CANADA Canada - Jack, 4 & Lilly Sullivan, 6, Vulnerable, wandered from home 10am, Gairloch Rd, Landsdowne Station, Pictou County, NS, 2 May 2025 #7

[Bigditch]

Months after Nova Scotia children vanished, a clearer picture emerges of their lives before their disappearance

There are still few answers about missing siblings Jack and Lilly Sullivan, but trauma and stigma have left their families and community farther apart

www.theglobeandmail.com

Love this article as its so detailed it has previously been posted but it gives detailed information on the blanket also some where wondering what happened that Maleyha ended up in the ambulance it gives insight into that too

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Interesting comments Su5ie.

 

[Bigditch]

Can someone post the G&M article. Paywalled.

 

[Sarahlou]

Can someone post the G&M article. Paywalled.

We can't copy and paste paywalled articles. Only paraphrase them.

 

[BCSleuth]

Can someone post the G&M article. Paywalled.

It is from last August.

One thing that has always really bothered me is this:

[MBM]’s monthly Canada Child Benefit cheque, or baby bonus – which under federal guidelines would be about $1,900 per month – was halted because [DM] hadn’t filed his taxes which were due by April 30.

This would have been taxes that were due to be filed by April 30, 2024, a year prior. And their benefits would have stopped mid to late 2024. Why on earth would he not file? That is a lot of money they were missing out on. Something really wrong here.

You can read the full article here: A picture emerges of missing children's lives.

 

[Slebby]

It is from last August.

One thing that has always really bothered me is this:



This would have been taxes that were due to be filed by April 30, 2024, a year prior. And their benefits would have stopped mid to late 2024. Why on earth would he not file? That is a lot of money they were missing out on. Something really wrong here.

You can read the full article here: A picture emerges of missing children's lives.

I believe it’s quite possible DM had not filed his taxes for no other reason than a lack of life skills. It’s possible someone else had done it for him before, like, say, his ex-wife. Sure, it’s a lot of money lost but it was MBM’s loss not his. He seemed fine with the arrangement in which they received gifts of groceries and firewood etc. from family members. Maybe a MBM without income was easier to hold onto when it seemed she was wanting to leave. It’s also possible he picked up a little income here or there from other employment we’ve just not heard about.
He also seems like someone who was content to live a simple life, and that doesn’t cost a lot when you inhabit your mother’s trailer.
Just some thoughts and possibilities.
IMHO

 

[TMich6811]

I am not familiar with taxes in Canada - are you supposed to report all income? And do you hold the risk of event audited or having bank accounts reviewed?

 

[FromGermany1]

I believe it’s quite possible DM had not filed his taxes for no other reason than a lack of life skills. It’s possible someone else had done it for him before, like, say, his ex-wife. Sure, it’s a lot of money lost but it was MBM’s loss not his. He seemed fine with the arrangement in which they received gifts of groceries and firewood etc. from family members. Maybe a MBM without income was easier to hold onto when it seemed she was wanting to leave. It’s also possible he picked up a little income here or there from other employment we’ve just not heard about.
He also seems like someone who was content to live a simple life, and that doesn’t cost a lot when you inhabit your mother’s trailer.
Just some thoughts and possibilities.
IMHO

I wonder, what he did for a living, when he was married (?) with his first wife and mother of his 2 children. Maybe, he is just lazy in an irresponsible manner re a full-time job and the same re the paperwork, which had to be done. MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

I am not familiar with taxes in Canada - are you supposed to report all income? And do you hold the risk of event audited or having bank accounts reviewed?

If you're receiving provincial benefits then yes, you have to report all income and file a tax return every year.
I've never known anyone who had their bank accounts touched, except people that supported the trucker convoy - but that was an insane one-off and not a normal thing.

jmo

 

[Bigditch]

I am not familiar with taxes in Canada - are you supposed to report all income? And do you hold the risk of event audited or having bank accounts reviewed?

Yes and no. If someone is on income replacement due to layoffs, disability, or a combination of both, then it is their duty to report any additional income over a certain threshold amount.

As for, side jobs like snow removal, landscaping, and other potential cash jobs, yes you are obliged to report. Although, generally people do not claim those types of side jobs if amounts are small.

A person is subject to audit if the government believes they are hiding money or collecting it from illegal sources.

Failing to file will not result in a tax audit.

 

[TMich6811]

Would someone avoid filing taxes if they were concerned their accounts would be looked at?

 

[su5ie]

Would someone avoid filing taxes if they were concerned their accounts would be looked at?

Yes or simply purposely avoid them if wanting to control another's finances and have them totally dependent on you especially if not filing them didn't affect your wage

 

[Bigditch]

Would someone avoid filing taxes if they were concerned their accounts would be looked at?

Not filing due to avoidance would be a red flag. However, I think DM was on unemployment insurance -- that's my read on the situation anyway. Only working one day a week at the saw mill.

The whole tax angle thing is questionable. Obviously, we know that he (DM) wasn't raking in tons of money on the side judging by their living arrangements, his lack of a vehicle.

Would DM deliberately not file his taxes as a means to make MBM dependant on him? Maybe, but that hinges on him making enough money to provide for them. It doesn't make sense to me that he'd jeopardize his own financial situation to control her. MBM had options, go back to living with her grandmother.

I've always thought DM had a side-hustle. That makes sense in terms of his ability to control M.

Truth is, all couples hit the skids when the finances are bad.

 

[MistyWaters]

Would someone avoid filing taxes if they were concerned their accounts would be looked at?

I’d give it about 2% odds that DM was concerned about getting audited. The tax avoidance focus of CRA is always upon wealthy high income earners, particularly self-employed individuals, not down and out folks living in run down mobile homes in any province.

Working in a sawmill with dependants, I’d bet DM was a low income earner and if so, he’d be eligible to collect far more benefits than tax he’d ever be required to pay. However taxes must be filed in order to be eligible to collect Employment Insurance Benefits, GST refunds, Carbon Tax rebates and any eligible COVID benefits. This is how it is.

It would’ve been good if the ‘source’ of this story was asked if MBM never collected Canada Child Benefit the entire time the couple were together (and if so why did she stay?) or was it just a short term thing. A couple a months is a quite different scenario than a couple of years.
JMO

 

[MistyWaters]

Yes or simply purposely avoid them if wanting to control another's finances and have them totally dependent on you especially if not filing them didn't affect your wage

That story doesn’t make sense if the family was reported to Child Welfare and one of the reasons was the children weren’t properly clothed in winter. During the visit, social workers would surely interview MBM about financial issues and surely she’d disclose DM hadn’t filed his income tax so she was getting Child Benefit payments. If the couple refused to get their act together and collect eligible benefits designed for wellbeing of the children, I really doubt Child Welfare would just walk away and leave children in a home with no money for food or clothing.
JMO

 

[Bigditch]

That story doesn’t make sense if the family was reported to Child Welfare and one of the reasons was the children weren’t properly clothed in winter. During the visit, social workers would surely interview MBM about financial issues and surely she’d disclose DM hadn’t filed his income tax so she was getting Child Benefit payments. If the couple refused to get their act together and collect eligible benefits designed for wellbeing of the children, I really doubt Child Welfare would just walk away and leave children in a home with no money for food or clothing.
JMO

I respectfully disagree, I don't think child services has the resources to provide for families in need. It is a problem everywhere right now. jmo

 

[TMich6811]

That story doesn’t make sense if the family was reported to Child Welfare and one of the reasons was the children weren’t properly clothed in winter. During the visit, social workers would surely interview MBM about financial issues and surely she’d disclose DM hadn’t filed his income tax so she was getting Child Benefit payments. If the couple refused to get their act together and collect eligible benefits designed for wellbeing of the children, I really doubt Child Welfare would just walk away and leave children in a home with no money for food or clothing.
JMO

Where do we know that child welfare walked away?

If M was in DV (if, I don’t entire believe that story) why do you think she’d be so quick to call out Daniel?

I can say 10000000% that people are not forthcoming about much of anything related to finances when they first get CPS involvement

 

[MistyWaters]

Where do we know that child welfare walked away?

If M was in DV (if, I don’t entire believe that story) why do you think she’d be so quick to call out Daniel?

I can say 10000000% that people are not forthcoming about much of anything related to finances when they first get CPS involvement

The story does not make sense for the reasons I wrote. The RCMP have notconfirmed it to be true and that much we do know. The bank statements were some of what they issued warrants for iirc.

 

[musicaljoke]

Where do we know that child welfare walked away?

If M was in DV (if, I don’t entire believe that story) why do you think she’d be so quick to call out Daniel?

I can say 10000000% that people are not forthcoming about much of anything related to finances when they first get CPS involvement

Child Protective Services generally request previous three years' tax return when
verifying income, financial stability, or addressing support obligations.

 

[musicaljoke]

Would someone avoid filing taxes if they were concerned their accounts would be looked at?

Not likely in this case. This family was not likely paying much, if anything in income tax. Submitting a tax return would likely result in a refund, plus thousands of dollars in benefits.

There is no evidence to suggest this family was worried about anyone checking their bank account. The evidence suggests that they were open and forthright about their finances.

 

[Ontario Mom]

The story that MBM lost her CTC benefits because DM didn't file taxes... makes me think we all have some very critical details missing.

I just find it really hard to believe 5 people were living off his 1 shift a week at the mill.

jmo