Chasing waste in pandemic relief programs has cost taxpayers a third of a billion dollars so far, record show. The Canada Revenue Agency assigned more than 2,000 employees to recovering billions in misspent subsidies, according to Blacklock's Reporter..Cabinet in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons said it spent $320 million on audits, investigations and debt collections as of this past March 31. “Total costs associated with the integrity activities for relief programs for future years (2023-2026) is estimated to be $556,487,045” for a total $876.7 million, said the Inquiry..“These forecasts are based on information available at the time and are subject to changes,” wrote staff. “Costs beyond March 31, 2026 will be re-evaluated at a later date.”.The figures were requested by Conservative MP Corey Tochor (Saskatoon-University) who asked, “With regard to recovery of overpayments and fraudulently obtained payments to the various COVID-19 related financial relief programs put in place by the government, how much did the Canada Revenue Agency spend to date and expect to spend in the future on recovering the payments?”.A total 2,601 Agency employees were assigned to recovering wasted pandemic relief, said the Inquiry. Costs of audits and debt collections to date included:.• $234 million under the Canada Response Benefit;• $229 million under the Emergency Response Benefit;• $184 million under the Emergency Wage Subsidy;• $65.9 million under the Recovery Sickness Benefit;• $63 million under the Emergency Rent Subsidy..The disclosure follows an audit Tuesday that estimated at least $32 billion in relief was paid to underserving claimants after the Revenue Agency failed to make cursory checks on applications. “Our government made courageous choices,” Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier told the House of Commons. “We chose to save lives and save the economy.”.“We start from a place of trust with Canadians,” said Lebouthillier. “We trust that when Canadians need support they can access it. We trust that when Canadians are in a vulnerable position they will have access to the benefits and supports they need.”.Records show the Revenue Agency that managed most pandemic relief programs sent payments to federal prisoners, companies in tax default, Grade Nine students and other claimants. Executives at the time said they were confident they did a good job..“I think we are doing a very good job,” Frank Vermaeten, assistant revenue commissioner, testified at an April 16, 2020 hearing of the Commons finance committee..“We definitely have been working very hard,” said Vermaeten. “It is a significant undertaking, complex,” he added.
