Photo by Vince Fedoroff
IMPROVING ACCESS TO TAXATION SERVICES – Diane Lebouthillier, the federal Minister of National Revenue, announces the Whitehorse office of the Canada Revenue Agency will be re-established. The former Conservative government had closed it in 2012, spurring considerable public objections.
Whitehorse, as well as Yellowknife and Iqaluit, will be home to a new Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) office before the next tax season.
Whitehorse, as well as Yellowknife and Iqaluit, will be home to a new Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) office before the next tax season.
Diane Lebouthillier, the federal Minister of National Revenue, announced the plans – budgeted at $6 million per year – for the new offices during a press conference this morning at the MacBride Museum.
“Our government is following through on its promise to better serve Indigenous communities and Canadians who live in the North,” Lebouthillier said.
“In the past few years, I have had the opportunity to become more aware of the issues that specifically affect northern communities.
“Northern residents face unique challenges when the time comes to file an income tax return to receive benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit and the northern residents deductions.
“The opening of these three service centres will bring the CRA closer to people year-round,” the minister said.
Among the three service centres will be 12 staffers providing a physical presence to those who need assistance with tax services.
The offices will expand on outreach program activities, the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, and liaison officer services for business and those who are self-employed.
As it was highlighted in a statement on the plans: “The agency will also set up dedicated telephone lines to make it easier for territorial residents to contact officers with specialized training to address their needs.”
The plans come out of recommendations from consultations and roundtable discussions held over the past couple of years.
Lebouthillier acknowledged “there is still more work to do.”
She noted efforts are underway for consultations to happen looking at ways to deal with the complications of the northern taxes with things like travel deductions and the residency credits.
At this morning’s press conference, Yukon MP Larry Bagnell – who promised the office would be reopened during the 2015 federal election campaign – praised the efforts.
He pointed out the federal Liberals’ commitment to reopen the CRA offices (such as the Whitehorse office) that closed in 2012 ago under the then-Conservative government.
Bagnell also noted the consultation work could lead to changes that may result in fewer northerners being reassessed on their taxes.
Also speaking at this morning’s press conference was Premier Sandy Silver.
“This is very good news,” he said, adding he’s pleased the federal government is responding to Yukoners’ needs.
It’s no secret that navigating the tax system can be challenging. The new office will help ensure Yukoners are better able to file their taxes and receive the benefits they are entitled to, Silver said.
Officials noted work is now underway in looking at locations in each territorial capital for the new offices.
They will be open during regular business hours through the week.
The office’s closure under Stephen Harper’s provoked considerable apprehensions and protests.
Groups like the Yukon Council on Aging spoke about its members missing the convenience of local services, a public meeting ensued, and hundreds of people signed a protest petition.
Ryan Leef, then the Yukon’s Conservative MP, pointed out the closure was part of a national pattern of CRA office eliminations.
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Comments (14)
Up 5 Down 5
My Opinion on Aug 27, 2018 at 12:56 pm
While phoning in with questions you also will get flagged for audits. Avoid this at all costs.
Up 19 Down 1
CJ on Aug 26, 2018 at 11:57 am
@Jack, Are you kidding? Have you actually had to phone CRA in the past few years? Do you have any idea how consequential interactions with CRA can be?
I think I read they're adding staff now, but not too long ago it was not unusual at all to not be able to get anyone on the phone. Incredibly enough, the phone would ring and ring and ring, like you were calling someone's cottage in the off-season. When you did get someone, often they just didn't have an answer to your question. I've also gotten wrong information. I've made payments that didn't get recorded and required follow-up, with months passing before it was rectified. So "making a phone call" entailed taking hours of your time. It just makes more sense to do everything in writing. My tax situation is not that complicated, either.
As for the website taking up the slack -- CRA has the most unnavigable, counter-intuitive website I know of, if you're thinking you could actually conduct anything that way. I have never gone to the My Account section. Given my other experiences, I suspect it will mostly track your data, without being able to do anything useful.
Having said that, personal communications with CRA staff are generally pretty painless, when you put the time in to find them and take into account they often don't have the information you need.
If only for having forms available, I'm very happy this office is opening up again. What a ridiculous decision in the first place, to close down the tax office in a capital city in a remote location. Penny-wise, pound-foolish, like so many Conservative decisions. Why they wanted to make it even harder and more of an irritant to file your taxes is really beyond me.
Up 20 Down 3
Ginger Johnson on Aug 26, 2018 at 10:03 am
YAY - I for one am tired of being put on telephone hold for up to an hour and then trying to get an 18 year old with grade 3 level English to understand that I live in The Yukon and not Mississauga when dealing with a CRC problem that THEY caused.
Up 11 Down 4
Groucho d'North on Aug 25, 2018 at 5:45 pm
I would rather cheer for their work to reduce taxes more-so than making it easier to pay them. Liberal values at work here.
Up 15 Down 5
My Opinion on Aug 25, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Totally in favour of having this office back but hold it a Minute. How can this require 12 full time employees in three offices?
That is 4 employees per office. The old office here was run by one very efficient and knowledgeable lady that was a shame we lost. 6 Million a year, that is atrocious, it does not need to be that expensive.
The only thing that I can see that has increased the costs so much is the endless new taxes that the Liberals have imposed. Green Taxes, Carbon Taxes, Pot Taxes, all of the splitting of these taxes with the fourteen First Nations. Oh Lord Help Us.
Up 14 Down 3
Ilove Parks on Aug 25, 2018 at 2:16 pm
This is good news for many people and businesses.
We file with free tax programs and after income splitting and all deductions get good returns.
Up 14 Down 7
Gordon of Riverdale on Aug 25, 2018 at 1:21 pm
We're a long way from the tax center on Heron Road in Ottawa.
The Yukon NEEDS one of these.
Twas bone headed shortsightedness by the Harper Gang to get rid of it
in the first place.
Up 7 Down 19
Jack on Aug 25, 2018 at 2:07 am
''It’s no secret that navigating the tax system can be challenging. The new office will help ensure Yukoners are better able to file their taxes and receive the benefits they are entitled to, Silver said''
Such as? What needs to be done in the office which can't be done over the phone?
Up 11 Down 7
Josey Wales on Aug 24, 2018 at 11:27 pm
Gotta say it has been a pain since team blue closed it.
Rich however that team red undid it, as it is in their interest to have all the new taxes percolate to Ottawa quicker.
Whilst we are pandering to northern folks, why not base a SAR heavy heli here in the Yukon?
To think there are none north of 60 (to the best of my knowledge) given our vast spaces, and higher than regular volumes of people traversing said vastness...does strike me as odd.
For clarity I even will give it to team red for this correction, making it easier for us subjects to comply with the myriad of tax requirements.
By opening a office that should never have been closed to begin with.
There I said it, as even I cannot argue against clear logic despite the feeling it leaves one.
Why didn’t mr dress up come up here in big foam tax bill regalia complete with the white leotards and top hat...to announce this?
Budgets aside, and its cousin government bloat...thanks Diane.
Up 10 Down 7
At home in the Yukon on Aug 24, 2018 at 9:15 pm
Yes! Thank you. I have sorely missed not having the CRA office.
Up 8 Down 9
taxtheft on Aug 24, 2018 at 8:41 pm
Tax is extortion. Taxes pay for handouts by the govt in Ottawa. Out of everything collected by the CRA, barely a fraction of 1% goes toward roads and useful services - 50% + is waste and the rest is fraud, bribes and special interest groups that represent less than 1% of the population. NOT WITH MY FUNDS. I DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS LUNACY. Enough is enough and other peoples' money has run out! Cheers!
Up 8 Down 4
Doug Ryder on Aug 24, 2018 at 6:57 pm
May the audits begin... And may the odds be ever in your favour...
Up 16 Down 13
Yes! on Aug 24, 2018 at 6:01 pm
It's about time. Very happy to see this happening. That was a great little office and it was very useful to people who can't afford an accountant but who's returns are more complicated than a T4 slip. Sometimes you need to be steered in the right direction in terms of a form or whatever.
Thanks for NOTHING Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada.
Up 12 Down 7
Old accountant on Aug 24, 2018 at 5:47 pm
One of Larry’s promises. I am glad that this happening, but why did it take 3 years?