Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. Policy and Planning Branch : The Policy and Planning Branch is an administrative unit within the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) whose responsibilities comprise three core functions: interpretation, remission administration, and legislative development; intergovernmental and international relations; and the registration of charities and deferred incomes plans. Several different divisions operate within the Branch to meet these functions, such as the Excise and Duties Taxes Division, the Income Tax Rulings Division, the Intergovernmental and International Affairs Division, the Charities Division, and the Legislative Policy Division. As a result of the January 2006 reorganization, new responsibilities and names were assigned to the Policy and Planning Branch, which became Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch, and the Corporate Strategies and Business Development Branch. From 1995-2003, the Policy and Planning Branch was called the Policy and Legislation Branch. Before 1995, it was called the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Branch. In meeting the CCRA's mandate to administer tax laws, govern trade policies, collect revenues and make payments to individuals and corporations, the Branch is accountable for the interpretation and remission administration of pertinent legislative acts such as the Excise Act, Excise Tax Act, Income Tax Act, Air Travellers Security Charge Act, as well as aspects of the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Pension Plan. In addition to administrative functions, the Branch acts as the focal point for co-ordination of CRA's input into the legislative agenda and as the liaison with other departments in areas of interdepartmental responsibility such as the income tax system. Also, the Branch provides guidance to the regions on all excise matters, federal-provincial relations, and the coordination of international relations. Furthermore, the Branch exercises responsibility for the registration and monitoring of charities and deferred income plans. Finally, in matters such as income tax, excise, GST/HST, incentives, benefits, trusts, and pensions, the Branch is responsible for the generation of statistics for data release, and for socio-economic analysis, research, forecasting, and modeling.
