Question Period Note: CERB: INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS (EMPLOYEE)

There were media reports about CRA employees inappropriately claiming the CERB. What actions has the CRA taken to date to address this issue?

• The Canada Revenue Agency (Agency) is strongly committed to protecting the integrity of Canada’s tax and benefit systems.

• The Agency takes any form of wrongdoing very seriously. When misconduct is identified, appropriate actions are taken to address it.

• An internal review process was launched by the Agency to identify any Agency employees who inappropriately claimed the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) while employed with the Agency. As we are approaching completion of our internal review process, we are providing a final update. Here is the final update:
  • 330 employees who inappropriately received the CERB are no longer with the CRA as a result of this review.
  • 185 cases did not result in an end of employment. Of these cases, 40 resulted in other disciplinary actions, such as suspensions. The remaining cases resulted in administrative actions, such as end of review as the employee was no longer with the CRA at the time of the review, or they were found to be a victim of identity theft.
  • 135 other employees were found to have been eligible for the CERB, and no disciplinary actions were applied as a result of this review. Being a current employee of the CRA does not automatically mean an individual was ineligible for the benefit. The CRA employs individuals with a variety of employment profiles, such as temporary and student contracts; as such, some individuals were eligible to receive the CERB.

• Any Agency employee who inappropriately claimed the CERB will be required to repay the amounts if they haven’t already done so.

• Reviews of Agency employees who inappropriately claimed the CERB while working at the Agency are being handled through the Agency’s existing internal investigation and disciplinary processes, and could lead to referrals to law enforcement if criminality is suspected.

• The actions of some in no way undermine the honesty and integrity of the thousands of Agency employees who work every day in an exemplary manner to serve Canadians.

In June 2023, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) launched an internal review process to identify all CRA employees who inappropriately applied for and received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) while employed with the CRA. As the CRA has previously reported on September 1, 2023, December 20, 2023 and March 26, 2024, approximately 600 employees were identified for further investigation.

As we are approaching completion of our internal review process, we are providing a final update. Here is the final update:

330 employees who inappropriately received the CERB are no longer with the CRA as a result of this review.

185 cases did not result in an end of employment. Of these cases, 40 resulted in other disciplinary actions, such as suspensions. The remaining cases resulted in administrative actions, such as end of review as the employee was no longer with the CRA at the time of the review, or they were found to be a victim of identity theft.

135 other employees were found to have been eligible for the CERB, and no disciplinary actions were applied as a result of this review. Being a current employee of the CRA does not automatically mean an individual was ineligible for the benefit. The CRA employs individuals with a variety of employment profiles, such as temporary and student contracts; as such, some individuals were eligible to receive the CERB.

Each review was handled on a case-by-case basis and had its own outcome. In cases where misconduct was found following a review, disciplinary actions taken were relative to the seriousness of the misconduct. As well, any CRA employee who inappropriately applied for and received the CERB is required to repay the amounts if they haven’t already done so.
While the vast majority of the cases have now been reviewed, there are a very small number of cases, including employees on medical or extended unpaid leave, which will take additional time to complete.

The confidence and trust that Canadians have in the CRA is of the utmost importance to the CRA. The actions of some should in no way undermine the honesty and integrity of the tens of thousands of CRA employees who work every day in an exemplary manner to serve Canadians.

None