Since the launch of our “Canada on Hold” campaign on August 21, thousands of citizens and businesses have mobilized to denounce to MPs and the Carney government the enormous difficulties in accessing the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) call centres and to demand answers to their questions.
This situation is a direct result of reckless cuts. Since May 2024, more than 3,300 CRA call-centre jobs have been eliminated.
Thanks to your support, our campaign has already achieved concrete results. The CRA has renewed 850 contracts in its call centres until March 31, 2026. In addition, on September 2, the Minister of National Revenue, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, and the Secretary of State, the Honourable Wayne Long, acknowledged that the delays and accessibility issues are unacceptable and demanded that the CRA deliver a 100-day action plan to address them.
These announcements are a step in the right direction, but they remain largely insufficient. The government is still planning massive cuts that threaten to worsen the crisis.
The battle is far from over. Today, in collaboration with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) is launching Phase 2 of the campaign. We want to broaden the mobilization: not only are call centres affected, but the entire CRA is under threat.
Since July 2024, the CRA has eliminated more than 6,500 essential jobs — in addition to the 3,300 already cut from call centres. Thousands more jobs were axed in processing centres and local offices.
These cuts have caused delays to skyrocket, plunging us into “Canada on Hold.”
Examples of impacts for citizens and businesses:
- Tax adjustments taking more than a year.
- Families waiting months to receive the Disability Tax Credit or the Canada Child Benefit.
- Relief requests and notices of objection processed with delays of over a year.
- Estates stalled for up to a year to obtain a clearance certificate.
- Billions in uncollected public revenues— money that should fund hospitals, schools, and infrastructure.
- Mounting financial stress and uncertainty for Canadians everywhere.
These cuts are undermining the essential services Canadians rely on every day. They harm families, seniors, students, and small businesses — and they are pushing workers to the breaking point.
That is why we are asking for your support to defend the public services you depend on. Your voice and your story matter.
Here’s how you can act right now:
- Write to your MP – Tell them these cuts are unacceptable and that Canadians deserve better. Send an Email
- Share your story – Have you experienced long delays, benefit postponements, or errors in debt collection? Are you an employee trying to provide services under crushing pressure? Your experience can show what’s truly at stake. Share your story
- Write to the CRA Ombudsperson: — Let them know if you’ve faced unacceptable service delays. Your voice helps hold the system accountable. Submit a complaint
When people in Canada unite and speak with one voice, things change.
We can demand better: accessible, timely, and reliable services for everyone who depends on them.
Visit our campaign website and take action: foryoucanada.ca/canadaonhold
Why your voice matters
Every message counts. When Canadians speak out, pressure builds, the debate shifts, and decision-makers are forced to listen.
Your voice can protect public services — and the workers who deliver them. Now is the time to act. Together, we can ensure that you and your community receive the support you deserve.
Thank you.
Marc Brière
National President
Union of Taxation Employees