The Coalition of Canadian Energy Trusts has created a comprehensive study of the role of the trusts in the oil and gas sector as well as the Canadian economy. The CCET Report includes a number of downloadable elements (pdf). Their findings suggest that there is significant public harm including addition of environmental risk if the Conservative tax policies are allowed to cripple an otherwise healthy economic sector. The Coalition has called for due process and for policy makers to make decisions on facts and information. The iTrust Institute recognizes this report as an informative contribution to Canadian’s understanding of income trusts and related policy issues:

BACKGROUND Canadian Energy Trusts: An Integral Component of the Canadian Oil and Gas Industry

CCET REPORT (incl. executive summary)

Appendix A1 - Statement by the Minister of Finance - Oct. 31

Appendix A2 - Coalition Backgrounder

Appendix B - Taxation of Income Trusts: Is it Worth the Cost and the Turmoil? by Yves L. Fortin - Nov. 2006

Appendix C - The Inconvenient Truth about Trusts, by Gordon Tait (BMO Capital Markets)

Appendix D - A Perspective on Trusts and Taxes, by Gordon Tait (BMO Capital Markets)

Appendix E - Market Cap Weekly, BMO Capital Markets - Nov. 9

Appendix F - CO2 Enhanced Recovery: Where to from here? (ARC Energy Trust) - Nov. 21

Appendix G1 - Income trusts are efficient at investing and growing, PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP - Dec. 7

Appendix G2 - Income Trust Report, PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP - Dec. 11

Appendix H - Taxation Process for Trust Income

Appendix I - Comparison of Income Trusts and Public Corporations - Taxability

The release of the Report was made with a news conference that can be heard online.

The CCET should be applauded by investors and policy administrators for both the report and their invitation for public scrutiny.  The Institute is further reviewing the CCET release in the context of prior reports and analysis. 

Advocis, the Canadian association for financial advisors and Certified Financial Planners has published an article Breach of Trust in FORUM Magazine for December 2006.

Written by Leslie Hayman as President of iTrust Institute, the article went to publication the week the first week of November, the week in which the Government of Canada announced new taxes on income trusts.

The article provides a fundamental perspective on the income trust market and the state in its development at the time the new tax was put in place, also exploring considerations of security and investment risks and returns for financial professionals working to advise clients in regard to trust investments.