Federal government to stop paying B.C. woman for job she doesn't have
There appears to be an end in sight for the strange predicament of a B.C. woman who was being paid by the federal government for a job she was hired for but never actually did.
Vanita Lindsay said that she has been told the bi-weekly payments – which have amounted to nearly $9,000 since they started appearing in her bank account over the summer – will stop.
A frustrated Lindsay told her story to CTV News Tuesday, and on Wednesday she got a call from a manager at Employment and Social Development Canada.
"She told me that I wasn't going to get paid at the next cycle,” Lindsay said, adding that she was also told she would be receiving a letter soon about how to pay the money back.”
Paying back the $8.816.20 won’t be a problem.
“I put it all into a different account because it's not my money,” said Lindsay.
But she still has some unanswered questions, including if she will be issued a T4 and if she will be charged interest.
"It would be upsetting if they wanted interest,” Lindsay said.
CTV News asked a tax lawyer for her opinion.
"The short answer is no,” said Fayme Hodal, with KSW Lawyers.
Hodal says because Lindsay never asked for that money and has never worked for the agency, there is no basis in her opinion for interest to be applied to the repayment.
However, anything could happen.
"Might a wrongful payor of funds attempt to charge interest? Very possibly,” said Hodal. “I'd like to hope not. I'd certainly like to think in this situation that the answer will be ‘no’ but it is absolutely not impossible."
Lindsay is hoping once the money is repaid she will be able to move on, without any further issues from the feds.
"It would be really annoying because this isn't my fault, they paid me,” said Lindsay. “I didn't ask for the pay because I quit."
In July, Lindsay was hired for a work from home position with Canada Pension Plan. She changed her mind about taking the job before it started but received six paycheques before reaching out to CTV News.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
With condos not selling, Canada faces worsening home ownership crisis
Canada's home ownership crisis is likely to worsen over the next few years as proposed project sales languish at historically low levels, stalling the funding needed for construction, half a dozen economists and realtors told Reuters.
'Fundamental' political shift required to overcome $40 billion NATO spending gap: analyst
Canada will need a profound shift in political priorities if the country is to ramp up spending to meet its international security obligations.
Federal government to stop paying B.C. woman for job she doesn't have
There appears to be an end in sight for the strange predicament of a B.C. woman who was being paid by the federal government for a job she was hired for but never actually did.
Bones from the Mary Rose shipwreck reveal what life was like aboard a Tudor warship
Bones recovered from the 1545 Mary Rose shipwreck reveal new insights about life for the crew in Tudor England as well as shed light on how work changes our bones.
8 people injured in crash between TTC bus and pickup truck
Eight people were injured after a pickup truck collided with a TTC bus in North York overnight.
Russia fines Google US$20 decillion over refusal to pay fines
Russia is seeking an unfathomable sum of money from one of the world’s biggest tech companies.
Canada's economy stalled in August, likely grew 0.3 per cent in September
Canada's gross domestic product was unchanged in August before likely expanding by 0.3 per cent in September, data showed on Thursday, indicating the economy might have missed the central bank's growth forecast for the third quarter.
'Out of control': Room costs spike 10 times higher on Taylor Swift Canada show nights
The situation facing out-of-town Taylor Swift fans now may be even worse, with some hotel rooms and short-term rentals in Toronto and Vancouver on show weekends costing 10 times more than other weekends.
CRA extends exemption on filing requirement: What you need to know
The Canada Revenue Agency extended a reporting exemption it introduced years ago. Bare trusts will not require the submission of a T3 Return or Schedule 15 for the 2024 tax year.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Vancouver Island
-
Federal government to stop paying B.C. woman for job she doesn't have
There appears to be an end in sight for the strange predicament of a B.C. woman who was being paid by the federal government for a job she was hired for but never actually did.
-
Here are some safety tips for Halloween night in B.C.
Officials are encouraging parents to have discussions about safety with their kids this Halloween.
-
American interest in Canadian real estate peaks ahead of U.S. election: report
With Americans set to elect a new president Tuesday, new data shows there's a spike in interest in Canadian real estate.
Kelowna
-
Pickup truck may be linked to suspicious deaths, RCMP say 2 years after bodies found in B.C. park
More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.
-
B.C. homeowner astounded someone managed to steal one of his prized giant pumpkins
Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.
-
B.C. man gets prison sentence, fine for using fake names to buy guns in the U.S.
A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.
Edmonton
-
EXCLUSIVEEXCLUSIVE More than a dozen workers exposed to asbestos in Edmonton public schools last year
Hundreds of pages of documents detailing potential asbestos exposures at Edmonton’s largest school division reveal human error led to more than a dozen worker exposures last year.
-
'To protect our children': Alberta unveils new bill aimed at child-care sector
The Alberta government is looking to increase oversight of the child-care sector.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: Coolest Halloween in over a decade
It's shaping up to be a slightly cooler-than-average Halloween in Edmonton. But, it could end up being the chilliest Halloween in over a decade.
Calgary
-
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek launches new website
Calgary's mayor is going online with her own homepage to help engage with residents and keep them informed of city issues.
-
Calgary police, firefighters, EMS will be on patrol on Halloween, keeping trick-or-treaters safe
As children across Calgary prepare their costumes for Halloween, local emergency organizations are planning their patrols.
-
OPINION
OPINION Marc Henry: Most Albertans seem okay with changes to Alberta's Bill of Rights
A Bill of Rights was introduced to Alberta under the first term of the Progressive Conservatives, described by premier Peter Lougheed at the time as 'a shield to the citizens from government abuse of its power.'
Lethbridge
-
Blackfoot Confederacy and Parks Canada team up to share stories and culture with visitors
Parks Canada and the Blackfoot Confederacy have announced a new collaboration.
-
Lethbridge police officer charged in off-duty domestic incident
A Lethbridge police officer faces multiple charges in relation to an off-duty domestic incident.
-
Final Alberta crop report shows better than average yields for southern Alberta farmers
According to the last Alberta crop report of 2024, 99.9 percent of crops in the south region have been harvested.
Winnipeg
-
Mother of teen victim in mass killing suing Manitoba's child welfare agency
The mother of a 17-year-old victim in a mass slaying in Manitoba is suing a child welfare agency for allegedly failing to protect the girl.
-
Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd pay visit to Winnipeg restaurant
One Winnipeg restaurant got a surprise visit from a pair of ‘Lord of the Rings’ stars.
-
Two men vying for the helm of the Manitoba Tories make their pitch to party members
Obby Khan and Wally Daudrich, the two candidates for the leadership of Manitoba's Opposition Progressive Conservatives, made their respective pitches to members Wednesday night at a forum hosted by the party.
Regina
-
Experience or fresh faces? Regina's mayoral candidates faceoff in debate ahead of Nov. 13 vote
Nine of Regina's eleven mayoral candidates faced off in a debate on Wednesday evening, discussing a variety of topics.
-
No injuries after Regina house fire on Garnet Street
Emergency crews were called to a house fire on the 1400 Block of Garnet Street on Wednesday evening.
-
Here are the candidates for Ward 1 in Regina
Here's a look at the candidates for Ward 1 ahead Regina's civic election on November 13.
Saskatoon
-
'The rules are clear': Sask. First Nations leaders say Cameron not eligible to run for FSIN Chief
Delegates from 74 Saskatchewan First Nations head to the polls on Thursday to elect a new chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN).
-
Meet a Saskatchewan ghost hunter
Halloween is a time for many to share ghost stories and explore haunted houses, but for one Saskatchewan man, it's spooky season all year round.
-
'I saw people outside by themselves': Saskatoon boy helps those in need
A 9-year-old Saskatoon boy is taking on a project to help the city’s homeless. It started out with a lot of work collecting recycled cans and bottles, it has turned into a labour of love.
Toronto
-
'Very disappointing': 3 Ontarians waited months to get paid after selling tickets on StubHub
Three Ontarians said they waited months to get paid for the tickets they sold on StubHub.
-
Teenage boy dead after exchange of gunfire with 4 officers in Aurora: SIU
A 17-year-old is dead after he was involved in an exchange of gunfire with four police officers who were responding to a break-and-enter in progress in Aurora on Wednesday night, the province’s police watchdog says.
-
8 people injured in crash between TTC bus and pickup truck
Eight people were injured after a pickup truck collided with a TTC bus in North York overnight.
Montreal
-
Legault government puts brakes on permanent immigration
After raising the thresholds for permanent immigration, Francois Legault's government says it now wants to limit the number of immigrants by 2025.
-
Survey confirms Montreal residents still feel unsafe going to the Village
A new survey shows most people don't feel safe in Montreal's Village and believe the situation in one of the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods has only gotten worse in recent years.
-
Don’t throw your jack-o'-lantern in the trash, bring it to the pumpkin parade
Don’t know what to do with the pumpkin you spent hours painstakingly carving into a goofy face or terrifying monster after Halloween? The Outremont pumpkin parade is there to give them a second life on Nov. 1.
Ottawa
-
Booze now for sale in Costco, more grocery stores in Ottawa
As of Oct. 31, all eligible grocery and big-box stores are able to buy beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink beverages, including large pack sizes. The Ontario government says an additional 400 grocery stores will be selling alcohol across the province.
-
Pedestrian bridge over Rideau River in Ottawa's east end in need of major repairs
The City of Ottawa is looking at renewing a historic pedestrian bridge over the Rideau River near the University of Ottawa campus, after an assessment determined the bridge is in "overall poor condition."
-
OC Transpo 'driving people away' from public transit as bus trip cancellations continue, union warns
The union representing OC Transpo bus drivers and mechanics warns the transit service is "driving people away" from public transit, as it cancels hundreds of bus trips a day due to a maintenance backlog and traffic congestion.
Atlantic
-
Homeless man in tent deserved same welfare rate as housed people, N.S. lawyer argues
The lawyer for a homeless man who died at a Halifax encampment is arguing in court today that his client's welfare payments should have been as high as those received by people with permanent housing.
-
Police investigating collision in downtown Halifax involving transit bus
Police are investigating a collision involving a transit bus that happened in downtown Halifax early Thursday morning.
-
Sarah McLachlan anniversary tour postponed
Famed Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan is postponing her 30th Anniversary tour of “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” due to health concerns.
London
-
London police investigating LHSC's 'past financial practices'
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is being investigated by London Police Service, who LHSC confirmed on Wednesday are looking into ‘past financial practices.’
-
Western political science professor breaks down U.S. Electoral College process
The U.S. presidential election is Nov. 5, when millions of Americans will cast their vote for the country’s next leader — whoever earns more votes though, may not end up in the Oval Office.
-
Mumps and measles on the rise in the region, travel and vaccine hesitancy to blame
Officials with Southwestern Public Health say parents should make sure their kids' vaccinations are updated. They say they're monitoring recent cases of mumps and measles across Elgin and Oxford counties.
Kitchener
-
Wheel detached from van causes fatal 401 crash near Cambridge: OPP
One person has died after police say a wheel detached from a vehicle, causing a crash in the eastbound lanes of the 401 near Cambridge.
-
Woman who pleaded guilty to defrauding doulas pleads guilty to more charges
Kaitlyn Braun, the woman who pleaded guilty to defrauding numerous doulas last year, has pleaded guilty to four additional charges.
-
‘It's as if the bankruptcy never happened’: K-W Symphony says its ready to make a comeback
The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony’s board of directors says the association has bounced back from bankruptcy.
Northern Ontario
-
Mother intentionally jumps over Niagara Falls with her two children, a 9-year-old and 5-month-old: police
A 33-year-old mother climbed over a safety rail and intentionally went over Niagara Falls with her two children, a 9-year-old and 5-month-old, according to New York state police, who said Wednesday that search and rescue efforts were unsuccessful.
-
Weather alerts issued in the northeast for expected first accumulating snowfall, rain warning
Environment Canada issued weather alerts Wednesday in anticipation of heavy rain and the first accumulating snowfall of the season in the northeast with up to 10 cm expected.
-
'Out of control': Room costs spike 10 times higher on Taylor Swift Canada show nights
The situation facing out-of-town Taylor Swift fans now may be even worse, with some hotel rooms and short-term rentals in Toronto and Vancouver on show weekends costing 10 times more than other weekends.
N.L.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador cautioned about growing debt as province touts success
Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general has issued a warning about the province's financial position as the government announced it would finish the 2024-25 fiscal year with a higher-than-expected deficit.
-
Police charge off-duty Newfoundland RCMP officer with impaired driving
Police in Newfoundland and Labrador have charged an off-duty RCMP officer for allegedly driving while impaired, following a crash on Sunday.
-
Human remains found in ocean near Placentia Bay ID'd as missing Coast Guard employee
The human remains recovered off Placentia Bay, N.L., earlier this month have been identified as the coast guard employee who went missing at sea in September.
