Forty-four employees of Service Canada, the agency responsible for distributing the CERB, were fired for having themselves taken advantage of emergency benefits from the federal government.
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An internal note, obtained by our Bureau of Investigation under the Access to Information Act, states that the employees were terminated because they violated the integrity principles of the department’s code of conduct.
“All employees who have made fraudulent requests for the CERB [Prestation canadienne d’urgence] are required to repay the full amount distributed by the Government of Canada and may face consequences, up to and including termination of employment with ESDC [Emploi et Développement social Canada] “, can we read.
It also indicates that 44 employees saw their employment terminated.
ESDC, which oversees Service Canada, recognizes that dozens of employees have been sanctioned after receiving the CERB.
“The 44 employees who had their reliability status revoked are all employees who took advantage of CERB benefits,” said Maja Stefanovska, ESDC Media Relations.
Waste of money
Service Canada was responsible for administering the CERB program during the first months of the pandemic in 2020.
“It puts irony in the system. It means that we no longer trust or we feel that the institutions are wasting our money, ”says Michel Séguin, professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal and expert in ethics and governance.
“It’s a lack of credibility, adds the holder of the Cooperation Chair, Guy Bernier. It is very important for all employees to have integrity. And integrity is being consistent with what the organization advocates. »
For example, the researcher points out that the government asks citizens to be transparent when it comes to taxation or in their tax returns.
“It’s a fatal mistake. The government cannot afford to have employees who do not respect the very principles of integrity that it demands of its citizens,” explained Mr. Séguin.
Proactive measures
In an email exchange, Ms. Stefanovska replied that the ministry maintains “rigorous security practices, including taking proactive measures against the risks that ministry employees may pose”.
The government introduced the CERB program in the spring of 2020 to help Canadians who had lost their jobs or had their hours reduced.
– With Philippe Langlois
THE CERB IS…
- $79.3 billion expenses
- 8,830,000 service providers
- $7940 paid on average to Quebecers
► Our Bureau of Investigation revealed in October 2020 the modus operandi of PCU fraudsters who had caused numerous victims using their personal data.