In an ongoing battle for justice, a survivor of human trafficking in Toronto is taking a stand to change federal laws that fail to address the financial struggles faced by individuals like her. Cassandra Harvey, a survivor who has been fighting against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for years, recently achieved a significant breakthrough in her efforts.
Harvey revealed that her trafficker fraudulently claimed government benefits, including CERB and child tax benefits, in her name during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite providing substantial evidence of her victimization and lack of personal gain from these benefits, the CRA continues to demand repayment, leading to financial setbacks for Harvey.
In response to her plight, Harvey enlisted the help of lawyer Alex Klyguine from Taxpayer Law in Ottawa to seek a remission order from the CRA to waive her outstanding debts. Klyguine emphasized the need for federal legislative changes to protect survivors whose identities have been exploited for financial gain.
Harvey’s advocacy efforts culminated in the launch of a House of Commons petition, which garnered support from Member of Parliament Danielle Martin. The petition aims to address the systemic issues faced by trafficking survivors dealing with CRA debts resulting from identity theft.
While the CRA declined to comment on Harvey’s case due to privacy laws, a spokesperson reiterated the agency’s commitment to assisting vulnerable individuals affected by coercion or exploitation.
As Harvey moves forward with collecting signatures for her petition, she and her supporters hope to raise awareness and prompt action from federal lawmakers to enact necessary reforms for the protection of survivors like her.
Keyphrase: human trafficking survivor advocacy
