With the deadline for Canadians to file their taxes just days away, some accountants are worried that the public servants’ strike could cause low-income taxpayers to miss out on filing and securing access to the benefits they rely on.
The strike of more than 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency employees has made it much more difficult to reach out to government experts, with some services suspended and others seeing prolonged delays.
“People don’t have three or four hours in their day to sit there and wait on the CRA to answer their phone calls,” said Eric Saumure, a chartered accountant with Zenbooks.
“The CRA does have a mandate to help Canadians file their taxes appropriately, and the CRA agents just aren’t there to help.”
Saumure was “absolutely surprised” when Minister of Revenue Diane Lebouthillier announced last week that the tax deadline will not change because of the strike, especially since the CRA was able to extend such allowances at the start of the pandemic.
“There’s gonna be penalties. There’s gonna be interest. Canadians just don’t have the money for additional penalties. They barely have enough to pay the taxes that that the government is putting in place.”
There are about 39,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers on strike. Of them, 1,400 have been deemed essential workers. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
‘Agents aren’t there to support them’
Saumure channelled that frustration into a petition that urges the government to extend its deadline to June 15, when those who are self-employed are required to file their returns.
By late Monday, it was nearing 25,000 signatures.
“This is really blowing up,” he said, pointing to complications with CERB repayments and new tax credits that some people might need clarification on. “And the agents aren’t there to support them.”
Marc d’Orgeville, the executive director of Ottawa’s EBO Financial Education Centre, supports the petition’s goal, but he wants more: an assurance that people who do not file their taxes on time will continue to have access to crucial benefits.
“Benefits are set for the year and they start in July based on the taxes you’re going to file now for the previous year,” he explained. “One aspect, which is critical for low income Canadians is to file taxes to get their benefits.”
The Canada Revenue Agency is encouraging Canadians to file their taxes online so they can be processed automatically, but those who work with people living on a low income say that can be a challenge. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
Benefits can make up half a person’s income
The government agency has encouraged people to file online, so their returns can be processed automatically. But Saumure and d’Orgeville said that’s not easy for everyone.
“For lots of vulnerable and low-income Canadian, they don’t have the skills or they have a locked account with CRA and they cannot get that information and they would not be able to file taxes without that,” d’Orgeville said.
His organization runs a tax clinic to help people in this situation. Appointments from now to deadline day are full, but clients can still book one for a late filing.
“If you file in May, you’re probably OK to get your benefit on time in July. If you file in June, you’re probably too late. So we’re going to try to to submit as many taxes as possible for people who need our help.”
While it may not be time to panic just yet, d’Orgeville underscored that this situation is stressful.
“It can be 50 per cent of their income which disappears in July, if you take a family with four children working or on social assistance,” he said. “If you take a senior who’s receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement, this can also be 50 per cent.”
Marc Brière from the Union of Taxation Employees says members want to help those filing their taxes, but they can’t continue to work without a contract. (Julie Ireton/CBC)
Union also pushing for deadline extension
Marc Brière, the national president of the Union of Taxation Employees — which is a subcomponent of PSAC and represents the CRA workers on strike — said he understands the situation is frustrating for people, and wants the Canada Revenue Agency to resolve the issue.
“I don’t understand the minister’s and the government’s decision to not postpone the filing season,” he said. “I just don’t get it. I think they will have to.”
He also said workers would much rather be on the phone lines than the picket lines, especially at a time when the CRA typically gets around 1,000,000 calls a week.
But he said timing the strike in this way allows the union “to apply pressure.”
“I’m asking you, if we would not be in that position, would the government care or would we still be without a contract for the next two to three years?”
CRA spokesperson Adam Blondin responded to the filing concerns in a statement which reiterated the government’s intention to keep the current deadline in place.
“The CRA encourages Canadians to file on time in order to continue to receive the benefits and credits they are entitled to and to avoid late filing penalties,” he wrote. “However, when circumstances beyond a Canadian’s control prevent them from meeting their tax obligations, the CRA may grant relief from penalty or interest.”
The promise of a case-by-case review will provide little comfort to worried taxpayers, Saumure said.
“I think that’s a default answer,” he explained. “We don’t suspect that every Canadian will be eligible.”
All in a Day9:39The deadline to file your taxes is almost here
An Ottawa tax accountant is asking that it be pushed to a later date as many CRA employees are on picket lines.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers placed All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve because of his lingering calf and Achilles tendon injuries.
The move made Saturday means McCaffrey will miss at least four more games after already sitting out the season opener. He is eligible to return for a Thursday night game in Seattle on Oct. 10.
McCaffrey got hurt early in training camp and missed four weeks of practice before returning to the field on a limited basis last week. He was a late scratch for the opener on Monday night against the Jets and now is sidelined again after experiencing pain following practice on Thursday.
McCaffrey led the NFL last season with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for the league lead with 21 touchdowns, winning AP Offensive Player of the Year.
The Niners made up for McCaffrey’s absence thanks to a strong performance from backup Jordan Mason, who had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. Mason is set to start again Sunday at Minnesota.
After missing 23 games because of injuries in his final two full seasons with Carolina, McCaffrey had been healthy the past two seasons.
He missed only one game combined in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 game last season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf. His 798 combined touches from scrimmage in the regular season and playoffs were the third most for any player in a two-year span in the past 10 years.
Now San Francisco will likely rely heavily on Mason, a former undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech who had 83 carries his first two seasons. He had at least 10 touches just twice before the season opener, when his 28 carries were the most by a 49ers player in a regular-season game since Frank Gore had 31 against Seattle on Oct. 30, 2011.
The Niners also have fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. on the active roster. Guerendo played three offensive snaps with no touches in the opener. Taylor had 65 carries for Green Bay from 2021-23.
San Francisco also elevated safety Tracy Walker III from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against Minnesota.
BRUSSELS – Canada walked away with some hardware at the Diamond League track and field competition Saturday.
Alysha Newman finished third in women’s pole vault, while Marco Arop did the same in the men’s 800-metre race.
Newman won a bronze medal in her event at the recent Paris Olympics. Arop grabbed silver at the same distance in France last month.
Australia’s Nina Kennedy, who captured gold at the Summer Games, again finished atop the podium. Sandi Morris of the United States was second.
Newman set a national record when she secured Canada’s first-ever pole vault medal with a bronze at the Olympics with a height of 4.85 metres. The 30-year-old from London, Ont., cleared 4.80 metres in her second attempt Saturday, but was unable conquer 4.88 metres on three attempts.
Arop, a 25-year-old from Edmonton, finished the men’s 800 metres with a time of one minute 43.25 seconds. Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya was first with a time of 1:42.70.
Djamel Sedjati, edged out by Arop for silver in Paris last month, was second 1:42.87
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2024.
MILAN (AP) — Bologna’s preparations for its Champions League debut are not going well though it managed to spoil Como’s first Serie A home match in 21 years on Saturday.
Bologna came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw to gather three points from its opening four matches.
Bologna hosts Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Its only other appearance in Europe’s top competition was in 1964 in the preliminary round of the old European Cup.
AC Milan is also winless as it prepares for a Tuesday Champions League match against Liverpool. The Rossoneri hosted promoted Venezia later. Juventus drew at Empoli 0-0.
Como made a great start in the fifth minute when Patrick Cutrone attempted to roll the ball across the six-yard box but it took a huge deflection off Bologna defender Nicolò Casale for an own goal.
Bologna thought it was gifted a way back into the match on the stroke of halftime when referee Marco Piccinini signalled for a penalty following an Alberto Moreno handball, but he revoked his decision and instead gave a free kick because the handball was just outside the area.
Bologna improved after the break but found itself further behind when Cutrone raced onto a through ball and cut inside past a defender and fired into the far bottom corner.
Tommaso Pobega hit the post for Bologna, which finally pulled one back in the 76th through substitute Santiago Castro.
Another substitute helped the visitors snatch a point when Samuel Iling-Junior curled a fine strike into the top left corner in stoppage time.
Unbeaten sides
Juventus, and more surprisingly Empoli, are among six unbeaten sides.
Empoli held Monza and Bologna to draws either side of a shock 2-1 win at Roma. Juventus’ perfect start to the season was ruined by Roma in a goalless draw before the international break.
On Saturday, there were few clearcut chances in Empoli although home goalkeeper Devis Vásquez made spectacular saves to fingertip out a Federico Gatti header and deny Dusan Vlahovic in a one on one with the Juventus forward.
Empoli had a good opportunity in the 73rd minute following an Alberto Grassi one-two with Pietro Pellegri but the finish was straight at Mattia Perin.
The host could have won it right at the death but Gatti flew in with a great sliding block to keep out Emanuel Gyasi’s close-range effort.
Juventus hosts PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.
