NDP demands apology and refund for families affected by Child Tax Benefit error

Following the discovery that the Canada Revenue Agency mistakenly applied changes to the Child Tax Benefit six months too early, the NDP is calling on the Minister to formally apologise and ensure that the short-changed families are reimbursed.

As reported in a Montreal newspaper today, the Conservative government made changes to the child tax benefit in the 2011 budget. The new legislation was supposed to be applied to step-families formed after June 30th, but the Canada Revenue Agency started applying the new rules in January, six months too early. As a result, a $20 million dollar error that affected nearly 20,000 Canadian families who received $1,000 to $1,500 less than they were entitled to.

“The Canada Revenue Agency showed a complete lack of judgment,” said NDP Revenue Critic Hoang Mai (Brossard-La Prairie). “The Conservatives must apologize and ensure that families are reimbursed.”

“The government must be proactive and directly contact these families,” said Mai. “The Minister cannot wash her hands of this responsibility.”

New Democrats will question the Conservative government on this issue in the House of Commons this afternoon and demand an apology as well as a quick and thorough resolution.