The number of Canada Revenue Agency employees who have been fired for improperly claiming the COVID-era Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) continues to climb, reaching 232.
That is an increase from the 185 employees who had been let go from the tax agency, as of December 2023, for applying to and receiving the emergency benefit while employed by the CRA. They are required to repay.
In its latest update of what has been a months-long internal investigation into approximately 600 employees, the CRA said that, so far, 133 employees who came under the microscope were eligible for CERB.
That is an increase from the 116 employees — who may have been temporary workers or on student contracts — who were cleared as of late last year.
“The CRA’s case-by-case review continues,” CRA spokesperson Sylvie Branch said in a statement.
“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 thousands of CRA employees who work every day in an exemplary manner to serve Canadians.”
More to come…
