Beware of E-mail Hoaxes

Devolin Column
April 20, 2006


With the growing popularity and convenience of the internet and email, many of us are now “on the net” every day, and receive dozens or (in my case) hundreds of e-mails every day.

Recently, I’ve received a large number of questions regarding two topics in particular: rumours of a proposed “email tax”; and reports of overly generous refugee benefits. I would like to clarify both matters for all my constituents.

Regarding the email currently circulating warning people about a proposed “e-mail tax”, I want everyone to know there is no secret plan being developed in Ottawa to tax email traffic.

This hoax email claims that Bill 602P will permit the federal government to charge a 5 cent surcharge on every email delivered by billing Internet Service Providers at source. It also says that Toronto lawyer Richard Stepp, QC is working to prevent this idea from becoming law.

To begin with, legislative bills and motions in Canada are always identified with a letter followed by digits, such as C-253 or M-42 or S-7. As a result, it’s impossible to have a bill in Canada identified as 602P.

Secondly, the legislative agenda in Canada is a matter of public record. All proposed legislation before Parliament is on the Order Paper, which is a public document. Further, neither the lawyer nor the law firm mentioned appears to exist. In fact, if you Google “Richard Stepp”, the first reference listed is actually called “urban legends”.

Like any rampant rumour, the “e-mail tax” e-mail plays on legitimate fears we all share. 
Many of us feel threatened by the government's hungry eye on our pocketbooks, and none of us want to see the low cost of internet access inflated due to political hijinks. The rumour may be false, but the anxiety it feeds - and feeds upon - is real.

Another batch of e-mails I have received were precipitated by an article in the Toronto Star on April 18, 2004 entitled "Pay pensioners same as refugees?" 

The article suggests that the monthly entitlement for single refugees under the Refugee Assistance Program (RAP) is $1890. Like you, I was shocked when I first heard this. But after looking into it, I learned that some details were missed or misstated in the article.

There are two broad groups of refugees in Canada: refugee "claimants" whose claim for protection has yet to be heard by the Immigration and Refugee Board, and "resettled" refugees who have already undergone a selection process by Canadian immigration authorities overseas and entered Canada as permanent residents.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) does not provide financial assistance to refugee claimants who enter Canada seeking protection. CIC only provides financial assistance under the RAP to a limited number of government-assisted refugees who entered Canada as permanent residents. The RAP allowance mirrors provincial social assistance rates (approximately $580 a month).

Refugees who qualify under the RAP are also given a one-time "start-up" amount of $1890 that includes money for basic furniture and household items, in addition to funds for the first month's rent, food and incidentals.

Subsequent monthly RAP allowances parallel monthly provincial social assistance rates. While government-assisted refugees are in receipt of benefits under the RAP, they are not entitled to income support under provincial social assistance programs.

Ironically, the Star had to publish a follow-up story on November 27 to help dispel the misunderstanding their first article had fostered. This article by Don Sellar is entitled "Can We Dispel This Urban Myth?"

I hope this helps to clarify these two issues. I find that maintaining a healthy skepticism towards anything that seems too outrageous to be true is my best defense against hoax e-mails or misleading media articles. You might find this a helpful approach too.