"The Order and Reasons for Recusal do not and should not form part of the record before this Court. Their existence in the public domain does not compromise the ability of this Court to adjudicate the appeal or the appearance and reality of a fair process."
-Crown's Written Representations

In the most recent developments in the McKesson transfer pricing case, the Respondent has filed its Written Representations in response to the Appellant's motion to raise new issues on appeal, and the Appellant has filed a Reply submission.

In the Written Representations, the Respondent has argued that the trial judge's Order and Reasons for Recusal are irrelevant to the issues to be decided on appeal and do not properly form part of the record before the Federal Court of Appeal. The Respondent has also argued that the Order and Reasons for Recusal do not compromise the appearance and reality of a fair process in the appeal.

In its Reply, the Appellant has argued that the Respondent's "remarkable position" that the Reasons for Recusal are not part of the record on appeal cannot be right. Rather, the Appellant argues, the Court of Appeal should perform a "meaningful review" of the Reasons for Recusal, as such reasons should not be "immune from review" or "shielded from appellate scrutiny". The Appellant states, "The panel of this Court hearing the Appellant's appeal must be given the opportunity to adjudicate [the Recusal Reasons'] legal effect."

For more information, visit our Canadian Tax Litigation blog at www.canadiantaxlitigation.com

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