QUESTION PERIOD — National Revenue
Income Tax Returns
November 26, 2025
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. A Hill Times article from November 21, 2025, reported that budget 2025 said the federal government would amend the Income Tax Act to grant the Canada Revenue Agency the authority to file tax returns for low-income Canadians, so they can receive their benefits automatically. The measure will apply to the 2025 and later tax years. How does the government intend to ensure that this provision will actually be included in the budget implementation bill and that it will not remain merely a budget promise?
Senator Youance, I am confident that this is not just a promise, but that action will be taken. I check every year, and it is common for items in the budget’s legislative measures annex to not be included in the budget implementation bill. This is a legal technicality. There are several reasons for it, but the fact that the government included automatic tax filing for low-income Canadians in Budget 2025 shows its firm commitment to achieving that goal. The government has assured me that it wants to meet the goal that it set for itself.
Thank you. Despite the creation of the Canada Post MyMoney Account to help “Canadians take more control of their financial future,” how many Canadians do not have a savings account into which their benefits can be automatically deposited? What specific actions will the government take to help the most vulnerable?
Thank you for the follow-up question. According to the Canadian Bankers Association, over 99% of adult Canadians have a bank account. With regard to the government’s plan to introduce automatic tax filing, from what I understand and the information that I have, this work is in progress.
