Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/03/2022 (450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg senior says Ottawa is leaving the most vulnerable at risk of financial ruin, due to a delay in providing tax forms.

“This could really hurt people,” argued Art Proulx. “I am sure that many seniors need an early refund in this difficult time.”

Weeks ago, Proulx started doing his taxes, and noticed the Canada Revenue Agency website section on Canada Pension Plan retirement payments had a notice explaining some tax slips that normally arrive in February would be delayed to mid-March.

Proulx argues it will mean some of the poorest seniors will have to delay applying for their tax returns as they await documentation.

When asked what caused the delays, the Canada Revenue Agency referred questions to Employment and Social Development Canada, which provided an unrelated statement about labour strife at CP Rail.

Meanwhile, ESDC has reportedly hit a snag in issuing T4A forms, which are tax slips for retired people.

The issue stems from an August 2021 payment of $500 to people 75 years of age and older, which was mistakenly counted twice in some forms mailed to citizens, which have had to be reprinted.

ESDC told CTV News all 67,797 people who received an incorrect tax slip should get an updated one by this week, and the agency tried to phone everyone affected.

The agency, often called Service Canada, would not confirm this information to the Free Press on Thursday, instead pointing to the statement about the CP Rail labour dispute.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca