Closures at Canada Revenue Agency: even less service for Canadians

Thousands of Canadians lose their only point of contact

BROSSARD — The Conservative’s planned closure of all Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) service counters will mean that thousands of Canadians will lose their only means of contact with the Agency,

“Many people have no choice but to go to the Canada Revenue Agency counter for information on their taxes,” explained NDP National Revenue Critic Hoang Mai (Brossard La Pairie). “These people will be totally abandoned by the CRA after these closures.”

According to information published in the media, all CRA information and payment counters across the country will be closed in the next few months. Nearly 285 employees will be laid off or reassigned.

The cuts follow the Conservative government’s decision to reduce criminal investigations by Revenue Canada. Last year, the work of investigators allowed the agency to recover $22.8 million from 204 individuals and led to prison sentences totalling 47 years.

“Each dollar invested at the Agency is profitable for society,” said Mai. “There’s no way to justify these cuts. The Conservatives making purely ideological decisions and Canadians are paying the price.”