(OTTAWA) The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says it fired 120 employees who allegedly claimed federal benefits related to COVID-19 while still working there.
The CRA is reviewing approximately 600 cases of current employees who received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This CERB of $ 2,000 per month was paid to Canadians whose jobs had been lost or reduced due to public health restrictions.
The CRA said in July that it had fired 20 employees following its CERB investigation; she now claims that number is 120.
CERB requests were found to be legitimate in 30 cases, for example for contract employees or students.
The agency says that in cases of suspected criminal activity, the file is passed on to the police.
The CRA says that last August, a person who had worked at the agency was arrested and charged with fraud – she allegedly improperly received nearly $20,000 in government benefits during the pandemic.
