Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thank you for your presence and for the work you and your officials do for our country.
We've had some discussions in the House in regard to the Canada child benefit. I note that in your presentation to this committee you said that the agency must ensure that Canadians receive the benefits to which they are entitled, and that is your priority.
Minister, I'm happy to hear you say that. I've worked on many cases where I see that a parent, typically the father, abandons the relationship, together with the children, and provides no forwarding address, in large part because they're looking to avoid making child support payments. They don't want to be found. These types of parents do not change their address, and they still show up as living with their former spouse. In many cases, CRA will then come along and say they believe the spouse is still living at the same address and they're cutting off or even clawing back the benefits until they see proof that the spouse is living elsewhere. In other words, they are guilty in the eyes of the CRA until they prove themselves innocent.
Minister, do you think that this is a fair way to treat vulnerable single mothers? It's mainly single mothers that I've seen this happen to.