• Canadian_anarchist
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      8 months ago

      At least in Canada, you have to file taxes, even if you have no income, as proof you are eligible for welfare programs.

      • stinerman [Ohio]@midwest.social
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        8 months ago

        Interesting. In the US it’s meant to be a humiliating and kafkaesque process designed to dissuade people from applying.

        • Canadian_anarchist
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          8 months ago

          In my province, BC, people who use the foodbank or other welfare programs get their taxes done for free. My mom used to volunteer for this each year at the local foodbank while she held her CPA credentials (she’s retired now).

        • Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          It’s also that a bit in Canada, but how much so depends largely on the current govermental makeup at the time. The longer you have conservatives federally and provincially, the more it gets like the states. But even a quick 4 years of liberals in either can significantly relax it again. The majority of the people here still want it more relaxed, so it’s an uphill battle for the conservatives. But they are pretty great at rigging uphill battles to be more in their favour anyway, of course.