Filing taxes in Canada annually is very important and all Canadians must do it after they reach the age of eighteen. 

Newcomers don't have any idea about this matter, they don't do it in their home country, and they find it complicated and need help to accomplish it. 

Two nonprofit organizations in Winnipeg set up a “Free Tax Clinic” at Waverly Grand Mosque to help newcomers and low-income families for free on March 4th, 2023. 

 This episode features Zebiba Ibrahim, Capacity Building Administrator, CMWI. Ibrahim said that this clinic aims to reach places close to the newcomers who know the mosque and live close to it because they do not have transportation and maybe they are late to file their taxes because they don't know the streets of Winnipeg because they are new to them. 

 Ibrahim added this clinic is not only for filing taxes, but also it acquaints newcomers with other benefits provided by the Government to them that they don't know about. 

 Ibrahim explained through the clinic, we help newcomers register for these benefits from all the services provided by the Government to them and their families. 

 In this episode, too, we spoke with Amy Black, Program Coordinator, Community Financial Counseling Services. Black talked about the challenges facing the newcomers when coming to the clinic, as they don't know the required papers, don't speak English, and can't determine their annual income. Amy said here we must help them step by step with the interpreters' help in order to be able to complete the task successfully. 

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Contact Zuher Almusre, our civic journalist, to share your story and explore civic issues at zuheralmusre@u-channel.ca. 
The project is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).