120 employees ‘no longer part of CRA’ after review of CERB claims – National
The Canada Revenue Agency says 120 employees are no longer with the agency following an internal review of employees who applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
The CRA announced the review process on June 30, and so far approximately 600 cases have been reviewed. The agency adds that the investigations and the disciplinary process are continuing.
When the CRA initially announced the review process, it said 20 employees had been laid off.
“Any CRA employee who has improperly requested the CERB will be required to repay the amounts if they have not already done so,” CRA spokeswoman Sylvie Branch said in a statement. to PKBNEWS on Friday.
“The CRA takes any form of wrongdoing very seriously and is firmly committed to protecting the integrity of Canada’s tax and benefit systems and demonstrating to Canadians that the CRA is a reliable and fair organization.
The CRA was responsible for administering the $2,000 per month CERB when it was in effect between March and September 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Branch’s statement notes that being an employee of the CRA does not necessarily make a person ineligible for the CERB. She points out that the CRA employs temporary and contract workers, who might have been eligible, as an example.
So far, the review found that 30 employees had applied for the CERB and were eligible.
Branch pointed out that more than 60,000 employees work for the CRA and that the agency has confidence in their overall integrity.
– with a file from Sean Boynton.
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