What can one person do? Lots, as it turns out. On Friday, the Canada Revenue Agency sent out a message that the tax-filing deadline would be extended until May 5, good news to accountants and others struggling to get income-tax returns filed April 30.
For Sidney accountant Chris Cowland, it was a chance to give his overworked staff a reprieve from the rigours of the tax season, and so he sent employees home early Friday, after double-checking with the the CRA by phone.
On Monday, the CRA sent out another email saying the first email had been sent in error and that the April 30 deadline was still in effect.
That put Cowland — and likely many others — in a tight spot, so he emailed Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May, who contacted National Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who promised to investigate.
A government employee had inadvertently re-sent a mass email from last year that extended the deadline to May 5, because of a bug in the CRA’s electronic system that caused a five-day shutdown.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for Findlay said the extended deadline would stand and that Findlay “has directed her officials to ensure no Canadians are penalized for the CRA’s error.”
It’s easy to assume we are helpless when it comes to dealing with a faceless, heartless bureaucracy. But one person’s voice was heard, an MP acted quickly and a cabinet minister responded decisively and with common sense, with no hint of partisan politics.
It’s how government should work; it’s good to know that it can.
Cowland could have been forgiven for shrugging helplessly and doing nothing, but because he acted, thousands of Canadians have been given a bit of tax-time breather.
One person’s actions do count.
