December 15, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDMONTON, AB – The Canada Revenue Agency has sent letters to almost a half-million Canadians who may need to repay the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) received months ago.

Some recipients of the letter may have been ineligible to receive the benefit, either due to not filing 2019 taxes or business owners who did not earn $5,000 in net income in 2019.

“We’re starting to hear form people in our community who are having these issues,” said Matt Jeneroux, the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Riverbend.

“When CERB was launched in late March, there was mass confusion about who qualified and the government was urging everyone who needed the income to apply. Now, these people are being asked to repay funds they used to survive and no longer have.”

As the economy has not recovered from pre-COVID times, many Canadians are still not back to work and are unable to repay the CERB funds received over the spring and summer.

“We’re aware of this issue and my office is working hard to help those impacted,” said Jeneroux.

“Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help with your file.”

Jeneroux’s office can be contacted at Matt.Jeneroux@parl.gc.ca or by calling 780-495-4351.

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