Thank you very much, Chair.
I do have a question for you, Ms. Hogan, but before I ask it I need to respond to what was said just a moment ago by Mr. Poilievre.
I think it's important to note that the CRA has a number of measures in place to ensure that only those who are supposed to receive the supports, whether that be the CERB or the wage subsidy, receive them. Post-payment verification is one of those. My recollection—and I could be corrected by my colleagues—is that the officials who were here with us last week spoke to the timing of this and I think they told us that work was to begin in January.
I also want to mention that CRA officials have worked, I believe, incredibly hard during a very difficult time to get these programs out to Canadians during a global crisis, during a pandemic, and that these programs, by delivering that support, have saved businesses from bankruptcies, have protected jobs and have allowed some people to put food on the table that they wouldn't have been able to put on the table otherwise. To me, it's incredibly disrespectful for Mr. Poilievre to suggest that the CRA officials are not doing their jobs, that they're not working as hard as possible or that they're not able to do their jobs capably. That's what he was suggesting. I find that really disappointing and disrespectful.
With that said, Ms. Hogan, I want to thank you for taking the time to be with us here today. Again, I want to echo that we appreciate it, especially on short notice.
On November 25 of 2020, National Post published an article called “Tories ask CRA to pause audits of wage subsidy recipients during pandemic. Experts say that's a bad idea”.
That's an article, Chair, that I'll be tabling with this committee.
The article quotes two experts in fighting tax-related crimes. One of them, Toby Sanger of Canadians for Tax Fairness, says in the article the following: “CRA should be concerned and empathetic about the plight of small businesses, but to stop all audit programs or simply not proceed with them on a carte blanche basis? I wouldn’t agree with that”.
The other expert, Denis Meunier, the former head of CRA's criminal investigations division, said the following: “It is the CRA’s responsibility to do this pilot project. And I think it’s totally unacceptable and irresponsible for political parties to request that a particular sector not be audited. It makes no sense”.
My question to you, Ms. Hogan, is this: Do you agree with the opinions expressed by the experts here regarding the demand the Conservative Party made regarding stopping wage subsidy audits?