Suter said the CRA \u201cclarified through recent interpretation and related case law that services structured like ours do not qualify under this exemption, and payments must therefore be reported.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company told CBC in a statement it is complying with the agency\u2019s directions. It said it\u2019s working with the province to ensure there are \u201cno changes to client care and safety,\u201d and thanked its contractors for their \u201congoing dedication.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Income](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775133191_135_default.jpg\")
Contractors who worked for Arden Professional Client Care are worried they may face significant back taxes. (CBC)<\/p>\n
Some contractors are worried they will be struck with huge back tax bills.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shocked and very confused by the email and I’m worried about what this meant for other contractors, the clients and myself,\u201d said one contractor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Contractors quitting<\/p>\n
Arden declined an interview, but provided a statement when asked for clarity on what it told contractors about taxes before the audit.<\/p>\n
\u201cArden does not provide personal income tax advice to its contractors,\u201d the statement said. \u201cThe company\u2019s independent contractor agreements have always stated that contractors are responsible for their own tax decisions and remittances.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement said the CRA has directed Arden to issue tax documents to contractors starting with the 2025 year. The CRA is also looking at Arden\u2019s documents for 2023 and 2024, the statement said, but the company hopes the change will only apply to 2025 and future years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CBC has obtained emails that show at least three workers quit immediately after management informed contractors of the CRA audit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They felt the tax implications meant they couldn\u2019t afford to continue working for the company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Contractors make $19.50 an hour, but that was raised to $20.50 an hour when Arden announced the audit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Staffing fallout<\/p>\n
CBC has spoken to multiple sources who confirm that more workers quit in the days after the first emails.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know personally some co-workers that have decided not to continue as well. I would say easily a dozen people,\u201d said a second contractor, whose identity CBC is also protecting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The second contractor told CBC that \u201cspectacular\u201d gaps are opening in the schedule. The first source said some of the remaining contractors have been scheduled to work up to 66 hours in a row to care for clients.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of these clients are used to having the same small, close-knit teams surrounding them every day, and every night,\u201d the first contractor said, adding that the workers may attend doctors visits with clients or pick them up from school, forming a \u201cfixture\u201d in the clients\u2019 lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sources say although the Department of Opportunities and Social Development requires a staffing ratio of two workers to one client, some Arden houses are now being staffed by only one contractor at a time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They say this is a safety issue for everyone as some clients can become violent. The second contractor characterized working solo as \u201cextremely dangerous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
CBC asked Arden by email about its plan to care for clients with falling staffing levels, including the concern about contractors working solo.<\/p>\n
In a written response, Arden said it continues to work with the department \u201cto ensure there are no changes to client care and safety which are top priorities for Arden.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company did not provide further details.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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According to public records, since 2018 the province has paid more than $184 million to Arden Professional Client Care and its sister company, Arden Independent Living. (Canadian Press)$184 million paid to Arden since 2018 <\/p>\n
Nova Scotia\u2019s public accounts reporting<\/a> shows that since 2018 Arden Professional Client Care and its sister company Arden Independent Living have together accepted a total of $184,179,648 from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development.<\/p>\n The department declined an interview. <\/p>\n In a statement, the department said as of March 30 it had placed 12 children in care with Arden, and 44 adults with disabilities. The department previously told CBC on March 18 it was using 23 temporary emergency arrangements for children in care in total. <\/p>\n The department confirmed there are four other temporary emergency arrangement providers in Nova Scotia that care for children. <\/p>\n It explained Arden’s “master agreement” with the department has expired, but the company continues to work under the same terms.<\/p>\n The department said after it learned Arden was treating its workers as contractors, officials told the company in March it had to file T4As, and comply with “all applicable laws and regulations.”<\/p>\n Concerns flagged in 2024 <\/p>\n Two years ago, a report by the Auditor General warned that the province\u2019s weak oversight of these types of care arrangements could be a risk to the safety of the vulnerable people in care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775133192_564_default.jpg\")
Kim Adair is the Auditor General of Nova Scotia. (David Laughlin\/CBC)<\/p>\n