Looking to dodge Cdn taxes? look to DFO for advice

What’s good for the goose…

In response to my recent blog post
on a decision, denying a Canada Coasting Act waiver by the Canada
Transportation Agency (CTA) – which is very unusual – Halifax Shipping News
tweeted about another story, where the Canadian federal government seems to be
stabbing the Canadian marine industry in the back.

In his blog post,
Halifax Shipping News highlights a Request for Proposal (RFP) by the
Depatment of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) which calls for a “heavy lift” ship, to
bring two recently built Hero Class midshore patrol vessels to the West Coast. The ships are built by Halifax Shipyards, and two copies are destined to serve on the West Coast of Canada.

Getting them there, according to the RFP, will involve – that seems to be a foregone conclusion – a non Canadian “heavy lift” ship to transport them through the Panama canal, and to the “area around Victoria”. The RFP goes on to suggest ways to dodge taxes and cabotage rules.

Have a look at the RFP here – in particular this section is quite telling…

Since there are few, if any, Canadian heavy-lift vessels capable of
performing this transport, most likely an international shipper will be
using a foreign-flagged vessel to complete this Contract work. Shipping
cargo from a Canadian departure point, aboard a foreign heavy-lift
vessel means that there are Canadian Cabotage Law considerations and
potential tariffs at the destination; http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-33.3/page-3.html#docCont.
To avoid punitive tariffs most shippers would recommend the use of the
closest U.S. sea-port to Victoria, B.C., such as Seattle, Washington, to
be their destination.

CCG’s Hero Class Mid Shore Patrol Vessel in Hamilton, January 2014

Incidentally, I found this article about dodging taxes, while looking for the graphic at the top – I guess the survey was correct, even the government wants to dodge their own taxes and regulations.

Transport Canada and Australian Marine Safety certified Marine Engineer, over 25 years experience sailing professionally on commercial ships all over the world. Creator and editor of www.dieselduck.net. Father of three, based in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

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