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Results: 121 - 135 of 461
View Francesco Sorbara Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Chair, and good morning, everyone.
I have a quick question for the CRA officials about page 4 of the Auditor General's report. Can you just explain the difference between automated benefit applications and benefits online applications very quickly and simply, please?
Bob Hamilton
View Bob Hamilton Profile
Bob Hamilton
2021-05-04 12:03
You probably have your best chance of getting a simple answer from me, so I'll start, Madam Chair.
For the automated benefit application, which Mr. Vermaeten referred to earlier, we automatically register at birth. That applies in all provinces and one territory.
An online application is done through My Account or on the website. That would be the difference between the two. One is automatic at birth, and for the the other, you apply. Some people call it automatic, but you have to go through a web source.
View Francesco Sorbara Profile
Lib. (ON)
Moving on from that, but related to that, is the number of mail-in applications for the last period. As you know, I'm a big proponent of digitization. The number of mail-in applications is still 154,000 for the last reported period for the fiscal year 2019-20.
How can the CRA, working with all government departments.... We're working on the unique single identifier number with ESDC. That's in the budget, and we've talked about it at committee here. There's e-payroll and there's a pilot project on that. How can we get these mail-in applications to either be moved to online applications or be done automatically?
For example, the Canada workers benefit is an online benefit—sort of in a different respect—that's automatically done when you file your taxes. How do we get these mail-in applications online digitally? I can go to my CRA account and log in, and there's my CCB or my unique identifier number. How can we get these eliminated and moved online?
Bob Hamilton
View Bob Hamilton Profile
Bob Hamilton
2021-05-04 12:05
That is a tremendous preoccupation for us at the agency.
To be fair, we've had a lot of success in this, in that we have over 90% of tax filings submitted electronically. From our perspective, we're trying to do everything we can to make it as simple as possible for people to do it electronically.
One of the issues we have to recognize is that some people are just not comfortable doing it electronically. They like paper. We also have to pay attention to them, because we don't want to leave anybody behind. However, we are taking more of an incentive approach rather than mandating it. For example, we're trying to make it as attractive as possible for people. We're going piece by piece through the agency to look for areas where we can improve on that front, because it is going to be important for the future and much more efficient, with fewer errors.
View Francesco Sorbara Profile
Lib. (ON)
Absolutely.
I'd prefer having those hard-working call centre agents, whom I met when I was in Winnipeg as the parliamentary secretary and saw what they were doing, helping folks more directly in terms of front-counter service, if I can use that term, rather than just processing the mail-in applications, which they do in a very efficient manner.
Lastly, relating to that, we know that more than about 12% of Canadians do not file their taxes. In Ontario, the number I've seen is around 15%. They tend to be our most vulnerable in society.
The only way a family or an individual with a child can collect the CCB is if they file their taxes. With the time we have, can we briefly touch upon the progress made in ensuring that eligible Canadians and family members receive the CCB?
Bob Hamilton
View Bob Hamilton Profile
Bob Hamilton
2021-05-04 12:07
As we discussed earlier, as a component of this, we have a concern about the number of people who don't file and would be eligible for benefits. That's part of a bigger issue for us. We want to see people filing wherever possible, but it's a particular case for people who are not filing, because by not doing that, they become ineligible for the benefits.
We've had a push and talked about a few of the elements. There's obviously the community volunteer income tax program, which provides a trustful place where people can have their forms done. We do a lot of outreach all across the agency. Across the country, we have groups going out to talk to vulnerable populations and to increase awareness.
I think the final thing we need to do is make it as easy as possible for people to do it. In some cases, maybe that means simplifying a form or making our website easier to navigate.
Those are the kinds of things we're doing. As well, we're looking at newcomers to the country to make sure that they can process the information that we provide to be able to get the benefits they're entitled to.
View Luc Berthold Profile
CPC (QC)
Thank you.
I join my colleagues in congratulating the Canada Revenue Agency representatives for the work they have done concerning the benefit. Like my colleague Mr. Tochor, I think this program is very effective and well-managed. So I congratulate all of the agency's representatives and officials.
Mr. Hamilton, the agency has been under attack fairly regularly for some time, so your team and you have earned that recognition.
My question is for Mr. Dompierre.
Mr. Dompierre, in the second paragraph of your opening remarks, you say, “The Canada child benefit is a key public policy tool for reducing inequalities and poverty among low–income families.” However, your report makes no comparison nor does it refer to that statement.
Can you tell us why you thought it was a good idea to mention this in your opening remarks?
Martin Dompierre
View Martin Dompierre Profile
Martin Dompierre
2021-05-04 12:10
Thank you for the question.
In the current context, we wanted to bring up the fact that this program helped low–income families in need. We were also guided by the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We considered issues related to the temporary amount paid out as part of the measures related to this crisis. It is really in this spirit that I added that element to my presentation, as I wanted to highlight that this program was well received by Canadians, who wanted that kind of a program.
View Luc Berthold Profile
CPC (QC)
That seems to be a political comment to me. That is why I wanted to let you know. The auditor general's comments are usually very well documented and based on specific elements.
I do not disagree with what you said, but I wanted to know why it was indicated in that way. This is literally a comment on government policy. This comment is more political than based on facts.
I am just making a quick comment, but I don't blame you for it. I also think this was an absolutely essential program. It was worth mentioning this element.
Mr. Hamilton, I wanted to talk to you about communication among departments. I saw in your action plan that you were going to put in efforts to improve that communication.
I recently received from the minister a letter about a completely different issue. I am talking about the famous issue between Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency concerning the Canada recovery caregiving benefit, or CRCB. For people to be able to obtain answers, data must be shared between a CRA agent and a Service Canada agent.
Don't you think it is high time for the two organization to talk to each other and find a solution to those communication and data sharing issues, since those problems have been surfacing more and more frequently?
Bob Hamilton
View Bob Hamilton Profile
Bob Hamilton
2021-05-04 12:12
That is indeed an issue for us in general.
In the action plan, we mentioned a few changes concerning situations where it is necessary to obtain information from another department.
For example, at the Department of Immigration, it is important to have information on newcomers, as well as on people emigrating from Canada. So we exchange information with the Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, but—
View Luc Berthold Profile
CPC (QC)
Do those exchanges have to be done from person to person? Can the information be obtained electronically?
Bob Hamilton
View Bob Hamilton Profile
Bob Hamilton
2021-05-04 12:13
That's what I'm getting at. We're increasingly using an automated system in which systems specific to both departments can communicate with each other. It isn't necessary to have someone from CBSA talking to someone from the Department of Immigration.
This poses a challenge, however, since each agency and department has its own system. I hope that we'll gradually develop systems that can communicate with each other. We've already made a great deal of progress in this area, but there's still a lot to do. This is important for the future, given the largely digital economy.
We have processes, but we need to improve them and automate them more for Canadians. You're right about that.
View Luc Berthold Profile
CPC (QC)
In your opinion, is the Treasury Board paying enough attention to this issue? Is it putting enough pressure on different departments to find a solution quickly?
Bob Hamilton
View Bob Hamilton Profile
Bob Hamilton
2021-05-04 12:14
The Treasury Board is paying very close attention to this issue and to a number of other issues.
The Canada child benefit poses a challenge. However, I suspect that it isn't the biggest challenge facing the government.
The Treasury Board is paying attention to this issue, and we'll continue to work with the other departments.
View Greg Fergus Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to join my colleagues in congratulating the Canada Revenue Agency employees for their outstanding work in continuing to fulfill their commitments to Canada's most vulnerable families, who have received the Canada child benefit.
My questions are for Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. Hamilton, as I just said, the employees, your colleagues at the Canada Revenue Agency, have worked tirelessly since the start of the pandemic. A number of them have worked long hours from home, but they have always worked to ensure that the needs of Canadians come first. I know these people very well. As a member of Parliament for the National Capital Region, I've seen the outstanding work done by public servants, especially the people who work for the CRA.
Given the situation and the fact that more and more people are working from home, how can your department keep restructuring its processes to ensure the continuation of Canada child benefit payments or other services and programs managed by the agency?
Results: 121 - 135 of 461 | Page: 9 of 31

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