Global Courant
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says it has laid off 20 workers who “inappropriately” received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number is likely to increase as it investigates hundreds of other cases.
A CRA spokesperson confirmed the layoffs in a statement to CTVNews.ca Saturday morning.
“Given that the CRA is responsible for administering the income tax law and many COVID-19 benefits, the highest standard of employee conduct must be maintained,” the spokesperson said.
“The CRA understands the importance of transparency and integrity. The CRA also ensures that both Canadians and its employees know that the CRA takes any form of misconduct very seriously.”
The spokesperson said the agency is investigating a “very limited number” of employees — about 600 or less than one percent of the CRA’s more than 60,000 employees.
Some people may have been eligible for the CERB while it was available, the spokesperson said, as the CRA employs people in a variety of jobs, including temporary contracts and student contracts.
“Should misconduct be found following an investigation, disciplinary action will be related to the seriousness of the misconduct and any mitigating or aggravating factors. The most egregious instances of misconduct will result in the most severe disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Any assessment will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and will have its own outcome,” the spokesman said.
“In addition to the disciplinary action, serious misconduct may result in the revocation of an employee’s trustworthiness status, which is a condition of employment with CRA.”
OTHER NON ELIGIBLE CANADIANS RECEIVE CERB PAYMENTS
Under the CERB program, Canadians could receive up to $2,000 per month in financial support if the measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada would have affected their employment.
Canada’s Auditor General reported in December that of the estimated $211 billion in COVID-19 aid provided by the federal government, $4.6 billion in overpayments had been made to people ineligible for those funds.
An internal survey followed in February, Employment and Social Development Canada laid off 49 employees who received CERB while working there.
The CRA spokesman said the “situation involving such a limited number of our employees in no way undermines the honesty and integrity” of those “who work every day in an exemplary manner to serve Canadians”.
“The trust individuals and businesses have in the CRA is a cornerstone of the Canadian tax system and therefore the CRA has a duty to administer all benefits fairly, to safeguard and protect taxpayer information, and to deliver results to Canadians the statement said. said a spokesman.
“We expect our employees to adhere to the CRA’s Code of Integrity and Professional Conduct and the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector at all times.”
