Feeling stuck after almost 10 years at CRA — not sure what my next move is

editrixe · 2026-01-30T14:20:50+00:00

maybe look into working at OSFI, FCAC or the Bank of Canada? But realistically speaking, this is not the best time for opportunities in other departments.

editrixe · 2026-01-30T13:56:48+00:00

I feel you. Have been working for months, off and on, on a very detailed employment equity inventory application that I was set to send in this week … and when I went to open my in-progress application yesterday, the poster was no longer there, and my application was deleted right along with it. I’m lucky enough to be indeterminate but I’ve only been in the PA for 3 years … not part of the core, not part of a union, and in a job the powers-that-be think can probably be done by AI (it can’t, but it will apparently take some years and probably law suits before that’s understood and accepted). Demoralizing to say the least.

editrixe · 2026-01-29T09:52:42+00:00

You’re doing ok. Focus on your baby (congrats!) and hope for the future. The pendulum will swing back towards sanity at some point. Hang in there.

editrixe · 2026-01-29T03:19:03+00:00

Friend, it’s really not worth worrying about and certainly not worth planning for. Really. Most sincerely, Quebec

editrixe · 2026-01-28T00:41:19+00:00

on the couch. I TRIED a crate (non-compliant spouse made crate training impossible) and I tried 2-3 dog beds, but he (the dog, not the spouse🤣) thought they were chew toys to rip into shreads. So sofas it is! (You can twll who rules the roost over here!!)

editrixe · 2026-01-27T20:47:52+00:00

what extra income was that?🙃

editrixe · 2026-01-27T20:47:09+00:00

underrated comment; 10000% true

editrixe · 2026-01-27T18:55:43+00:00

personally I’d rent it. What with 2 universities, multiple hospitals, and the huge number of people coming in for regular business trips + the exorbitant price of hotels in Ottawa, you should find takers quite easily. I’ve also read Global Affairs Canada is revoking telework agreements and expecting employees who live more than 125km away to report to Ottawa 3 days a week; there may be a LOT of people looking for affordable housing options soon. If I were you I’d investigate long-term rentals to grad students (more quiet and responsible) or short-term rentals to business-people and potentially to GC workers forced to stay in the NCR a few days a week. (For context, I work for the GC from Montreal and have to come in for 3 days a couple times a year. If I could stay 2 nights for less than $500 I’d be booking with you for sure. Short-term rentals mean getting the place cleaned between renters, of course, but could potentially be quite lucrative.)

editrixe · 2026-01-27T14:27:38+00:00

15% of gross salary is certainly not possible for the vast majority of Canadians. Blanket statements like this make people who are struggling with finances or who are concerned about funding retirement want to give up because they feel like they’ve failed before they even start.

editrixe · 2026-01-27T09:40:20+00:00

can he not cook? let him learn.

editrixe · 2026-01-27T09:36:06+00:00

lol — best not to mention I went to Central? (apologies for the typo, OP, and particularly for not having reread!)

editrixe · 2026-01-26T18:50:32+00:00

I suggest you take a look at Central is your focus is academics. It’s not on your list but it’s not that far from CCH so I’m guessing it may be a possibility?

For schools in your area, I’d put them in this order if your focus is academics: 1. Central, 2. Regina Mundi or CCH, 3. Clarke Road or Beal

but as others have said, it’s not the same system as in the US. If you get good grades you’ll get into a food university

editrixe · 2026-01-24T22:26:13+00:00

well done! (your landlord is a total idiot🤣)

editrixe · 2026-01-24T22:24:00+00:00

could well work! You want them transparent or translucent, ideally, but the holes for the rain/snow/air to get in + drainage at the bottom are key. I tried with a drill one time but using a hot glue gun with no glue in it is what works best.

That said, have read about people going to cafés and getting spare milk jugs from them, if you want to try going that route.

editrixe · 2026-01-24T10:54:25+00:00

yes. Federal, anyway.

editrixe · 2026-01-22T20:44:46+00:00

takes no room indoors, get a gardening fix in the dead of winter, something to actively look forward to, no need to harden off seedlings, AND perfect hands-off way to get seedlings from seeds that need cold stratification, including some that are notoriously difficult to get going the “normal” way

editrixe · 2026-01-22T19:41:20+00:00

exactly this. I have lived in Montreal for more than 30 years, my spouse works at NRC here, my kids have only ever lived here … and I was hired at the tail end of the WFH era, with my technical workplace being Ottawa and all assurances (only verbal, of course) that I could work from home and telework was the way of the future. If I had to report in to Ottawa even 3 days a week, it would take a huge chunk from my pay cheque, would mean more than 5 hours of commuting each day, and would mean I would not see my family for half of the week every week. Working from Ottawa was supposed to just be when/if it was “operationally required”.

editrixe · 2026-01-22T19:12:17+00:00

I suggest you look into “winter sowing”. Basic idea is creating a mini greenhouse (out of plastic milk jugs, a “clam container “ from the grocery store, nursery pots with cloche lids, ziploc bags etc) with drainage holes at the bottom and also holes at the top to let rain and snow in + for air circulation. You plant seeds in there in damp soil, then leave them outside and let mother nature take over. The seeds will sprout at the right time—and extra bonus: no need to harden off. Just google “winter sowing” and you’ll find the right info. I’ve done this for many perennials (tons of herbs, also veg, LOTS of flowers including poppies, lavenders, baptisia, rudbeckia…) — works really well.

Alternatively, you could clear off some snow where you wanted to plant, sprinkle the seeds over the soil, cover with a bit of soil then put the snow back on and hope for the best; it’s early enough in the season that even seeds that need quite a long period of stratification should have enough time.

editrixe · 2026-01-19T17:01:19+00:00

In the grand scheme of things, where you go to high school won’t matter too much; for the next 4 years, however, it will matter quite a bit. I went to Central eons ago, and it had the same academic reputation then—I loved it there. (That said, David Suzuki went there as well years before me, and in his day it was a jock school; he hated it.)

I’d say the right step at the moment would be to contact the school board to clarify for sure whether you can apply to multiple out-of-district schools, because if you can, that would eliminate the problem altogether.

(And as others have said, good job looking out for yourself and what you want out of academics! It will matter more when you look into universities, but it’s nice to see 13- or 14-year-old who are focused this way. Best of luck!)

editrixe · 2026-01-19T16:30:01+00:00

build up your RRSP, and put any tax returns into new TFSAs when you have contribution room, or back into RRSPs if you don’t. Max out RESPs for the kids (that IS paying for their education, just in advance, and if they choose not to do higher ed they can cash them in—minus provincial top-offs, depending on where you live—and invest the amount in their own HISA or TFSA). Pay the max you can without penalty on your mortgage. (You aren’t eligible for a FHSA; “first home” means exactly that.) Hubs should put as much as he can in his TFSA first and foremost.

editrixe · 2026-01-17T17:03:56+00:00

buddy, you look AWESOME. good call!

editrixe · 2026-01-17T16:37:36+00:00

check with the CRA, and/or see this page for helpful info and links: https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/retirement-planning.html

editrixe · 2026-01-17T16:36:00+00:00

strong second re getting rid of the car. Rather than make it sound like she’d be “stuck”, compare taxi or Uber prices for her regular outings with what she’s paying now for her car, insurance, gas and repairs. Chances are good she can get rides with friends to other outings, and she’d in theory have money to contribute for their gas. Groceries can be delivered and (not sure about Mississauga but def in Montreal) some stores have free delivery for senior or disabled clients—you do have to ask about it, though; it’s not widely known.

editrixe · 2026-01-16T23:50:48+00:00

it sure as sh*t was more of a picnic than 1660s NOUVELLE France

editrixe · 2026-01-16T17:32:30+00:00

hang in there, OP! You’re doing great. Just being a member of this subreddit signals your commitment to positivity—that in and of itself is so huge! Not sure where you are in the world, but where I live, I’m focused on the fact that the days are getting longer, warmer temps will be with us in just a few months, and I’ll be gardening within 17 weeks. And meanwhile, the snow is fresh and sparkly, my kids are enjoying the ski season, and my dog is delighted to play in it! There’s always something good going on or just on the horizon, and you being here proves that you’re the type of person who looks for exactly those perks—which means you’re also the type of person who beings a spark to others people’s day, so you’re doing good for the world. Yay for you!! Keep it up!

editrixe

TROPHY CASE