I want to thank the Minister for confirming that. Yes, the Minister said that Income Assistance clients can use their annual "unearned income exemption of up to $1,200 to offset the penalty for the garnishee." While this may be true, most people are required to pay back CERB through tax-refund garnishees, and they probably owe a lot more than $1,200. This exemption was meant to offset the occasional gift from family or friends. Will the Minister be lenient in his interpretation of the words "tax refund" in the Income Assistance regulations and not claw back garnishees from tax refunds for CERB recipients for money that was never supposed to reduce Income Assistance in the first place?
Kevin O'Reilly on Question 680-19(2): Income Assistance and Tax Refunds
In the Legislative Assembly on March 29th, 2021. See this statement in context.
Question 680-19(2): Income Assistance and Tax Refunds
Oral Questions
March 29th, 2021
Page 2573
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