CRA fires 20 employees for improper CERB claims, about 600 under investigation

The Canada Revenue Agency says it has fired 20 employees who received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number likely to increase as it investigates hundreds of other cases.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says it has fired 20 employees who "inappropriately" received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number likely to increase as it investigates hundreds of other cases.

A spokesperson for the CRA confirmed the dismissals in a statement to CTVNews.ca Saturday morning.

"As the CRA is responsible for administering the Income Tax Act and many COVID-19 benefits, the highest standard of employee conduct must be upheld," the spokesperson said.

"The CRA understands the importance of transparency and integrity. The CRA also ensures that both Canadians and its employees are aware that the CRA takes any form of wrongdoing very seriously."

The spokesperson said the agency is investigating a "very limited number" of employees — about 600 or less than one per cent of the CRA's more than 60,000-person workforce.

Some people may have been eligible for the CERB while it was available, the spokesperson said, since the CRA employs people under different types of employment including temporary and student contracts.

"Should misconduct be founded following an investigation, disciplinary actions are relative to the seriousness of the misconduct and any mitigating and aggravating factors. The most egregious cases of misconduct result in the most severe disciplinary measures, up to and including termination of employment. Each review is handled on a case-by-case basis and will have its own outcome," the spokesperson said.