To: The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Date: May 8, 2025
Fax: 613-941-6900
Urgent Request to Forgive CERB Overpayments for Honest Self-Reporters & Request for a Pre-Parliament Meeting
Dear Prime Minister Carney,
I extend this letter to you not as a member of your political base, but as a concerned citizen, policy observer, and classical liberal who still believes in principled governance, compassionate fiscal policy, and a unified Canadian future. I did not vote for you. I am reaching out to you because I believe we are at a critical juncture—one that demands a return to fairness and moral leadership.
I write as a classical liberal and concerned Canadian to request urgent action on an issue still affecting thousands of honest CERB recipients. Many applied in good faith, self-reporting as required, only to be told months later that they owed repayment due to newly introduced eligibility criteria—criteria not clearly communicated when benefits were disbursed.
This retroactive policy has disproportionately harmed low-income workers, caregivers, and those returning from sick or parental leave. The mental health toll and erosion of trust in government is significant. The message was “we’re in this together,” yet many now feel abandoned. I urge your government to cancel repayment demands for those who applied honestly under the initial terms.
My purpose in writing is twofold:
1. To request that your office immediately cancel repayment demands for CERB recipients who honestly self-reported based on the eligibility criteria available at the time.
2. To request a meeting with you before Parliament reconvenes, to share policy recommendations that I believe could restore public confidence in the Liberal Party and reinforce our country’s social contract.
In 2020, when the world was thrust into crisis, Canadians were told to stay home to protect each other. People were ordered not to work, regardless of their situation. The federal government, then under the leadership of Prime Minister Trudeau, repeatedly assured Canadians that “no one would be left behind.” This promise included the swift delivery of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), distributed to workers who had lost income due to COVID-19-related shutdowns. The system moved quickly, and payments were issued within days. The message was clear: we are in this together. As people continued to remain unemployed beyond the initial two weeks, the government implemented a self-reporting system to extend financial support, and Canadians, trusting in the integrity of their government, honestly reported their income status. Many were approved repeatedly and in good faith. It wasn’t until after disbursement that new qualifiers, such as a minimum 2019 employment income or insurable hours, were communicated and enforced retroactively.
Many recipients, particularly low-income earners, newcomers, caregivers, and those returning from parental or medical leave, suddenly found themselves facing reimbursement demands for funds they received in good faith. This retroactive imposition of qualifications goes against the core principles of both compassionate governance and legal fairness. The federal government failed to communicate those eligibility criteria clearly at the outset. To then penalize individuals for receiving benefits they were encouraged to apply for, under evolving and confusing eligibility rules, is a breach of public trust. Let us be clear: these were not fraudulent recipients. These are honest Canadians—many of whom earned less than $20,000 in 2019, struggled with job insecurity or health issues, and acted in line with the information provided to them by the Liberal government. The policy reversal disproportionately affects the working poor and the financially vulnerable. The mental health toll is unmeasured. The sense of betrayal is profound. And for those who once identified as Liberal loyalists, the damage is generational. Anecdotally, I can attest to the quiet—but—firm migration of thousands of voters to other parties, most notably the Conservative Party. The erosion of public trust is a major contributing factor to the Liberal Party’s current political fragility.
I propose the following income-based forgiveness model as a compromise that would reflect both fiscal accountability and moral responsibility:
– 100% Forgiveness: 2019 household income below $20,000
– 75% Forgiveness: 2019 household income $20,000–$30,000
– 50% Forgiveness: 2019 household income $30,000–$40,000
– 25% Forgiveness: 2019 household income $40,000–$50,000
– 0% Forgiveness: Household income over $50,000
This proposal targets compassion toward those least able to repay, without offering blanket amnesty that would open the door to abuse. It also resonates with traditional Liberal values: fairness, middle-class support, and good governance. It signals that Canada still rewards honesty, not just technical compliance. Prime Minister Carney, as someone widely respected for your expertise in financial systems and global economic equity, you have the opportunity to pivot the Liberal Party toward a renewed moral economy—one that remembers the human face of fiscal decisions. Forgiving CERB repayments for honest self-reporters would serve as an act of reconciliation, not only for those directly affected but also for the broader Canadian public. It would demonstrate that a government can evolve with integrity, listen to the people, and still govern responsibly. This decision cannot wait until after Parliament reconvenes. Families are already receiving repayment letters with 30-day demands. Many are panicked, confused, and on the edge of insolvency. The mental strain from the pandemic has not ended, and financial anxiety only adds to the weight.
It would be a patriotic privilege to have a meeting with you before Parliament reconvenes to present several evidence-based recommendations related to this issue so that your return makes a grand statement of being a Liberal Party leader who is returning the Party brand to being the Party truly for the working middle class who can trust the Liberal Party to honour their word to them, including:
– Immediate pause on all CERB repayment demands for those who self-reported honestly
– Implementation of the proposed income-based forgiveness model
– Community-based supports for those in CERB appeal processes
– Broader outreach to rebuild trust with disillusioned middle-class voters
This meeting is requested to represent a silent majority who are not media-visible yet are deeply impacted. I am confident that this conversation could catalyze a meaningful policy shift that Canadians will remember positively. Forgiving CERB overpayments for honest recipients is not just about money—it is about restoring trust in Canadian democracy. It’s about telling people that when the government says “we have your back,” it means it. It’s about showing that leadership is not just about balance sheets, but about balanced judgment. Prime Minister Carney, you have inherited both broken promises and the pain of a nation still recovering. What you do now will define not only your leadership but the moral compass of this country in the eyes of history.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent and heartfelt matter. I look forward to hearing from your office regarding a possible meeting and am available to coordinate at your earliest convenience.
With hope,
Opa Hope Day