Statement from the Canada Revenue Agency – Final notice sent to the CBC

On November 24, 2014, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) inadvertently sent confidential taxpayer information to the CBC. The CRA recognizes that this was a serious breach of privacy.

Many times since, the CRA has requested that the CBC return this private information to the Agency. To date, the CBC has advised the CRA that it would not return the confidential information, and continues to retain it. Prior to publishing this information on November 25, 2014, CBC was made aware that the information is protected and was inadvertently disclosed.

The confidentiality of taxpayer information is the cornerstone of Canada’s self-assessing tax system and is a responsibility the CRA takes very seriously.

Because the CBC has not agreed to the CRA’s requests to return the confidential taxpayer information, the CRA had no option but to advise the CBC that it will commence legal action to recover it. As this issue may soon be before the courts, the CRA will not comment further at this time.

Date modified:

2015-05-15