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6 Apr, 6 tweets, 4 min read
When the first-wave lockdowns happened in March 2020, writer @KBabstock was kept afloat by financial assistance from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Then, suddenly, the government demanded the money back. More here:
thewalrus.ca/when-death-is-… 1/5
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) wanted proof that @KBabstock’s 2019 income had been more than $5,000 to confirm eligibility for CERB. But it refused to count the arts grant he had received that year as income and asked him to repay $10,000. More here: thewalrus.ca/when-death-is-… 2/5
Like many writers, @KBabstock was already financially precarious. Then, COVID-19. His University of Toronto course was cancelled. Three residency/fellowship opportunities: cancelled. His next book: bumped from spring to fall. Prospects looked grim. thewalrus.ca/when-death-is-… 3/5
@KBabstock’s battle with the CRA took him down rabbit holes exploring Canada’s tax code. He was berated, put on hold, and passed from agent to agent—each more recalcitrant than the last. None of them was interested in helping. But he didn’t give up. thewalrus.ca/when-death-is-… 4/5
From the May 2021 edition of The Walrus, “When Death Is Preferable to Taxes” is a personal essay that explores @KBabstock’s frustrated dealings with the CRA during a pandemic. Read the full story here: thewalrus.ca/when-death-is-… 5/5
How are you dealing with your 2020 taxes? Do you find yourself in a unique circumstance after a pandemic year? Or did you benefit from CERB without incident? Comment below in the replies. 👇👇👇👇

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7 Apr
Today is #WorldHealthDay. Over the past year, health care has been top of mind for everyone around the world. And it has been no different for the team at @thewalrus. Here are some stories, talks, and podcasts that we’re thinking about (thread ahead!)
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7 Apr
The term “fake news” entered the public lexicon circa 2016, during the US presidential election, when the internet was flooded with inaccurate information. Now, as @vivianefairbank explains, fact-checking is on the rise. More here: thewalrus.ca/how-do-we-exit… 1/7
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From the shared microphones to the passed-around laminated song lists caked in stale beer, a karaoke bar is a hotspot for viral transmission. Many jurisdictions have banned most karaoke-like activities. So when will karaoke be back? More here: thewalrus.ca/this-pandemic-… 1/6 #COVID19
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1 Mar
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17 Feb
Thousands of migrants cross the southern US border every month. Since 2017, a new eye-scanning system has been used to verify their identities. But how regulated are these biometric technologies? More here: thewalrus.ca/when-border-se… 1/7
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16 Feb
Many of us have been living in lockdown, in some way or another, over the past year—from lockdown remote working to lockdown co-living to lockdown dating to lockdown parenting. But what does “lockdown” even mean? Copy editor @jonahbrunet finds out: thewalrus.ca/what-does-lock… 1/5
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