The Canada Revenue Agency says it is modernizing its services, as Canadians increasingly turn online to file their taxes.
The Agency says "In 2016, approximately 16% of Canadians filed their tax returns on paper – about a 66% drop in just over ten years."
The change will see the Agency's nine processing centres across Canada reduced to seven. There are two specialized centres in Ottawa: The Ottawa Technology Centre and the International and Ottawa Tax Services Office. The others are currently in Surrey, B.C.; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Sudbury, Ontario; Jonquière, Quebec; Shawinigan, Quebec; Summerside, P.E.I.; and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Under the changes, the CRA says some of the work from the two Ottawa centres will gradually be consolidated to other sites across the country.
The seven remaining sites will also be changed. The sites in Winnipeg, Sudbury, Jonquière, and Summerside will become specialized processing centres, and will grow in size. The sites in Surrey, Shawinigan, and St. John's will become National Verification Collection Centres.
The CRA says this change will result in the hiring of more employees and will result in " faster, more efficient processing and better handling of calls to call centres."
However, the Union of Taxation Employees says the Agency did not consult with the Union.
In a statement, UTE National President Robert Campbell says, "We have been hearing rumours in regards to major changes for months and have been attempting to elicit information and consultation from management. We were repeatedly told that management could not reply or comment on rumours. Now these rumours have come true."
"Management certainly has the right to reassign work and redistribute resources," Campbell says. "But if they had consulted with the Union, we may have been able to provide information and suggestions that could have lessened the effects on our members’ lives."
Campbell says the changes will affect 2,396 union members.