Disabled victimized by the taxman

September 26, 2002

Ottawa – 36,000 disabled Canadians have been denied a Disability Tax Credit for which they qualified for many years, simply because they did not return a confusing form sent to them by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA). There was no follow up by the Department, instead they simply disqualified these disabled Canadians.

An Access to Information request by the PC Party Critic for CCRA, Bill Casey revealed startling information about the results of CCRA’s review of those Canadians who have in the past, been eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. It revealed that of the 106,000 who were asked to re-apply for the Tax Credit, 36,000 never responded. Of the 70,000 that did respond, 22,000 were denied.

No effort was made by the Department to contact the 36,000 disabled people to determine why they did not respond to the form.

For many months, organizations representing disabled groups have complained that the Disability Tax Credit form is confusing and discriminating and even doctors are refusing the complete the forms on behalf of their patients.

Casey is requesting that CCRA contact the 36,000 disabled people to determine why they did not respond and to give them a second chance to re-apply.

Casey says, “This is just another distasteful aspect of the Government’s effort to take this benefit away from people that need it most”.

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For more information:

Bill Casey, M.P.

(613) 992-3366

(902) 667-8679

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