Ouellet v. M.N.R.

Ouellet v. M.N.R.
Court (s) Database
Tax Court of Canada Judgments
Date
2011-10-25
Neutral citation
2011 TCC 483
File numbers
2009-1798(EI)
Judges and Taxing Officers
Paul Bédard
Subjects
Employment Insurance Act
Decision Content
Dockets: 2009‑1798(EI)
2009‑1878(CPP)
BETWEEN:
ALBERT OUELLET,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Estate
of Arsène Thibault (2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge
(2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)),
on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011, at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
For the Appellant:
The Appellant himself
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeals are dismissed, and the decisions of the Minister of National Revenue are confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Dockets: 2009‑1772(EI)
2009‑1879(CPP)
BETWEEN:
MARTINE LÉONARD,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of Albert Ouellet
(2009‑1798(EI) and 2009‑1878(CPP)), Estate of Arsène Thibault
(2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge
(2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)),
on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011, at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
For the Appellant:
The Appellant herself
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeals are dismissed, and the decisions of the Minister of National Revenue are confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Dockets: 2009‑2862(EI)
2009‑2863(CPP)
BETWEEN:
ESTATE OF ARSÈNE THIBAULT,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Albert Ouellet
(2009‑1798(EI) and 2009‑1878(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and
2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge
(2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)),
on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011, at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
Counsel for the Appellant:
Denys Saindon
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeals are dismissed, and the decisions of the Minister of National Revenue are confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Dockets: 2009‑2327(EI)
2009‑2328(CPP)
BETWEEN:
YVON SAVARD,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Estate
of Arsène Thibault (2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Albert Ouellet (2009‑1798(EI) and 2009‑1878(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge
(2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)),
on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011,at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
Counsel for the Appellant:
Denys Saindon
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeals are dismissed, and the decisions of the Minister of National Revenue are confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Dockets: 2009‑2496(EI)
2009‑2497(CPP)
BETWEEN:
CAMIL PERRON,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Estate
of Arsène Thibault (2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge
2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)),
on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011, at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
Counsel for the Appellant:
Denys Saindon
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeals are dismissed, and the decisions of the Minister of National Revenue are confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Docket: 2009‑2303(EI)
BETWEEN:
ALAIN CYR,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Estate
of Arsène Thibault (2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Albert Ouellet (2009‑1798(EI) and 2009‑1878(CPP)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge (2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)), on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011,
at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
For the Appellant:
The Appellant himself
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeal is dismissed, and the decision by the Minister of National Revenue is confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Dockets: 2009‑1955(EI)
2009‑1956(CPP)
BETWEEN:
CAMILLE PELLETIER,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Estate
of Arsène Thibault (2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Albert Ouellet (2009‑1798(EI) and 2009‑1878(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge
(2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)),
on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011, at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
For the Appellant:
The Appellant himself
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeals are dismissed, and the decisions of the Minister of National Revenue are confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Dockets: 2009‑1519(EI)
2009‑1565(CPP)
BETWEEN:
DONALD ST‑ONGE,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Estate
of Arsène Thibault (2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Albert Ouellet (2009‑1798(EI) and 2009‑1878(CPP)) and Gaston Lévesque (2009‑1354(EI)), on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011,
at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
For the Appellant:
The Appellant himself
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeals are dismissed, and the decisions of the Minister of National Revenue are confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Docket: 2009‑1354(EI)
BETWEEN:
GASTON LÉVESQUE,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
__________________________________________________________________
Appeals heard on common evidence with the appeals of
Martine Léonard (2009‑1772(EI) and 2009‑1879(CPP)), Estate
of Arsène Thibault (2009‑2862(EI) and 2009‑2863(CPP)), Yvon Savard (2009‑2327(EI) and 2009‑2328(CPP)), Camil Perron (2009‑2496(EI) and 2009‑2497(CPP)), Alain Cyr (2009‑2303(EI)), Camille Pelletier (2009‑1955(EI) and 2009‑1956(CPP)), Donald St‑Onge
(2009‑1519(EI) and 2009‑1565(CPP)) and Albert Ouellet (2009‑1798(EI) and 2009‑1878(CPP)), on August 15, 16 and 17, 2011,
at Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Before: The Honourable Justice Paul Bédard
Appearances:
Counsel for the Appellant:
Denys Saindon
Counsel for the Respondent:
Stéphanie Côté
Christina Ham
__________________________________________________________________
JUDGMENT
The appeal is dismissed, and the decision by the Minister of National Revenue is confirmed, in accordance with the attached Reasons for Judgment.
Signed at Ottawa, Canada, on this 25th day of October 2011.
"Paul Bédard"
Bédard J.
Translation certified true
on this 14th day of November 2011.
Sarah Burns, Translator
Citation: 2011 TCC 483
Date: 20111025
Dockets: 2009‑1798(EI)
2009‑1878(CPP)
BETWEEN:
ALBERT OUELLET,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Dockets: 2009‑1772(EI)
2009‑1879(CPP)
BETWEEN:
MARTINE LÉONARD,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Dockets: 2009‑2862(EI)
2009‑2863(CPP)
BETWEEN:
ESTATE OF ARSÈNE THIBAULT,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Dockets: 2009‑2327(EI)
2009‑2328(CPP)
BETWEEN:
YVON SAVARD,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Dockets: 2009‑2496(EI)
2009‑2497(CPP)
BETWEEN:
CAMIL PERRON,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Docket: 2009‑2303(EI)
BETWEEN:
ALAIN CYR,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Docket: 2009‑1955(EI)
2009‑1956(CPP)
BETWEEN:
CAMILLE PELLETIER,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Dockets: 2009‑1519(EI)
2009‑1565(CPP)
BETWEEN:
DONALD ST‑ONGE,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
and
Docket: 2009‑1354(EI)
BETWEEN:
GASTON LÉVESQUE,
Appellant,
and
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE,
Respondent.
[OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
Bédard J.
[1] The Appellants are appealing a decision of the Minister of National Revenue (the "Minister") concerning the insurability of their employment with the same employer, namely, 601163 NB Inc. (the "Payor") during the following periods:
SR (2)
Albert Ouellet :
June 23 to October 3, 2003
SR (2)
Martine Léonard :
June 23 to October 3, 2003
1 (2) DS
Arsène Thibault
June 23 to October 3, 2003
(2) DS
Yvon Savard
April 14 to December 27, 2003
(2) DS
Camil Perron
August 4 to December 19, 2003
SR (1)
Alain Cyr
June 23 to September 26, 2003
SR (2)
Camille Pelletier
June 2 to September 26, 2003
SR (2)
Donald St‑Onge
July 7 to October 10, 2003
(1) DS
Gaston Lévesque
June 23 to October 3, 2003
[2] In addition, Albert Ouellet, the Estate of Arsène Thibault, Martine Léonard, Yvon Savard, Camil Perron, Camille Pelletier and Donald St‑Onge are appealing a decision of the Minister that they did not hold pensionable employment with the Payor, within the meaning of the Canada Pension Plan (the "Plan"), during the periods identified for each of them in the paragraph above.
[3] All of the appeals were heard on common evidence. The Minister's decision stated that none of the Appellants held insurable employment with the Payor during the relevant periods because they were not employed under a contract of service. Alternatively, the decision stated, their employment was not insurable because they had a non‑arm's‑length relationship under paragraph 5(2)(i) of the Employment Insurance Act (Act) and, more specifically, a de facto non‑arm's‑length relationship under paragraph 251(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act. The Minister's other decision stated that none of the Appellants at issue had worked for the Payor, so they did not hold pensionable employment in accordance with paragraph 6(1)(a) of the Plan during the relevant periods, given that there was no contract of service between the seven Appellants concerned and the Payor.
[4] In making his decision on the insurability of the nine Appellants' employment, the Minister relied on the same assumptions of fact (aside from the fact that the Record of Employment of each Appellant showed different hours worked and different earnings). Those assumptions of fact are set out at paragraphs 6 and 8 of the Reply to Notice of Appeal in each of the files at issue, as follows:
[translation]
6.
In making his decision, the Respondent relied on the following assumptions of fact:
(a)
The Payor was incorporated on January 10, 2003, under the laws of New Brunswick;
(b)
The Payor's sole shareholder and director was Camille Ouellet;
(c)
The Payor's declared activity was the operation of a forestry business ("the Business");
(d)
During 2003, the Payor received income from logging;
(e)
From February 3, 2003, to February 24, 2003, no employees were on the payroll, but the Payor had wood sales totalling $52,101 during that time;
(f)
From April 11, 2003, to May 30, 2003, only one worker was on the payroll, but the Payor had wood sales totalling $170,087 during that time;
(g)
The Payor kept no records of its income and expenditures;
(h)
The Payor had no licence to operate its business;
(i)
The Payor signed no contracts for stumpage rights;
(j)
The Payor never filed a tax return;
(k)
The Payor never remitted source deductions to the Minister of National Revenue (the "Minister");
(l)
The Payor was never registered with WorkSafeNB;
(m)
The Payor was part of a group of corporations that was the subject of a major investigation by the Employment Insurance Commission;
(n)
The major investigation showed that these corporations, including the Payor, were involved in schemes, with individuals such as the Appellant, designed to provide the individuals with false Records of Employment so that they could qualify for Employment Insurance benefits to which they were not entitled;
(o)
During the period at issue, the Appellant was not supervised;
(p)
During the period at issue, the Payor had no control over the Appellant;
(q)
During the period at issue, the Appellant performed no service for the Payor; and
(r)
The Appellant received no earnings from the Payor.
8.
Regarding the de facto non‑arm's‑length relationship, the Respondent made the following assumptions of fact:
(a)
All of the facts set out at paragraph 6 of this document;
(b)
The Appellant received a Record of Employment from the Payor bearing serial number A76214192, which stated that 850 hours had been worked and that $13,260 in earnings had been paid;
(c)
The Record of Employment bearing serial number A76214192 is false; and
(d)
The Appellant and the Payor agreed on a scheme to enable the Appellant to qualify for Employment Insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.
[5] In making his decision that the Appellants concerned did not hold pensionable employment within the meaning of the Plan, the Minister relied on the same assumptions of fact, which are set out at paragraph 6 of the Reply to Notice of Appeal in each of the files at issue and read as follows:
6.
[translation]
In making his decision, the Respondent relied on the following assumptions of fact:
(a)
The Payor was incorporated as a corporation on January 10, 2003, under the laws of New Brunswick;
(b)
The Payor's sole shareholder and administrator was Camille Ouellet;
(c)
The Payor's declared activity was the operation of a forestry business ("the Business");
(d)
During 2003, the Payor received income from logging;
(e)
From February 3, 2003, to February 24, 2003, no employees were on the payroll, but the Payor had wood sales totalling $52,101 during that time;
(f)
From April 11, 2003, to May 30, 2003, only one worker was on the payroll, but the Payor had wood sales totalling $170,087 during that time;
(g)
The Payor kept no records of its income and expenditures;
(h)
The Payor had no licence to operate its business;
(i)
The Payor signed no contracts for stumpage rights;
(j)
The Payor never filed a tax return;
(k)
The Payor never remitted source deductions to the Minister of National Revenue (the "Minister");
(l)
The Payor was never registered with WorkSafeNB;
(m)
The Payor was part of a group of corporations that was the subject of a major investigation by the Employment Insurance Commission;
(n)
The major investigation showed that these corporations, including the Payor, were involved in schemes, with individuals such as the Appellant, designed to provide the individuals with false Records of Employment so that they could qualify for Employment Insurance benefits to which they were not entitled;
(o)
During the period at issue, the Appellant was not supervised;
(p)
During the period at issue, the Payor had no control over the Appellant;
(q)
During the period at issue, the Appellant performed no service for the Payor; and
(r)
The Appellant received no earnings from the Payor.
[6] Carole Thibault (daughter of the late Arsène Thibault) and Sylvie Malenfant (widow of the late Arsène Thibault) testified in support of Arsène Thibault. Furthermore, all of the witnesses testified in support of their own positions. Charles Édouard Albert (a major fraud investigator with the Canada Revenue Agency ["CRA"]), Annette Melançon (a CRA rulings officer), Ronald Roy (a retired Service Canada investigator) and Louise Boudreault (the appeals officer in these files) testified in support of the Respondent's position.
[7] In these files, it is essentially a matter of determining whether the Appellants worked for the Payor during the relevant periods and, if so, whether they acted in concert without separate interests.
[8] The testimony of Mr. Savard may be summarized as follows:
(i) He was hired by Camille Ouellet.
(ii) He worked for the Payor during the relevant periods (see Exhibit I‑27) as operator of a skidder belonging to the Payor. I note immediately that the Payor's payroll journal (Exhibit I‑27) indicates that Mr. Savard worked 250 hours in April and May 2003, whereas medical certificates (Exhibits I‑1, I‑2, I‑3, I‑4 and I‑5) show that he was unfit to work for the period from December 12, 2002, to June 2, 2003. I also note that, in response to the question on the unemployment benefits claim he filed with Human Resources Development Canada on June 6, 2003 (Exhibit I‑6), Mr. Savard did not indicate that he had worked 250 hours for the Payor in April and May 2003. Instead, Mr. Savard's answer was [translation] "End of sick leave".
(iii) He was paid at a rate of $15 an hour on the basis of a 50‑hour week (10 hours a day, from Monday to Friday). I note that I find it implausible that Mr. Savard was able to work for 10 hours a day in November and December 2003, given the limited hours of daylight in a day during this time.
(iv) He was paid his wages on the Thursday or Friday of each week. He received his pay at the office from Claude St‑Onge or Camille Ouellet personally, in the form of cheques that he endorsed on the spot. Mr. St‑Onge or Mr. Ouellet then gave him cash. Mr. Savard stated that he did not know why his wages had been paid to him in this way. I note that Ms. Léonard testified that the Payor had issued no cheques before June 23, 2003. In fact, Ms. Léonard testified that, after June 23, 2003, she had personally filled out all of the cheques drawn to the order of the Appellants concerned that were dated before June 23, 2003. Ms. Léonard's testimony in this regard seems credible, since the evidence also shows that the cheques used by the Payor in 2003 were delivered to it on June 6, 2003.
(v) He received all of his work‑related instructions (the "what", "where" and "when") from Claude St‑Onge. Mr. Savard added that his hours of work had been calculated by Mr. St‑Onge. I emphasize that the evidence (see Exhibit I‑27) showed that Mr. St‑Onge was not employed by the Payor throughout the entire period of Mr. Savard's alleged employment in 2003.
(vi) He was in no way related to the Payor's sole shareholder.
(vii) Camil Perron was his co‑worker in November and December 2003. I note that, on June 3, 2008, Camil Perron stated, in the presence of Annette Melançon and Violet Arsenault (Exhibit I‑9) that he had worked at the same work site as Mr. Savard in September 2003. Yet, the Payor's payroll journal (Exhibit I‑27) indicates that Mr. Savard did not work in September 2003. In fact, this payroll journal indicates that, in the fall of 2003, Mr. Savard only worked for the Payor in November and December 2003.
[9] I point out that it is very difficult for me to assign any probative value to Mr. Savard's testimony given that not only was his testimony generally vague and unspecific, it was contradicted on a number of points by the documentary evidence and by other testimonies. As well, as emphasized below, I found that Mr. Savard's testimony was quite simply implausible in certain respects.
[10] The testimony of Gaston Lévesque may be summarized as follows:
(i) He was hired by Claude St‑Onge.
(ii) He worked throughout his period of employment as the operator of a skidder belonging to the Payor, on woodlots near the towns of Kedgwick and Campbellton, New Brunswick. I note that, on February 6, 2008, Mr. Lévesque told Charles Albert that he had worked for the Payor in Quebec's Matapédia region.
(iii) He was paid at a rate of $15 an hour on the basis of a 50‑hour week (10 hours a day from Monday to Friday).
(iv) He was paid his wages on Thursday or Friday each week. He received his wages in the forest from Claude St‑Onge in person and by cheque, the first of which was returned for insufficient funds. Afterwards, he also received his pay in the form of cheques that he endorsed on the spot. Mr. St‑Onge then gave him cash. I note that the cheques drawn by the Payor to the order of Mr. Lévesque, filed in evidence as Exhibit I‑7, provide no indication whatsoever that the first cheque was deposited at Mr. Lévesque's bank and returned for insufficient funds.
(v) Throughout his period of employment, he resided for free at the Payor's head office in Kedgwick. In this respect, I point out immediately that Donald St‑Onge (Claude St‑Onge's cousin) testified that Mr. Lévesque was actually staying in a rooming house owned by Lionel Couturier.
(vi) He travelled to work alone in his truck. Every so often, Donald St‑Onge travelled with him. I stress immediately that Claude St‑Onge testified that he had travelled regularly with Mr. Lévesque. I also emphasize that during a telephone conversation on February 26, 2009, in the presence of Mr. Lévesque's lawyer, Mr. Lévesque told Ms. Louise Boudreault (appeals officer) that he travelled alone to work. I further note in this regard that Alain Cyr also told Ms. Boudreault that he had travelled with Mr. Lévesque in the course of his work.
(vii) He had no co‑workers, but from time to time he saw Arsène Thibault at the sites where he worked. I note that, on February 28, 2009, Mr. Lévesque told Ms. Boudreault that he had travelled alone and had worked alone at the work sites. I also note that Camille Pelletier, Camil Perron, Alain Cyr and Claude St‑Onge all testified or previously stated having worked at the same work sites as Gaston Lévesque (see Exhibits I‑9, I‑22, I‑20, I‑18 and A‑6).
(viii) He was not related to the Payor's sole shareholder.
(ix) He received all of his work‑related instructions (the "what", "where" and "when") from Claude St‑Onge.
[11] I point out that it is very difficult for me to assign any probative value to Mr. Savard's testimony given that not only was his testimony generally vague and unspecific, it was contradicted on a number of points by the documentary evidence or by other statements or testimonies.
[12] The testimony of Albert Ouellet (brother of the Payor's sole shareholder) may be summarized as follows:
(i) He was hired by Claude St‑Onge.
(ii) He was employed by the Payor during the relevant periods (from June 23 to October 3, 2003) to purchase woodlots for the Payor. However, on October 16, 2003, June 3, 2008, December 12, 2007, and October 6, 2007, Mr. Ouellet stated that he had been hired by the Payor as a logger (see Exhibits I‑10, I‑11, I‑12 and I‑13).
(iii) He was paid at a rate of $15 an hour on the basis of a 50‑hour week (10 hours a day from Monday to Friday).
(iv) He was paid his wages every week. The first cheques drawn by Payor to the order of Mr. Ouellet were returned for insufficient funds. After that, he received his wages in the form of cheques that he endorsed on the spot. He was then given cash. I note that the cheques from the Payor drawn to the order of Mr. Ouellet (see Exhibit I‑14) give no indication that the first cheques were deposited at a bank and that they were returned for insufficient funds. I emphasize that Exhibit A‑11, filed in evidence by Mr. Ouellet to show that the Payor had made a not‑sufficient‑funds cheque out to him, in no way shows that the not‑sufficient‑funds cheques in question were drawn by the Payor. Last, I emphasize in this regard that Mr. Ouellet previously stated that he had cashed the cheques himself (see Exhibit I‑13), that he had deposited the cheques at the Caisse populaire de Kedgwick (see Exhibit I‑10, question 7) and that the Payor did not cash the cheque for him and did not pay him in cash afterwards (see Exhibit I‑10, question 8).
(v) Every morning, he went to the Payor's head office for his instructions from Claude St‑Onge. I note that Ms. Légaré (who testified that she was permanently employed at the Payor's head office at the time) told Ms. Boudreault that she had never seen Mr. Ouellet work at the office.
(vi) He received all of his work‑related instructions (the "what", "where" and "when") from Claude St‑Onge. However, he stated previously (see Exhibit I‑10, question 12) that his brother had been the one who managed the everyday operations and made the decisions.
[13] I point out that I assigned little probative value to Mr. Ouellet's testimony. Indeed, by making statements that are vague, ambiguous, unverifiable, and contradicted by his previous statements, the documentary evidence and other testimonies, Mr. Ouellet surely cannot have hoped to satisfy me that he truly worked for the Payor during the relevant periods. Mr. Ouellet failed to call as witnesses the persons he contacted to purchase their woodlots, whereas he could have done so. The fact that he did not leads me to conclude that the evidence of the witnesses in question would have been unfavourable to him. Mr. Ouellet's explanations for his contradictory statements have not satisfied me that the Payor forced him to make false representations. In fact, he felt threatened at the time. Since Mr. Ouellet's testimony in this regard was more than simply vague and unspecific, I did not accept it. Indeed, Mr. Ouellet did not identify the person who uttered these threats. He did not provide any specifics as to the nature of these alleged threats.
[14] The testimony of Donald St‑Onge (cousin of Claude St‑Onge) may be summarized as follows:
(i) He was hired by Claude St‑Onge;
(ii) During the relevant period (in this case, from July 7 to October 10, 2003), he operated a skidder belonging to the Payor and felled trees with his chainsaw. Donald St‑Onge added that he had also cut firewood. On June 4, 2008, when asked to describe his tasks, Donald St‑Onge answered [translation] "I was a chainsaw logger"(see Exhibit I‑20). I also note that Charles Édouard Albert testified that none of the Appellants had told him that they had cut firewood.
(iii) He was paid at a rate of $15 an hour on the basis of a 50‑hour week (10 hours a day from Monday to Friday).
(iv) He was paid his wages each week in the form of cheques that he cashed at the Caisse populaire de Kedgwick. Donald St‑Onge's testimony in this regard is consistent with his previous statements (see Exhibits I‑19 and I‑20). I note that, on June 4, 2008, Donald St‑Onge stated that his wages had been given to him by [translation] "Claude St‑Onge, at the Kedgwick office, every Friday" (see Exhibit I‑20). However, on December 13, 2007, Donald St‑Onge stated in this regard that his wages had been given to him in the woods by Claude St‑Onge every Friday (see Exhibit I‑19, question 18). Last, I emphasize that the cheques drawn by the Payor to the order of Donald St‑Onge (see Exhibit I‑21) in no way indicate that they were cashed at the Caisse populaire de Kedgwick. However, I note that all of the cheques were endorsed by Donald St‑Onge.
(v) He received all of his work‑related instructions (the "what", "where" and "when") from Claude St‑Onge, and those instructions were relayed to him by Mr. Lévesque when they worked together.
(vi) His co‑workers were Mr. Lévesque and Mr. Pelletier. On cross‑examination, Donald St‑Onge stated that he had seen Arsène Thibault repair the Payor's machine in the woods. However, on December 13, 2007, Donald St‑Onge stated that his co‑workers had been [translation] "Ti‑boy Lévesque (bulldozer operator), Gaston Lévesque (skidder and chainsaw) and Richard (Bebé) Kedgwick (loader)" (see Exhibit I‑19, question 9). I note that Ti‑Boy Lévesque and Richard (Bebé) Kedgwick did not work for the Payor in 2003.
(vii) Donald St‑Onge was not related to the Payor's sole shareholder.
(viii) His Record of Employment for 2003 was given to him at the Payor's head office by Ms. Légaré. However, on December 13, Mr. St‑Onge stated that he went to pick up his Record of Employment at Claude St‑Onge's home (see Exhibit I‑19, question 21).
[15] I point out that I assigned little probative value to Donald St‑Onge's testimony. Indeed, by making statements that are vague, ambiguous, contradictory, and contradicted by the documentary evidence and other testimonies, Mr. Donald St‑Onge surely cannot have hoped to satisfy me that he truly worked for the Payor during the relevant periods. Mr. Donald St‑Onge could have called, among others, Claude St‑Onge and the owners of the land where he worked during the relevant periods as witnesses, and he was in a position to do so. The fact that he did not leads me to conclude that the evidence of the witnesses in question would have been unfavourable to him.
[16] The testimony of Camil Perron may be summarized as follows:
(i) He was hired by Camille Ouellet.
(ii) He was hired by the Payor as a logger.
(iii) He was paid at a rate of $15 an hour on the basis of a 50‑hour week (10 hours a day, from Monday to Friday). I note that, on June 3, 2008, Mr. Perron stated that in the fall, despite the fact that he did not work for 10 hours a day (given the number of daylight hours during that time), he was paid on a basis of 10 hours a day (see Exhibit I‑9).
(iv) He was paid his wages on the Friday of each week. He received his wages in the woods from Claude St‑Onge in person, in the form of cheques that he endorsed on the spot. Mr. St‑Onge then gave him cash. I emphasize that, on December 13, 2007, Mr. Perron stated that he had received his wages on the Friday of each week from Claude St‑Onge and Camille Ouellet in person, also in the woods (Exhibit I‑8, question 18).
(v) He was not related to the Payor's sole shareholder.
(vi) He received all of his work‑related instructions (the "what", "where" and "when") from Claude St‑Onge. I note that, on June 3, 2008, Mr. Perron stated that his work had been supervised [translation] "now and then" by Camille Ouellet and that Mr. Ouellet had also determined his tasks and work schedule (Exhibit I‑9).
(vii) He cut an average of a [translation] "vanload" of wood a day. However, on June 3, 2008, he stated that he had cut an average of two [translation] "vanloads" of wood a day.
(viii) Over the period from August 2003 to October 2003, his co‑worker was Gaston Lévesque and, during November and December of that same year, his co‑worker was Yvon Savard. However, on June 3, 2008, he stated that Yvon Savard had collected the wood he had cut in September, whereas the payroll journal shows clearly that Mr. Savard had not worked in September 2003.
(ix) He paid for the expenses related to the chain saw rental. I stress that he filed evidence substantiating his statement to that effect.
(x) He received his Record of Employment by mail. However, on December 13, 2007, he stated that Martine Léonard had given him his Record of Employment at the Payor's head office (Exhibit I‑8).
[17] I point out that I assigned little probative value to Mr. Perron's testimony. Indeed, by making statements that are vague, ambiguous, contradictory, and contradicted, he surely cannot have hoped to satisfy me that he truly worked for the Payor during the relevant periods. Mr. Perron explained that his contradictory statements result from his illiteracy. I emphasize that neither did Mr. Perron inform Mr. Melançon and Violet Arsenault of his illiteracy on June 3, 2008, nor did he say as much to the investigators on December 13, 2007. I also note that, before Mr. Perron signed each statement (Exhibits I‑8 and I‑9), the investigators read out the answers they had received from Mr. Perron, and those answers were co‑signed by one of the investigators. Mr. Perron was able to read his name typed on Exhibit A‑10, which he filed in evidence. Last, Mr. Perron could have called as witnesses the owners of the lots where he worked during the relevant periods. Those persons could have confirmed that they granted the Payor stumpage rights during the relevant periods. Mr. Perron could also have called Claude St‑Onge and Camille Ouellet as witnesses. He did not do so. The fact that he did not leads me to conclude that the evidence of the witnesses in question would have been unfavourable to him.
[18] The testimony of Camille Pelletier may be summarized as follows:
(i) He was hired by Camille Ouellet.
(ii) He was hired by the Payor as the operator of a power ram, belonging to the Payor, to make roads on the woodlots. In this regard, I stress that Charles Édouard Albert testified that Mr. Pelletier refused to answer his questions at the meeting on December 13, 2007, on the pretext that he had not worked for Camille Ouellet in 2003. Moreover, I note in this regard that, some time later, Mr. Pelletier signed a solemn affirmation in the presence of Claire Bossé (Exhibit I‑18), which reads as follows:
[translation]
. . .
that I worked as follows:
For 22/4/02–26/7/02 — It is possible that I worked for Alain Maltais; I am not saying that I did not.
For 2003
Worked from April 28 to May 9/03 — Clôtures St‑Pierre. As I recall, I continued with Jacques St‑Pierre right after May 9/03. I did not stop before December/03. For the period from June 2, 2003, to September 26, 2003, Jacques sent me to work in the wood with Jacques St‑Pierre's dozer; I always received my wages from Jacques St‑Pierre, never received wages from Camil Ouelette in 2003. If I did receive any, it would have been in 2002.
(iii) In the course of his work, he saw Donald St‑Onge and Gaston Lévesque. However, on October 24, 2008, he stated that he was unable to identify his co‑workers.
(iv) He was paid at a rate of $15 an hour on the basis of a 50‑hour week.
(v) His wages were paid to him each week in the form of cheques that he endorsed on the spot. Once the cheque was endorsed, he was given cash.
(vi) He received all of his work‑related instructions (the "what", "where" and "when") from Claude St‑Onge.
[19] I note that I assigned little probative value to Mr. Pelletier's testimony, given that his statements were contradictory, to say the least.
[20] The testimony of Sylvie Malenfant (widow of Arsène Thibault) may be summarized as follows:
(i) Arsène Thibault died in 2009.
(ii) The answers on the questionnaire were written by her but dictated by Arsène Thibault (shortly before he died), since he was gravely ill at the time.
[21] I note that, at question 8 of the questionnaire filed in evidence as Exhibit A‑6, Mr. Thibault stated that Albert Ouellet had been working at the same time as he had been working as a logger. I note that Albert Ouellet testified that he had never performed service as a logger for the Payor. I also note that Arsène Thibault had also stated a number of times that, on December 12, 2007, Albert Ouellet had been one of the Payor's loggers and that they had worked for the Payor at the same time (see Exhibit I‑22, questions 5 and 6).
[22] I note that Arsène Thibault stated that, for his first weeks of employment, he had received his wages in the form of cheques that ended up being returned for insufficient funds (see question 19 of Exhibit I‑22 and question 22(b) of Exhibit A‑6). However, the 14 cheques drawn by the Payor to the order of Mr. Thibault, filed in evidence as Exhibit I‑23, do not in any way indicate that they were deposited at the bank and returned for insufficient funds. These cheques were, however, endorsed by Mr. Thibault. Last, I note that the first cheque drawn by the Payor to the order of Mr. Thibault, on July 4, 2003, was not only endorsed by Mr. Thibault but was also signed by him for the Payor.
[23] I further note that Mr. Thibault stated having occasionally worked Saturdays (see question 17(a) of Exhibit A‑6). Regardless, the Payor's payroll journal (Exhibit A‑27) indicates that Mr. Thibault did not work for the Payor on Saturdays during the relevant periods.
[24] In