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e-3288 (Social affairs and equality)

E-petition
Initiated by Claudia Calabro from Toronto, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • The economic shutdown in response to COVID-19 disproportionately impacted Indigenous, racialized, gendered, disabled, young people and people living on low incomes;
  • The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) design and communication flaws led to confusion for applicants and agency staff;
  • Many recipients were advised by government and social services staff to apply for CERB but are now being deemed ineligible;
  • The Government of Canada has already committed to a repayment amnesty for self-employed workers;
  • The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) acknowledges undue hardship warrants relief from tax obligations;
  • Marginalized people living in poverty will experience undue hardship resulting from CERB repayments, further entrenching poverty in Canada; and
  • In some cases, repayment of CERB debt by people living on low incomes who have been deemed ineligible to receive it may only be possible by withholding regular government benefits, causing undue hardship.
We, the undersigned, people of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Implement a repayment amnesty for all people who received CERB whose incomes are below or just above the poverty line (as measured by the Census Family Low Income Measure After Tax thresholds according to family size) and for all youth transitioning out of care;
2. Develop reduced repayment plans for those whose annual income is less than 15% above the poverty line (as measured by the Census Family Low Income Measure After Tax thresholds); and
3. Cease treating CERB as taxable income for individuals if their 2020 income falls below the poverty line (as measured by the Census Family Low Income Measure After Tax thresholds).
Open for signature
March 24, 2021, at 4:04 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
April 23, 2021, at 4:04 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona)
June 11, 2021 (Petition No. 432-01084)
Photo - Daniel Blaikie
Elmwood—Transcona
New Democratic Party Caucus
Manitoba