From: canada.revenueagency@canada.com   
      
   Teachers, CRA in dispute over housing :CRA SOTW   
      
   Is First Nation's low rent a subsidy?   
      
   CBC News    
      
   Some teachers working on a Saskatchewan First Nation say that when it comes to   
   assessing on-reserve housing, the Canada Revenue Agency needs a lesson in   
   fairness.   
      
   The teachers work at a school on the Waterhen Lake First Nation, near Meadow   
   Lake, about 300 kilometres north of Saskatoon.   
      
   Some of them live in accommodations supplied by the reserve and pay $250 per   
   month in rent, a rate that is below market level for housing in nearby   
   communities such as Meadow Lake.   
      
   The CRA says the low rent amounts to a housing subsidy which, in their books,   
   is a taxable benefit.   
      
   Teachers who did not report the benefit have been assessed back taxes, in some   
   cases amounting to thousands of dollars.   
      
   It is not known how many teachers are facing a tax arrears bill.   
      
   One kindergarten teacher, however, gives low marks to tax officials.   
      
   Rent reflects conditions, teachers say   
   Jessica Wolff has been teaching on the reserve for two years.   
      
   She told CBC News that, while the rent is low, it reflects the condition of   
   the housing.   
      
   "I think they are not understanding that we don't live in Meadow Lake, that   
   our living conditions and cost of living just isn't comparable," Wolff said.   
   "So while they think we should be paying the same rent on a three bedroom   
   house in Waterhen Lake as    
   Meadow Lake, we strongly disagree."   
      
   The teachers have written to the CRA and say the agency has promised to look   
   at their concerns within the next four to six months.   
      
   Wolff said she was hopeful that once officials actually looked into the   
   situation, they would change the tax assessments.   
      
   "I'd like to see the CRA kind of see the situation we are in, and I guess tear   
   up the bills," she said.   
      
   Wolff added that the tax treatment could be to blame for the school's losing   
   teachers.   
      
   CRA officials declined to answer questions about the specific case.   
      
      
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