KPMG Canada hires federal tax leader Brian Ernewein

KPMG Canada has hired Brian Ernewein, a retired high-ranking federal bureaucrat, as a senior advisor within its tax practice.

Ernewein, who previously spent 35 years in the department of finance’s tax policy branch, will advise the consulting firm’s global tax policy leadership on the implications of tax policies on Canadian multinationals and industry groups. He will also focus on the impact of OECD-led work on digital taxation and global minimum tax, European Union country-by-country public reporting, US tax reform, and interest deductibility limitations.

US treasury secretary Janet Yellen has for years been campaigning for a global minimum corporate tax. The policy would peg the global rate at 15% and would allow governments to tax companies based on where goods and services are sold as opposed to where they are headquartered (sorry, Accenture). The collective-action policy aims to prevent corporations from hopping around to lower-tax jurisdictions and pressuring tax rates downward.“Brian distinguished himself during his successful 35-year career with the Canadian government, earning recognition and respect for his keen understanding of complex domestic and international tax policies and laws,” said Lucy Iacovelli, Canadian managing partner, tax and chief administrative office, KPMG Law LLP.  “We are confident that his senior-level tax policy experience and insights will be a great asset to our national and global Tax practices, our legal team, and clients.”

Ernewein previously served as general director of the tax policy branch within the federal government’s department of finance. He also held several leadership roles within the tax legislation division, including assistant deputy minister, director, and senior chief.

For several years, Ernewein was Canada’s representative to the OECD’s committee on fiscal affairs (CFA), being elected to the CFA’s bureau in 2014 and then serving as vice-chair in 2016.

Ernewein has a law degree from The University of Western Ontario.

KPMG Law, the consultancy’s law firm affiliate, recently welcomed Adam Aptowitzer as leader of its newly formed charities and not-for-profit practice.