Funny how the Canadian Revenue Agency has no problems getting in touch with you when they have a question about your taxes.
When the shoe’s on the other foot, not so much.
Call it Fortress C.R.A., the bureaucracy with the electronic moat.
Newly released government documents show that close to seven out of 10 callers to the C.R.A. are greeted by a busy signal when they telephone for help.
In some cases, your call isn’t even allowed into the agency’s phone system. When the system is at capacity, callers hear a busy signal, forcing multiple calls.
The documents show that between March 30 and May 1, 2015–the most recent available figures–a busy signal greeted almost four in every five calls.
It’s all about budget cuts.
Funding to the C.R.A.’s taxpayers services was chopped by about 24 per cent between the 2012-13 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
In come the cuts, out goes the front-line staff, the people who handle inquiries.
Let’s see now. Stressed out and perhaps flummoxed from dealing with your income tax return form, you decide to call the agency for an explanation.
No reply? A busy signal? Don’t throttle that phone. Don’t let up. You might get lucky.
Or not.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.