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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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The Burden of Rising Borrowing Costs: Canadians Struggle to Make Ends Meet

The rising cost of borrowing is placing a significant burden on Canadians, making it increasingly difficult for them to make ends meet.The prime rate at Canada’s six largest banks increased to 7.2% right after the Bank of Canada’s latest rate hike on Wednesday, further tightening access to credit and the cost of borrowing for Canadians.

As interest rates continue to climb, the cost of borrowing money, whether through mortgages, loans, or credit cards, is becoming more expensive. This situation is particularly challenging for individuals and families with already stretched budgets, as higher interest payments eat into their disposable income. The increased financial strain leaves many Canadians struggling to cover essential expenses such as housing, utilities, and groceries, leading to heightened levels of financial stress and hardship. Furthermore, the higher cost of borrowing also hampers individuals' ability to save for the future or invest in education or business ventures, hindering their long-term financial stability. As a result, it is crucial for policymakers and financial institutions to address this issue and implement measures to alleviate the burden of borrowing costs on Canadians.

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