Tag: COVID Benefits

Number of CRA Employees Fraudulently Claiming CERB Not Disclosed by Commissioner Testimony

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Commissioner Bob Hamilton may have been less than forthcoming in testimony regarding the number of employees at the tax agency who were involved in fraudulent claims for COVID benefits. Although Hamilton previously told a Commons committee that there were “not very many” employees involved in the fraud, CRA spokesperson Sylvie Branch confirmed on…


Scrutiny of CRA Push to Collect on Overpaid COVID Benefits Welcome: Minister’s Office

Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier’s office says it welcomes a federal watchdog’s decision to monitor the Canada Revenue Agency’s approach to collecting on overpayments of COVID-19 benefits. The Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson announced Thursday it is monitoring complaints from people who say they are receiving collection letters from the CRA despite having repaid the government…


Here’s What the 2021 Census Says About How Many Canadians Received COVID Benefits

New data released Wednesday provides the clearest snapshot yet of how many Canadians accessed the COVID-19 support programs the government hastily rolled out at the beginning of the pandemic. Statistics Canada unveiled the information as part of its rollout of findings from the national census taken in May 2021. More than 20.7 million people received…


Does the Government Give Money Away for Free?

When I first got my driver’s license, my grandparents handed me down a second car they owned. Obviously, I was beyond grateful. What freshly-minted driver wouldn’t want a free car or truck? Of course, my first car wasn’t 100% free. Even though my grandparents gave me the car, I still had to pay for the…


With Hours Before Deadline, Liberals Reshape Pandemic Aid to Businesses, Workers

OTTAWA—Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is reshaping a suite of pandemic aid programs for businesses and individuals starting this weekend. The federal wage and rent subsidies are scheduled to expire on Saturday, along with benefits for some unemployed workers. Freeland says the measures were always designed to be temporary to get through…