Ottawa struggling to connect in-need Canadians with benefits, AG reports
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have not done enough to help hard-to-reach Canadians access the benefits they’re eligible for, says the auditor general.
In a new report issued Tuesday, Auditor General Karen Hogan found that neither the agency nor the department had a “clear and complete picture” of government benefit up-take, and as a result are “failing to improve” the lives of individuals who need the support most.
The benefits reviewed include the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB).
“Without a comprehensive action plan to better measure benefit take-up, to gather better information on the effectiveness of the department’s and agency’s efforts...the government will continue to struggle with reaching the populations they are targeting to raise awareness of and increase access to benefits meant to improve the lives of low income individuals and families,” Hogan’s report reads.
The auditor general says the CRA and ESDC identified Indigenous Peoples, housing insecure individuals, newcomers to Canada including refugees, people with disabilities, seniors and youth as those who often have modest incomes and face several barriers to receiving benefits.
Barriers include low literacy levels, an inability to communicate in either English or French, a reluctance to disclose personal and financial information, the requirement to file a tax return or provide additional documentation such as a social insurance number, the complexity of the application process, limited access to financial services and geographic location.
In the 2020-21 fiscal year, the government spent more than $18 million on outreach activities to increase awareness of eligible benefits for low-income Canadians but doesn’t have a sense of the funding’s impact.
While most recent estimates of take-up rates show an increase of eligible recipients accessing the CCB, GIS, CLB, and CWB over the last several years, the auditor general notes it’s not an accurate snapshot as it doesn’t account for people who didn’t file their tax return, which is a requirement to access most benefits.
The CLB has the lowest up-take rate, at 42 per cent.
Among her recommendations, Hogan is calling on the CRA, ESDC, and Statistics Canada to establish a joint “prioritization, planning, monitoring, and reporting process” to improve how they measure the reception of benefits. All three organizations agreed with the suggestion.
This is one of four reports Hogan’s office released on Tuesday.
Families, Children and Social Development of Canada Minister Karina Gould spoke to the findings later in the day, noting that improving access to benefits is a top priority for her department.
In 2020, the federal government launched Reaching All Canadians in an attempt to do exactly that. The program uses “data-driven interventions” to eliminate barriers for vulnerable populations to access supports, such as proactive mail-outs, call campaigns, language changes on application forms and partnerships with community groups.
Gould said the pandemic has made it challenging to connect face-to-face with First Nations communities specifically to ensure they are tapping into services they’re entitled to.
“That's something that we're looking to start up again to make sure that we are building that trust,” said Gould.
Hogan suggests establishing performance indicators to measure outreach programs, something both the CRA and the ESDC have committed to implement. However, the CRA noted there are limitations to this as the agency does not currently collect personal data of individuals who participate.
IN DEPTH
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6908378.1717168772!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6850735.1713368648!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.5996117.1658365219!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado watches possible amid high risk of storms in Ontario, Quebec
As a severe thunderstorm watch sets in across southwest and central Quebec, concerns circulate of major weather to come.
Ontario man can't collect lottery prize after he forgets where he bought ticket
An Ontario man who bought a lottery ticket was thrilled to find out he won, but collecting his winnings turned out to be a challenge.
Flurry of tornado activity reported across Manitoba
A low pressure system tracking in from Saskatchewan Wednesday night triggered a spurt of tornado warnings across southwestern Manitoba.
DEVELOPING G7 leaders finalizing deal to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine war efforts
Canada and its G7 allies are in the final stages of a deal that would see US$50 billion loaned to Ukraine.
Mother wants child's ICU visit investigated alongside tonsil surgery deaths at Hamilton hospital
An Ontario mother is sharing her story after she says her daughter almost died following a tonsillectomy at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
opinion Can you cut your monthly bills through negotiation?
If you feel like you're in over your head with monthly bills and subscription fees, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew has some tips and tricks on how to negotiate with certain companies to help cut your expenses and put money back in your pocket.
Stop gas expansion for home heating or risk leaving ratepayers on the hook: report
Provinces must stop natural gas expansion and invest in electrification to keep home heating reliable and cost-effective, a new report says, suggesting ratepayers and governments could otherwise be on the hook for billions of dollars in underused and overbuilt gas infrastructure.
Tipping in Canada: How much really goes to the employee?
Consumers may have many reasons to feel tip fatigue. But who loses out when we decide to tip less, or not at all? CTVNews.ca spoke with a few industry experts to find out how tipping works and who actually receives the money.
Interactive maps: Check the air quality, wildfires near your home
To help Canadians get an up-to-date picture of the quality of the air they're breathing in their communities, CTVNews.ca has created a tracker showing the current Air Quality Health Index conditions for 100+ locations across Canada, as well as the current locations of wildfire outbreaks.
Local Spotlight
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6923612.1718208274!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpeg)
Video captures whale breaching off Peggy's Cove, N.S.
Peggy's Cove, N.S., is one of the most famous locations in the Maritimes. Recent visitors were treated to more than just the iconic landmark.
Hundreds of fans line up to meet the Trailer Park Boys at promotional event
Hundreds of fans lined up to meet the Trailer Park Boys in Dartmouth, N.S., Tuesday, as Ricky, Bubbles and Julian promoted their new brand of potato chips.
'Nothing a little duct tape won't fix': Bear breaks into northern Ont. woman's car, destroys interior before taking nap
Car break-ins plague Canadians across the country, but instead of worrying about theft, a northern Ontario woman is cleaning up a big mess that she says will not be covered by insurance after a black bear broke into her Honda Civic and took a nap.
Albertans attempt to build the world’s tallest Popsicle stick structure
Members of a Hutterite colony in southern Alberta have potentially built the world's tallest structure made of Popsicle sticks.
After 300 days in a B.C. shelter, this dog finally found his forever home
A dog who spent the first three-and-a-half years of his life suffering and almost a year at a shelter has found his forever home, according to the BC SPCA.
Great-grandma celebrates 108th birthday in Vancouver
In most families, ringing in a 100th birthday is a massive milestone. Minni Pelman’s family certainly thinks so – as they celebrate her 108th birthday in the park outside her building.
'It's a unique addition': Winnipeg man adds original Eaton's sign to growing collection
Showing off the latest purchase in his Eaton's collection, Corey Quintaine joked he is rebuilding the former flagship store that used to sit at 320 Portage Avenue one Facebook Marketplace purchase at a time.
An 11-year-old Ottawa girl wants to change the rules around backyard chickens
After learning about food security at school, 11-year-old Violette Ferguson wants fresh eggs and to change the rules around chickens in the city.
Ont. powerlifter battles back after catching mild cold that turned into rare and deadly disease
An Ontario powerlifter caught a mild cold last year. Six days later, he was fighting for his life in the ICU.