It's also odd to call business owners tax cheats, when they too at following the law.  Agree?  The difference here is he knew what he was doing, and if you believe holding shares in a corp. so as not to own them personally, but at the same time own the voting shares, therefore total control of the holco makes it right, you're blind.  The issue is control.  He may not own them personally, but if he controls the holdco that does, he controls them.  He should not. If you can't see that, you choose to be willfully blind.  Can you imagine if Flaherty did that.  The Liberals would be FREAKING OUT and demanding jail time.