Question Period Note: 2022-2023 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES (C) – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM CHANGES

Why is the Canada Revenue Agency seeking funding in the Supplementary Estimates (C) for annual information technology system changes?

• The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is a client-focused agency which exists to serve Canadians.
• The CRA is seeking $3.3M in funding to implement annual information technology system changes required as a result of federal legislative amendments.
• Each year, the CRA has to implement over 30 T1 and Benefits system changes and upgrades resulting from various federal budgets, economic statements, and other legislative instruments.
• Costs for the implementation of these initiatives and the associated ongoing costs are cumulative, and over the past five years have been increasing steadily.
• The incremental resources being sought to address this workload will reduce the risk associated with having to redirect funds from regular system maintenance activities.

Through the 2022-2023 Supplementary Estimates (C), the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is seeking $3.3M for annual information technology system changes.

Each year, the CRA has to implement over 30 T1 and Benefits system changes and upgrades resulting from various federal budgets, economic statements, and other legislative instruments which impact the federal portion of tax and benefits programs. In addition, some system changes have to be made to eliminate credits that were either temporary or were cancelled.

While each individual initiative is relatively small, costs for the implementation of these initiatives and the associated ongoing costs are cumulative, and over the past five years have been increasing steadily.

Several factors have contributed to the increase including, (1) applications are now more complex and highly integrated as a result of the CRA’s ongoing digital transformation, and (2) many existing systems have been upgraded to provide on-line, self-serve options which has created additional security testing work for all new enhancements.

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