RCMP arrest Revenue Canada officials

Two Canada Revenue Agency employees have been arrested and two others suspended for their alleged roles in connection with a $4.5-million tax-fraud scheme, Revenue Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said Wednesday.


Blackburn said the two arrested employees were team leaders at the Montreal tax-services office of the CRA.

In an interview with CTV Newsnet's Power Play, Blackburn said his organization called in the RCMP after the CRA's investigation was underway.

"It shows that our own internal investigation works quite well," he said. "Our employees are professional, there's 45,000 of them, but sometimes (these) situations happen."

At a news conference in Montreal earlier on Wednesday, he referred questions about possible charges about the two employees to the RCMP.

Blackburn said the agency's investigation was originally looking into firms owned by businessman Tony Accurso, a leader in the Montreal construction industry.

The CRA alleges that three construction companies, Simard-Beaudry Construction Inc., Construction Louisbourg Ltee., and Hyprescon, funnelled nearly $4.5 million into two dummy corporations that were not involved in any commercial business. The agency says the dummy corporations were used to falsify invoices.

The CRA says that in these types of schemes, the invoices are fraudulently used to reduce individuals' or companies' revenues for tax savings purposes.

The four CRA employees, who are all suspended without pay pending an internal agency investigation, allegedly tried to hide the activities from the tax agency.

The investigation was launched as a result of regular internal audits into the agency's workings, Blackburn said.

"The system is well-protected," he said.

But opposition critics says that the audit system needs to be tightened, considering that there are billions going to be spent in infrastructure as part of the government economic stimulus plans.

"It's very troubling (and) it's not very good timing for Canadians who are struggling and trying to make ends meet," Liberal treasury board critic Dan McTeague said.

None of the allegations have been proven in court as of yet, and all persons under suspicion should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

CTV weatherman Dave Devall retires

CTV Toronto weatherman steps down after 48 years.

Dave Devall's final day as a CTV Toronto weather specialist ended with a salute from a prime minister, Scottish pipes and drums -- and a day that saw a new rainfall record set.

Devall was on the go all day Friday. He got up at 5 a.m. to make some guest appearances on Canada AM and CP24's morning shows and had a Toronto roadway renamed Devall Way (it leads into the CTV complex at 9 Channel Nine Court) about about 1 p.m.

In the afternoon, the Guinness Book of Records officially honoured Dave with the world record for longest career as a weather forecaster -- 48 years, two months and 27 days.

He made his final forecast as a full-time employee before retiring, although he will make occasional appearances for special projects and to fill in when someone is absent.

Tom Brown, currently handling CTV Toronto's noon weather duties, will be taking over as the 6 p.m. forecaster.

Dave Devall came to CTV Toronto on Jan. 7, 1961, a day he remembers as being sunny and cold, although his forecasting career actually started with CHEX TV in Peterborough in 1958.

Just for perspective purposes, Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to go into space -- a feat accomplished on April 12, 1961.

"I had no intention of staying 48 years," Devall confided to Canada AM on Friday, adding, "The Guinness Book of Records thing never occurred to me."

He started his career in black-and-white television and before the advent of technology such as weather satellites (Sputnik the first satellite, was launched in 1957), but delivered his final forecast in state-of-the-art, high-definition colour.

"I'm getting out at the right time," Devall joked about high-def, giving himself an impromptu facelift by pulling his cheeks tighter.

He remembers giving temperatures in Fahrenheit when he started out, with Celsius the standard temperature scale now. Weather forecasting technology has evolved, including the development of Doppler radar. Computers "have opened up the whole world," he said.

One thing that didn't change over Devall's career was his smile and cheery personality.

Since it was announced on Groundhog Day that Dave would be stepping down, there's been an outpouring of heartfelt affection for Dave from celebrities and ordinary Torontonians alike.

"Every since I came to Toronto in 1968, he's been my weatherman," one caller told CTV Toronto on Friday. "Even though he's serious about the weather, he's always delivered it with a smile and a wonderful sense of humour."

She said when she met him once in a Queen Street restaurant, he was "exactly the same in person as you see him on TV."

CTV Toronto news anchor Ken Shaw told Newsnet that Dave "learned the magic of coming through the lens as himself, not pretending to be anybody else."

During his appearance as a celebrity forecaster, Toronto Argonauts CEO Mike "Pinball" Clemons said he was wearing a cap, "not because it's cold out, but because I want to tip it to you, Dave."

A number of groups have paid tribute to Dave in a number of ways, but he got a special treat when he got to pilot a Canadian Forces C-130 Hercules over the waters of Lake Ontario.

Dave holds a pilot's licence and also served in the Air Force, which is where he learned his patented writing backwards trick (I've always found that impressive!). He is also an honorary colonel of the 432nd Transport Squadron at CFB Trenton.

"She's just like a Cessna -- if you can believe that," Devall said while behind the controls.

"This is real flying, this is really neat," he said. "For such a large aircraft, you can feel her. You can feel the weight, you can feel the power, but you feel like your always in control."

The crew hooked him to a line and allowed him to stand near the back door. "It's the thrill of a lifetime being back here. Like I said folks, this is as good as it gets," Devall said.

The Hercules' ride came to an end, and now Dave's career is at an end.

The next two days will be spent "sleeping," he joked on Friday.

High on the agenda is spending more time at his cottage country home in Bolsover, Ont. with his six grandchildren, who are growing up fast, and hitting the links. "I've got the clubs all cleaned, they're ready to go," he declared.

After getting his Guinness honour, Dave admitted it was a bittersweet day.

"Up until now, it's been busy and exciting, but now I'm getting to be a little bit afraid,' he said. "I've got plans for down the road, but now I've got to sit down and organize those plans and carry them out."



Congratulations on a great career Dave Devall... Sure there will be others reporting the weather now, But there's only ONE Dave Devall.... Irreplaceable... Enjoy retirement...

What are your memories of Dave Devall?