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…
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…
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!…
Bloomberg News has done a story on how a PR firm has been using charities to promote the interests of various clients and whether this violates certain US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. Here is the article:
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…
I will be delivering for the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation a full day workshop entitled “Charity Law Boot Camp: compliance and standards issues for Canadian Charities”. It will be on October 12 at Carleton University. Here is the announcement…
Here is a copy of a letter from the Charities Directorate to the Hindu Temple Society of Canada. It is interesting for a number of reasons in that it discusses penalties for making gifts to non-qualified donees and the imposition…
I recently had the pleasure of hearing Ross McMillan, President & CEO of Tides Canada, at the Economic Club on June 27, 2012. He spoke eloquently on the role of environmental charities and the current debate around Canadian charites involved…
According to the Globe and Mail “An environmental charity at the centre of controversy surrounding political activism and foreign donations is taking the rare step of releasing a detailed account of grant recipients and international donors in an effort to…
Canadian registered charities are not allowed to make donations to political parties. The Calgary Herald in an article entitled “U of C documents point to political donations that may have contravened election law” states “Thousands of dollars in “indirect contributions”…
Here is a short article that I wrote entitled “Focus on Canadian Charities and Political Activities” for the Canadian Donor’s Guide in May 2012. Focus on Canadian Charities and Political Activities
The Ontario Council for International Cooperation will be having its 2012 AGM and Conference. There will be a number of interesting discussions on international development and humanitarian assistance. I will be delivering a short break out session:” “Legal Perspectives on…
There have been a number of articles dealing with Canadian charities and political activities over the last few weeks. Here are some of them: Green gets mean with Ottawa: Conservatives’ proposed dilution of environmental laws, attacks on groups has created…
A few weeks ago CRA revoked the charitable status of an environmental group for involvement in an abusive gifting tax scheme. Sorry to disappoint some but no political activities here. The Canada Revenue Agency revokes the registration of Escarpment Biosphere…
The Standing Committee on Finance dealt with the charity provisions in the 2012 Federal Budget on May 28, 2012 from approximately 7 p.m. to 9 pm. The subject matter was “Bill C-38, An Act to implement certain provisions of the…
Here is an updated version of my article Top Ten Canadian Charity Law Issues. incorporating some of the recent changes. A lot has happened over the last 2 years and here is an updated version of Top Ten Canadian Charity…
Here is an excerpt from a speech by Cathy Hawara, Director General of the Charities Directorate of the CRA on the issue of Canadian charities and political activities. “Let me now turn to some of the highlights of Budget 2012…
Cathy Hawara, Director General of the Charities Directorate, made some comments on the 2012 Federal budget changes affecting the category of qualified donee charitable organizations outside Canada to which Her Majesty in right of Canada has made a gift. She…
I presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance today along with 5 other witnesses. There was a lively discussion of transparency, cross border philanthropy, tax incentives and preventing abuse of registered charities. Here is a copy of…
The Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) is holding hearings on tax incentives for charitable donations. Here is the Finance Committee: Chair – James Rajotte Vice-Chairs – Scott Brison, Peggy Nash Members Mark Adler Guy Caron Shelly Glover Randy Hoback Brian…
I have been asked to testify before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance which is studying various issues relating to the charity sector including tax incentives for charitable donations, charities and political activities, and cross border philanthropy. My…
Here is an article in the Toronto Star ““Catholic teachers under fire for promoting pro-life motion to students”. Catholic teachers under fire for promoting pro-life motion to students http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1166752—catholic-teachers-under-fire-for-promoting-pro-life-motion-to-students
Canadian registered charities must file the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return within six months of the end of their fiscal year, although some are not able to meet that deadline and file soon thereafter. It is a very important form…
Canadian registered charities must file the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return within six months of the end of their fiscal year, although some are not able to meet that deadline and file soon thereafter. It is a very important form…