--- title: "Canada wrote off $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-wrote-off-45-billion-in-covid-19-benefits" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/canada-wrote-off-45-billion-in-covid-19-benefits" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-wrote-off-45-billion-in-covid-19-benefits.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/canada-wrote-off-45-billion-in-covid-19-benefits" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-11-09T19:25:12.491Z" source_reported: "2026-11-09T18:35:02.447Z" updated: "2026-11-09T19:25:12.491Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 59 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-09T19:15:09.402725+00:00" --- # Canada wrote off $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits *Auditor General's report details sharp increase in unrecoverable pandemic payments* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, and the report is from The Canadian Press. - Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. The report is clear and holds together, and the central claim is attributed to a named body. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or loaded adjectives. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The federal government wrote off $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits in the last fiscal year, a figure no longer expected to be repaid. - This amount is a substantial increase from the $26 million written off in the prior year. - The government attempts to recover overpaid or ineligible COVID-19 benefits, but writes off debt when repayment is not anticipated. - The allowance for potential losses on Canada Emergency Business Account loans rose to $5.6 billion, out of $7.2 billion outstanding. The federal government wrote off $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits during the last fiscal year, according to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. This amount represents payments that are no longer expected to be repaid and have been removed from government ledgers. The government actively seeks to recover benefits that were overpaid or deemed ineligible. This write-off figure marks a significant increase from the $26 million recorded in the previous year. The Auditor General's office also noted that the government anticipates a larger portion of Canada Emergency Business Account loans will not be repaid. The allowance for potential losses on these loans increased to $5.6 billion, against a total of $7.2 billion in outstanding loans. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet reported on this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 14 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 71% (10) - Centre: 29% (4) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 14 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-09T19:15:09.402725+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-09T19:31:13.208Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Ten left-rated reports focused on the core finding that the federal government wrote off $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits last year. These reports highlighted that this amount is no longer expected to be repaid and represents a sharp increase from the previous year's $26 million. The digests also noted the government's efforts to recoup payments and the increase in the allowance for potential losses on Canada Emergency Business Account loans. ### Centre - Four centre-rated reports also led with the figure of $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits written off by the federal government. These reports mentioned the Auditor General's findings and the substantial year-over-year increase. They also included details about the government's process for attempting to recover funds and the rising allowance for potential losses on business loans. ### Right No separate framing summary. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 7 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/canada/article/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-business/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12996971) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12997080) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Collingwood Today](https://collingwoodtoday.ca/national-news/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12997080) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Newmarket Today](https://newmarkettoday.ca/national-news/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12997080) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Guelph Today](https://guelphtoday.com/national-news/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12997080) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/11/09/ottawa-wrote-off-4-5b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [CambridgeToday.ca](https://cambridgetoday.ca/national-news/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12997080) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/national-news/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12997080) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/national-business/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12996971) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/11/09/ottawa-wrote-off-4-5b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [burlingtontoday.com](https://burlingtontoday.com/national-news/ottawa-wrote-off-45b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general-12997080) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/11/09/ottawa-wrote-off-4-5b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/business/ottawa-wrote-off-4-5b-in-covid-benefit-repayments-last-year-auditor-general/article_25fac3b0-25b6-5154-b5a5-dadcd3560fe7.html) — Ottawa wrote off $4.5B in COVID benefit repayments last year: auditor general ## Questions **How much in COVID-19 benefits did the Canadian government write off?** The federal government wrote off $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits in the last fiscal year. This amount is no longer expected to be repaid and has been removed from government ledgers. **What is the increase in write-offs compared to the previous year?** The $4.5 billion written off last year represents a sharp increase from the $26 million that was written off in the previous fiscal year. This indicates a significant change in the expected recoverability of pandemic-related benefits. **What are Canada Emergency Business Account loans?** Canada Emergency Business Account loans are a program established during the pandemic to provide interest-free loans to small businesses. The government's allowance for potential losses on these loans increased to $5.6 billion out of $7.2 billion outstanding. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-wrote-off-45-billion-in-covid-19-benefits. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Canada wrote off $4.5 billion in COVID-19 benefits", https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-wrote-off-45-billion-in-covid-19-benefits