However, the minister failed to say if he’ll waive inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation or grant a pathway to permanent status for the students as called for systematically by the NDP. New Democrats urge the Minister on act on those quickly.
While the task force evaluates these cases, the government must also ensure that these students will be able to continue to work or study in Canada—otherwise they cannot survive. If they don’t have an Open work permit or study permit, they cannot afford rent or food. And these students have already invested everything they had to come study in Canada. The Minister must urgently act to ensure they are supported.
We cannot ignore the impactful and strong advocacy by the community and the students themselves calling on the Liberal government to take action. It is admirable to see mothers from the South Asian community looking after international students as their own children. A sense of compassion and action from the community makes a big difference in the lives of these students away from their own families.
These students can count on me and the NDP to continue to advocate for them.”
Daily Hive: Canadian woman left in limbo after CRA accidentally declares her dead
When June “Juna” Miller filed her taxes in spring, she expected a refund, but instead, she was declared legally dead.
A few weeks later, she attempted to log in to her CRA account. It didn’t work, and she called the agency.
“The woman on the phone said, ‘Well, you’re deceased.’ I said, ‘What are you talking about? You’re speaking to me!'” Miller explained.
What followed was a month-long ordeal that cost her her pension, Social Insurance Number, and sense of stability.
“It took them five seconds to say I was dead… without even asking for a death certificate,” she said. “Now I’m being told it could take six months to prove I’m alive. That makes no sense to me.”
But with her account frozen and no payments coming in, she was suddenly without any source of income.
Her Social Insurance Number had been cancelled, making it impossible to access her bank account or even apply for temporary work to stay afloat.
Even Service Canada wasn’t much help, Miller claimed.
She recalls one interaction with an agent who questioned why she kept insisting she was alive, while another refused to proceed because her name didn’t match across various documents.
When Miller attempted to order a copy of her marriage certificate to fulfill the requirement, her request was denied because her ID had already been flagged as invalid.
Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan stepped in as well, formally raising Miller’s case with the federal government.
Miller provided Daily Hive a copy of the letter dated June 30, in which Kwan wrote directly to Minister François-Philippe Champagne, asking that CRA fix the mistake immediately, restore her pension, and ensure all missed payments were sent without delay.
Resurrection, at last
On June 30, Miller received the call she’d been waiting for.
“CRA just called and I have been resurrected,” she told Daily Hive. “They’re sending an apology letter in the mail.”
