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CRA Tax Adjustment Delays Now Stretch Up to 47 Weeks — Here's How to Avoid Getting Stuck

   July 12, 2026   If you've ever filed a request to correct or update your tax return and then waited... and waited... you're not imagining it. Canada's Taxpayers' Ombudsperson has confirmed that some Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) adjustment requests are now taking nearly a year to process — and it's launched a formal investigation into why. What's Actually Happening When you need to change something on a tax return you've already filed — say you forgot a slip, need to update a deduction, or want to claim a credit you missed — you submit what's called a T1 adjustment request. The CRA sorts these into two speeds: Routine requests (filed online through your CRA My Account or certified tax software) have a service standard of just 2 weeks . By phone or mail, the standard is 8 weeks. Complex requests — where the CRA needs more documentation or a deeper review — carry a service standard of 20 weeks . The problem: the CRA isn't hitting even its own "...
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Unmasking the Killer: Scientists Crack the Case Behind Sea Star Mass Deaths

 


Canadian scientists say they’ve finally identified what is likely causing giant colourful sea stars in the Pacific Northwest to literally waste away: It's bacterium from the same family that causes cholera in humans.


A Marine Mystery Finally Solved

For over a decade, the Pacific coastline has witnessed a haunting phenomenon: billions of sea stars vanishing in a wave of mass mortality. Once vibrant and abundant, these iconic echinoderms succumbed to a mysterious illness that left tide pools eerily empty and ecosystems disrupted. Now, scientists believe they’ve finally identified the culprit.

The Breakthrough Discovery

Researchers have traced the devastating die-off to a densovirus—a type of virus that infects invertebrates. This pathogen, known as Sea Star Associated Densovirus (SSaDV), causes Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS), a condition marked by lesions, limb loss, and rapid tissue decay. The virus spreads quickly in warm waters, and climate change may have amplified its impact by raising ocean temperatures and stressing sea star populations.

Climate Change: A Deadly Catalyst

While the virus itself is naturally occurring, scientists now suspect that rising sea temperatures and environmental stressors weakened sea stars’ immune defenses, allowing the virus to spread unchecked. The outbreak, which began around 2013, decimated over 20 species of sea stars along the Pacific coast—from Alaska to Mexico.

Why It Matters

Sea stars are keystone predators, playing a critical role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. Their disappearance has led to cascading effects, including surges in mussel populations and shifts in biodiversity. Understanding the cause of SSWS is a major step toward protecting marine life and preparing for future outbreaks.

What’s Next

Scientists are now exploring ways to monitor and mitigate future viral outbreaks, including genetic studies and environmental interventions. The hope is that with better surveillance and climate action, sea stars might one day reclaim their place in the coastal tapestry.


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