OTTAWA — The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has extended contracts for approximately 850 call center employees amid growing concerns about staffing levels. CRA spokesperson Etienne Biram confirmed that these workers, whose contracts were originally set to end in September, were informed of the decision last week.

The move comes as the federal union representing CRA employees has raised alarms over staffing shortages. The Union of Taxation Employees recently initiated an online campaign to protest staffing cuts. Marc Brière, the national president of the union, highlighted that the agency has lost around 3,300 call center employees in the past year. This reduction has led to increased wait times and a higher number of dropped calls.

Brière stated that the primary objective of the campaign is to persuade the government to halt further cuts, preserve call center jobs, and rehire staff. He emphasized that current staffing levels are “too low” and that services have been “deeply affected.”

Biram noted that the CRA's budget has faced challenges in recent years, prompting the agency to reassess its workforce size. The situation reflects ongoing concerns about the agency's ability to provide adequate service to the public as it navigates financial constraints.