OTTAWA — Leaked memos from the Canada Revenue Agency suggest changes are in the works for its employees, citing a “period of fiscal constraint.”
The memo to all staff from CRA commissioner Bob Hamilton and deputy Jean-François Fortin, a copy of which was viewed by the Toronto Sun, said the agency is starting to wind down a number of programs they were asked to facilitate on behalf of the government — resulting in a number of new measures including a freeze in hiring and promotions, and new strict rules regarding overtime.
“Throughout the pandemic, the agency underwent significant changes to support Canadians,” read the memo.
“Due to an urgent need to deliver large scale emergency relief funding to Canadians and Canadian businesses, we received a large increase in resources so that we could deliver crucial COVID programs. As a result of the CRA’s capacity to support the administration of these high-profile programs, we were asked to help administer a number of new initiatives, such as the Canadian Carbon Rebate and the interim administration of the Canadian Care Dental Plan.”
But as the government shifts its focus and begins winding down pandemic-era programming, the memo said the time’s come for the agency to concentrate on its key services.
“While this involves making some difficult decisions, they are necessary to safeguard the long-term sustainability of the Agency,” the memo read.
That includes an immediate and indefinite freeze on hiring, permanent promotions, assignment of non-critical work, student hiring and bridging programs and cross-department interchange programs.
As well, all non-critical overtime is cancelled, as is cashing-out or rolling-over unused vacation days.
Approval of overtime or staffing changes will only be approved by assistant commissioners.
“In addition to these national measures, some branches and regions may have initiated other measures, including reduction in travel, reduction in training, reduced consultant contracts, decisions on terms, and the early end of acting assignments,” the memo continued.
“Additional measures may be required, at both the national and branch/regional levels, as this is an evolving situation.
The memo says restrictions “will be relaxed over time,” as their financial woes stabilize.
Canada Revenue Agency is among the public service’s largest source of overtime costs, with $59.1 million spent in OT in 2023 — with a single employee earning $112,000 just in overtime that year.
The agency’s most expensive year for overtime was 2021, when $65.9 was paid out.
This year’s federal budget announced plans to cut the federal public service by 5,000 positions over the next four years, largely through attrition.
Polling over the summer suggest Canadians want to see Canada’s bloated public service put on a diet.
Canada’s public service — the country’s largest employer — grew by 42% over the past nine years, while Canada’s population only grew by 14% over the same time period.
As of 2024, 59,115 public servants work for CRA, up from 39,484 in 2016.
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