Editor:
I want to share a notso-green government story with you.
Last Thursday, I received a randomly-selected audit letter from Revenue Canada, asking for proof of the tuition I paid last year for my master's program. My university, Royal Roads, prides itself on its environment and sustainability endeavours, and as such, chose to email the T2202A form (the tuition statement) to its students.
The letter I received from CRA stated I had the option of faxing or mailing my form to the Surrey Taxation Centre. Thinking there might be an email option, I phoned the number provided in the CRA letter, sat on hold for 20 minutes, only to be told I could print the form and mail it or fax it, just as the letter states.
I commented that, not only was that not very green, but it was also not as secure as email, as many people have access to a fax machine. She replied their fax machine is located in a secure area in a secure building and repeated my "printable" options to me.
I noted that I had submitted my 2010 tax return, indeed my last seven years' returns, online, to a secure website provided by CRA. She repeated my options and told me to contact my MP if I wasn't happy with the service I had received.
I call on Kerry-Lynne Findlay as my local MP and a member of this majority government to continue to work for adjustments in policies and practices where sustainable initiatives are concerned. Not only would submitting the required documents by email have saved me time, it would also have saved several pieces of paper, and the electricity needed to power the computer, the printer and the two fax machines.
Laurine Dane, Modern Languages Teacher South Delta Secondary
