EY Canadian Tax Leaders Forum 2022

DAY 1 | September 12, 2022

Here are a few highlights from the day's session:

Canadian business, politics and leadership insights
A robust discussion between Goldy Hyder, David Coletto and moderated by EY’s Elena Doucette. The panel explored Canada’s opportunity for sustainable economic growth and the issues concerning Canadians, Canadian business and political leaders in today’s volatile economic and political environment. David also shared valuable data summarizing findings from public opinion.

Around the world in 60 minutes
Nik Diksic, Cathy Koch, Serge Huysmans and Brian Mustard took a deep dive into global tax developments and perspectives from the Americas, Canada and Europe including BEPS 2.0 – Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 and other EU initiatives and country developments.

ESG strategy – the role of the tax function
EY’s Greg Boone moderated a panel discussion with Thomas Brook, Cathy Koch and Krista Robinson on carbon regimes, sustainability incentives, environmental taxes, available funding and lastly, the significant role of tax in ESG reporting and what this could mean for tax leaders.

Modernization of the tax operating model
EY’s Jennifer Palmer, Gagandeep Singh and Stephanie Jean were joined by special guest from Irving Oil Tim Bryant to discuss building efficiency into the tax operating model and what this could mean for your business.  The conversation went into detail on the Intelligent Tax Function and the panel discussed tax operating model rationalization, the connected tax function, agile technology enablement, talent transformation and risk focused framework.

Supply chain disruption
EY’s Paul Vail, Sylvain Golssse, Cathy Koch and Tara DiRosa discussed strategies and the implications for tax professionals from recent supply chain disruption. The reality is that an increasing number of unexpected disruptions are hitting supply chains and impacting overall business performance. Organizations have now become laser focused on resiliency and sustainability. With various implications for tax professionals the strategy must be multi-faceted with Customs and Trade, Tax and Transfer Pricing and ESG/Sustainability.

Recent trends in tax controversy
EY’s David Roberson and Stephanie Brouillard discussed the CRA’s first overall tax gap report, modernizing & strengthening the GAAR – Public Consultation and post COVID Tax Controversy trends & alternative approaches to resolving tax disputes. All helpful information for tax leaders.

Hybrid workforce: The new normal
A robust discussion on the talent agenda in the new normal with EY’s Batia Stein, Antoine Mindjimba, Edward Rajaratnam and Jo-Anne Van Strien. The conversation covered Navigating the Tax Risks and Opportunities as the Talent Strategy Evolves including:

• Global talent and new ways of working/sourcing talent
• Bringing Work from Anywhere to Life and the inherent risks
• Global Employment Organization as a solution / managing PE risk
• Operationalizing Work from Anywhere including culture in a hybrid work environment

DAY 2 | September 13, 2022

Here are a few highlights from the day's session:

Canadian economic outlook
Douglas Porter discussed the challenges that the global and Canadian economy continues to face as we approach the final quarter of 2022; in particular, the impact of the rapid run-up of inflation and the associated aggressive tightening moves by the major central banks. He also shared insights on the Canadian dollar and the impacts to consumer confidence as well as workforce characteristics and predictions.

Canadian tax developments
EY’s Phil Halvorson, Sania IIahi, Jeremy Shnaider and Linda Tang discussed specific and recent Canadian tax developments at the federal and provincial levels.

Keynote: Arlene Dickinson
As one of Canada’s best known and most influential business leaders, Arlene shared her perspectives on issues facing business leaders today as well as personal experiences and insights.

From disruption to growth: an economic and demographic perspective
Dr. Tassu Shervani gave a detailed economic, geopolitical, technological and demographic perspective with insights including big forces driving business transformation and some possible scenarios for the coming months including a soft landing, hard landing, stagflation or crash landing. Tassu also discussed an interesting shift in perspective on the convergence of demographics and technology from the big question of “Will there be enough jobs for people as technology displaces humans?” to “Will technology mature quickly enough to replace missing workers as working age population flattens?”. The concept of the Age of anger was introduced and its relation to economies.