In the following letter to the editor, one Canadian realizes that Harper's attacks on public services have gone too far when he can't get the service he needs.
PSAC condemned the cuts to Canada Revenue Agency back in September 2012, at which time we warned the closure of counter and cashier services, the privatization of records storage centres, and the elimination of over 3,000 positions would affect services to Canadians.
The letter was published in the Edmonton Journal on February 5, 2014.
Good luck with your taxes
Some time ago a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency informed me I had over-contributed to my RRSP account for 2012 and I faced a heavy penalty for every month the problem remained.
As the letter had none of the information I needed (for example, the amount I was over or how to correct the problem), I sought help.
When I arrived at the agency’s office in Canada Place, I found that all the front-line staff had been laid off and I’d have to phone an adviser at central office. Every time I called I got a busy signal. Online access is really no substitute.
All this while, I was aware penalty charges were piling up. I also learned that archiving of our old tax files had been contracted to a private U.S. company.
To Canadians who think Stephen Harper’s attack on the federal public service is good, clean fun, I hope you’re still cheering when you face tax problems this spring.
Winston Gereluk, Edmonton
From the Letters to the Editor page, Edmonton Journal, February 5, 2014.