In our first two budgets, we have invested $1 billion. As we have repeatedly said, these are unprecedented budgets in which the government gave priority to the fight against tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. This has enabled us to hire 100 auditors. However, the Conservative government eliminated 50 auditor positions assigned to international tax evasion.
As of September 30, 2017, those funds had allowed the agency to conduct more than 990 audits and 42 criminal investigations related to financial structures abroad. Those activities are still ongoing.
That's the work those investments will allow the Canada Revenue Agency to accomplish in the next five years. The first budget, approved in 2016, covered the period ending in 2021. Budget 2017 provided for additional funds. This will help us work on tax evasion until 2022.