When in doubt, Canada Revenue Agency, don’t use humour to get your point across.
Access-to-information records show public ridicule led to the CRA deleting a post on X after attempting to garner some lighthearted laughs with taxpayers, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
A cartoon character known as a Minion from the series of Despicable Me movies was used in an X post on July 4 to encourage people to file a yearly return in exchange for federal benefits.
“A post was published to promote the application of the Canada Child Benefit,” said a July 4 staff memo.
“However the initial post was met with bewilderment from journalists, media personalities and politicians such as leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre, who responded to the post on X. The agency later decided to delete the post.”
CRA posted a Minion character with the message: “Bello bananaaaa!”
“Oops, the Minions were at it again!” wrote the CRA. “What they meant was: ‘The kids wearing you out?’ At least applying for the Canada Child Benefit is easy.”
In response, Poilievre said: “This is the kind of wacko stuff Trudeau’s tax department is busy posting to make you forget they are taking more of your money than ever before.”
CRA spokesperson Kim Thiffault said in a staff email: “We decided to remove the post to maintain the focus on our core message.”
Since 2015, the CRA has hired consultants for advice in reaching taxpayers via social media.