Canada Revenue Agency not renewing contracts of 450 term employees during tax season

OTTAWA — With tax filing season well underway, the Canada Revenue Agency has told 450 of its term employees across the country that their contracts won’t be renewed at the end of the month.

Etienne Biram, a spokesperson for the agency, says the CRA regularly reviews its financial resources to “ensure sustainable operations and alignment with government priorities.”

Biram said employee unions have been informed of the cuts and the agency aims to limit the “impact on taxpayers during filing season.”

As federal departments and agencies looked to find savings as part of the government’s spending review, the CRA said in November 2024 that it was restricting certain hiring activities, freezing “non-critical overtime” and eliminating the contracts of around 600 temporary employees.

Biram says the CRA continues to “assess its financial position while maintaining its commitment to high-quality service for Canadians,” especially during tax season.

April 30 is the deadline for most Canadians to file their taxes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2025.

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press