Brand v. Canada

Brand v. Canada
Court (s) Database
Federal Court of Appeal Decisions
Date
2023-09-28
Neutral citation
2023 FCA 196
File numbers
A-187-22
Decision Content
Date: 20230928
Docket: A-187-22
Citation: 2023 FCA 196
CORAM:
DE MONTIGNY J.A.
LEBLANC J.A.
GOYETTE J.A.
BETWEEN:
STEVE BRAND
Appellant
and
HIS MAJESTY THE KING
Respondent
Heard at Toronto, Ontario, on September 28, 2023.
Judgment delivered from the Bench at Toronto, Ontario, on September 28, 2023.
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:
DE MONTIGNY J.A.
Date: 20230928
Docket: A-187-22
Citation: 2023 FCA 196
CORAM:
DE MONTIGNY J.A.
LEBLANC J.A.
GOYETTE J.A.
BETWEEN:
STEVE BRAND
Appellant
and
HIS MAJESTY THE KING
Respondent
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
(Delivered from the Bench at Toronto, Ontario, on September 28, 2023).
DE MONTIGNY J.A.
[1] This appeal is about the Minister of National Revenue (the “Minister”)’s reassessment of the Appellant’s personal income tax returns for 2012 and 2013. The Minister disallowed a portion of the business expenses claimed under the Appellant’s real estate operation, and disallowed all the business expenses with respect to his sole proprietorship.
[2] The Tax Court dismissed the Appellant’s appeal, finding that the Appellant’s poor record keeping made it impossible for him to demonstrate that any amounts were deductible beyond what was already allowed by the Minister. The Tax Court also found that the Appellant often conflated his various personal and commercial activities, making it impossible to determine whether the alleged expenditures were incurred in order to earn income from the business or property against which it was claimed.
[3] After having carefully considered the Appellant’s written and oral arguments and the record, we are all of the view that the Trial Judge committed no reviewable error. Her finding as to whether the Appellant was entitled to the disallowed expenses is predominantly a factual issue, and subject to the deferential standard of palpable and overriding error. She made no such error in concluding that the Appellant’s evidence was unpersuasive.
[4] During oral submissions, emphasis was put on assumptions of facts and their impact on the burden of proof. However, nothing turns on these assumptions. The Trial Judge reserved her decision so that she could review the Appellant’s documents together with his testimony more closely. She was unable to link the business expenses with the sources of income. This is clearly a finding of fact that is entitled to a high degree of deference.
[5] Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed, with costs in the amount of $1,500.00 in favour of the Respondent.
"Yves de Montigny"
J.A.
FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL
NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD
Docket:
A-187-22
APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OF THE TAX COURT OF CANADA DATED AUGUST 12, 2022, DOCKET NO. 2018-4262(IT)I.
STYLE OF CAUSE:
STEVE BRAND v. HIS MAJESTY THE KING
PLACE OF HEARING:
Toronto, Ontario
DATE OF HEARING:
September 28, 2023
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:
DE MONTIGNY J.A.
LEBLANC J.A.
GOYETTE J.A.
DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:
DE MONTIGNY J.A.
APPEARANCES:
Leigh Somerville Taylor
For The Appellant
Gerard Westland and Craig Maw
For The Respondent
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
Leigh Somerville Taylor Professional Corporation
FOR THE APPELLANT
Shalene Curtis-Micallef Deputy Attorney General of Canada
For The Respondent