to (c) is the time between the day on which an application that is made under this section is served on a person under subsection (3) and

  • (a) in the case of a person named in an order of the Tax Court of Canada under subsection (4), the day on which the determination becomes final and conclusive and not subject to any appeal; or

  • (b) in the case of any other person, the day on which the person is served with a notice that the person has not been named in an order of the Tax Court of Canada under subsection (4).