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Auditor General Slams CRA Call Centres for Inaccurate Tax Guidance

  Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) call centres are failing to provide Canadians with reliable tax information, according to a new report from Auditor General Karen Hogan. Between February and May 2025, Hogan’s office placed test calls to CRA contact centres and found that agents gave accurate and complete answers to individual tax questions only 17 per cent of the time . While responses to business tax or benefits inquiries were somewhat better, accuracy reached just 54 per cent , with completeness hovering around 30 per cent. The report also highlighted long wait times. Despite the CRA’s target of answering 65 per cent of calls within 15 minutes, only 18 per cent of calls met that standard. In June, fewer than five per cent were answered within the promised timeframe, with average waits stretching to more than half an hour  Hogan criticized t...
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French Left Wants to Govern, but Centrists Assert Their Role

 

Following Sunday’s legislative election, France’s left-wing leaders find themselves in a precarious position. The New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition of left-leaning parties, secured the most seats in the National Assembly but fell short of an absolute majority by about 100 seats. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists came second, and the far-right National Rally third.

The Dilemma

The unexpected election outcome has plunged France into uncertainty just before the Paris Olympics. With no clear path to a stable government, the NFP faces the challenge of governing without a majority. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed, insists that the NFP should fully implement its program, which includes raising the minimum wage, lowering the retirement age, and capping prices for essential goods. He rejects the idea of forming a coalition with parties outside the NFP, emphasizing the need to stay true to their principles.

Centrists’ Perspective

Centrists, however, argue that the NFP cannot govern effectively without support from their own parliamentary bloc. Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, leader of Macron’s Renaissance party, suggests that the NFP should break up, allowing its more moderate elements to form a broader coalition. Their red lines include support for the EU, fighting racism and antisemitism, transitioning to a green economy, and maintaining France’s appeal as an investment destination.

Uncertain Path Ahead

As NFP leaders meet behind closed doors to decide on a prime minister and governing strategy, France remains in political turmoil. The challenge lies in balancing the left’s ambitions with the centrists’ demands, all while navigating a fragmented parliament.


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