At the end of April, Statistics Canada released its poverty estimate for 2024.  It shows that the poverty rate decreased from 11.1% in 2023 to 11 % of the Canadian population in 2024.  How well did the Canada Revenue Agency’s CVITP do serving those living in poverty in 2024 when they needed to file their income tax and benefit return in the spring of 2025?  This article answers this question.  (A companion article gives and explains the data for the curious.)  It also shows why its performance in helping to reduce poverty should be important to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

I conclude by identifying three forthcoming articles which I hope will give you a comprehensive picture of what the CRA is currently doing and plans to do to support poverty reduction.  In these articles, I will also offer my own assessment of these actions and plans.