Public Accounts Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2023

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

There's no other way, unless people do their tax returns, that the government would know.

[Bob Hamilton]

There's no obviously easy way that I can think of. That's where the best source of information—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

There's no easy way or no way?

[Bob Hamilton]

I don't know. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another way, but maybe there is one.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay.

[Bob Hamilton]

Also, in that year, if I could just add, the tax filing—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

No. I have time for just one last question, Mr. Hamilton.

You note that you have almost a million notices of redetermination sent, with thousands more. How many thousands more? Like, you have 960,000 sent. Is it a couple of thousand more, is it a hundred thousand more, or—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Why don't you let the witness answer the question?

Go ahead, Mr. Hamilton.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Let me finish the question first—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

You had.... I can cut your time off—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Chair, my time is my time.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

All right, Mr. McCauley. I'm trying to help you get an answer in the time without cutting off the witnesses.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I had 15 seconds.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

You asked him a question—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I'm watching my own clock.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

—and I don't need to hear numbers coming out of your head. I would like to hear from Mr. Hamilton.

Mr. Hamilton, you have about 20—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I'm sorry. I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

What is the actual point of order and not an argument, Mr. McCauley?

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

My time is my time.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Okay.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I had 15 seconds left.

I was finishing my question. I don't need you to interrupt me to finish my question to the witness.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Very good.

Mr. Hamilton.

[Bob Hamilton]

Okay.

I'm going to defer to Marc so that you can get a quick answer on how many more thousands we will have.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I'm afraid the time has expired.

We will turn now to Ms. Yip.

You have the floor for five minutes.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Thank you.

I'd like to thank Ms. Hogan and Mr. Hamilton for returning to our committee. I'd also like to welcome and thank Monsieur Tremblay.

My question is for you, Mr. Hamilton. In Scarborough—Agincourt and many ridings across Canada, many families, particularly those with extra caregiving responsibilities whether it was for children or aging family members, relied on these CERB payments to pull them through the pandemic. For individuals living from paycheque to paycheque, when that paycheque suddenly stopped, it was really important that benefits be delivered quickly.

If the CRA had conducted prepayment verification, how much longer would these families have had to wait for benefits? As well, in your experience, what impact would that have had on these families and individuals?