Here is a copy of a memo marked “Secret” and attachments from the Department of Finance on Finance released under Freedom of Information dealing with “Registered Charities – Political Activities, Foreign Funding and Transparency”. It may take a minute to…
Corporations Canada has announced its Client Outreach Session for Toronto will be held on February 7, 2013. From: Natalie.Delisle@ic.gc.ca [mailto:Natalie.Delisle@ic.gc.ca] Sent: January-03-13 10:12 AM To: Natalie.Delisle@ic.gc.ca Subject: Corporations Canada – Client Outreach Session – Toronto, February 7, 2013 / Séance…
The Toronto Star recently covered a conference in which Justin Trudeau was speaking. One of the sponsors of the conference was IRFAN, a group that has lost its charitable status due to allegations that it was involved with directly or…
On February 12, 2013 I will be making a presentation as part of Maytree’s Five Good Ideas series on “Five Good Ideas about Registered Charities and Political Activities” Find more information and register Five Good Ideas about Registered Charities…
On December 14th, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered its ruling in the case of R. v. Khawaja, 2012 SCC 69. Much of this case centered on whether the Criminal Code of Canada definition of “terrorist activity” was constitutional. …
CRA has releasted its guidance on “Arts Activities and Charitable Registration Guidance” (CG-018). CRA had conducted an earlier consultation on arts and charity registration and this is the final version. Here is a summary “Arts Activities and Charitable Registration Guidance…
The Canadian Government has reminded Canadians to be careful when donating to charities, especially when the donation is part of a scheme offering more tax incentives than the cash contributions. If you are interested in more details on how to…
The Ministry of Consumer Services’ has added some information to their website on the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 including a glossary of key terms, an FAQ and a basic transition checklist. There is more information that is yet to come…
Here are some recent revocation letters from CRA in which the Charities Directorate explains why they revoked certain charities for cause. The Canadian Quadraplegic Association Bette’s Single Family & Senior Food Bank. CRA noted “The Canad~ Revenue Agency’s (CRA) audit…
This last week I was involved with 2 events in which members of the Charities Directorate spoke on the subject of political activities. First, on Wednesday, Linda Desrochers, Director of the Determinations Section of the Charities Directorate, spoke on recent…
The Canadian Bar Association PracticeLink Solo and Small Firm Bulletin has sent a note to its members “Tis the season: CRA warns about gifting tax shelter schemes. Whether you approach them as a lawyer or as a tax-payer, gifting tax…
On November 28, 2012 we will be having the Blumbergs’ Canadian Charity Law Institute in Toronto. It will be a full day of practical legal and ethical compliance information geared toward charities, professional advisors and those interested in regulatory issues…
The Toronto Sun has written a followup article on the involvement of the mayor of London, Ontario in a type of tax shelter that CRA refers to as an “abusive charity gifting tax shelter.” The Toronto Sun notes “As choppy…
I will be delivering a free presentation in Calgary entitled “Advocacy and Political Activities for Canadian Registered Charities: Some Legal and Ethical Perspectives”. Here is some additional information: Roundtable Presentation (RTP): Mark Blumberg Back by popular demand: Mark Blumberg!…
Here is a guidance from CRA entitled “Qualified donees – Consequences of returning donated property CG-016”. It points out that this CRA Guidance is dealing with tax issues and “These provisions do not address whether a transfer of property to…
Here is a Charities Directorate reminder to Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service dated July 23, 2012 about political activities. Canadian Mennonite has been complaining that CRA is trying to create a chill on charity political activities. Apparently here are some articles…
The CRA revoked the Universal Community Help as the “audit has revealed that the Organization is not complying with the requirements set out in the Income Tax Act. In particular, it was found that the Organization failed to maintain adequate…
According to CRA “The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) audit has revealed that the Organization failed to devote its resources exclusively to its own charitable activities by participating in a promoted donation arrangement in 2008. As a direct result, the Organization…
On June 28, 2012, in Barrie, Ontario, a fundraiser named Adam Gour was convicted by McIsaac, J. of fraud for failing to disclose commissions to donors and deceiving donors. The decision may be appealed. The Gour case is important because…
Here are a number of recent letters from the CRA to registered charities that were revoked by CRA for cause .Physicians for Global Survival (Canada) Canadian Burn Foundation Jaamiah Al Uloom Al Islamivvah Ontario Childhood Asthma Foundation
The Vancouver Sun published a story today entitled “Rick Hansen ‘donated’ rights to his name to his foundation, received $1.8-million tax receipt: Canada Revenue Agency says the 2009 donation does not qualify as a gift and the foundation must cancel…
The Canada Revenue Agency has changed some of their procedures to deal with gifting tax shelter schemes. Below is a press release from CRA. What is interesting first of all is that they call them “gifting tax shelters” in the…
Financed announced today a detailed Notice of Ways and Means Motion to implement certain outstanding technical amendments to the Income Tax Act. A number of them relate to charities in Canada and donations to Canadian charities. For example the split…
I will be presenting in Vancouver a full day presentation on charity law and compliance for registered charities on November 6, 2012. It is being put on by CoDevelopment Canada & BCCIC and it is entitled “Charity Law 101”. Just…