• S-253 (45-1) - Making Child Care More Affordable for Canadian Families Act

  Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
  Date: 2026-10-29 00:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Taxation, Affordability, Social Services, Governance]

  Bill S-253, titled the Making Child Care More Affordable for Canadian Families Act, was introduced and read for the first time in the Senate on October 29, 2026. The Senate Public Bill proposes to amend the Income Tax Act specifically regarding the child care expense deduction indexation. The legislation is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate during the 1st session of the 45th Parliament.

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• CRA still owed over $5B in COVID-19 benefits sent to ineligible recipients

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-18 19:50:00.0
  Tags: [National, Taxation, Finance, Economy, Social Services]

  The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reported that as of July 31, Canadians still owe $5.56 billion in outstanding debt for COVID-19 pandemic benefits—specifically under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)—after being deemed ineligible. The total debt has nearly halved from over $10 billion reported the previous November, with approximately $3.671 billion successfully recovered since collections began in 2022. The remaining balance includes $2.91 billion for CERB and $1.81 billion for CRB, though figures continue to fluctuate due to ongoing repayments, reassessed eligibility, and write-offs for permanent financial hardship recommended to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The CRA maintains a flexible collection approach with extended timelines and interest-free repayment arrangements, while retaining the right to pursue legal action against debtors with the verified ability to pay.

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