The CRA has put out a call asking members of the public to apply to become a member of the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector (ACCS). The ACCS has been criticized by some for representing certain narrow interests, sometimes coming up with positions that are not at all reflective of the needs of the charity sector, making statements that are extremely problematic, and also lacking diversity. I have only the slightest hope that the ACCS will be useful in the future. I think unless there is a dramatic change in how it operates it would be better to save the millions of dollars and just wind down the committee. Ultimately, the decision as to who is on the ACCS is made by the Minister of National Revenue and there is no transparency as to how that decision is made so that gives me little comfort.
Here is the note from CRA:
Charities and giving – What’s new
Apply to become a member of the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector
Note: If you applied to the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector (ACCS) Open Call process in 2021, you do not need to reapply unless there have been material changes to your application or your contact information has changed. Your 2021 submission is still valid and will be considered.
Today, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) launched the 2022 Call for Applications for Canadians to join the ACCS.
The ACCS is a consultative forum for the Government of Canada to engage in meaningful dialogue with the charitable sector, advance emerging issues related to charities, and ensure the regulatory environment supports the important work that charities do.
The ACCS is made up of volunteers from the charitable sector, who provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of National Revenue and Commissioner of the CRA on important issues facing charities.
As the terms of six currently-serving members come to an end, the Minister of National Revenue will be looking to appoint new charitable sector members. New members will serve a two-year term.
The CRA strives to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from a broad cross-section of experts, practitioners, leaders from the not-for-profit and private sectors, as well as members of various groups, including women, LGBTQ2+ communities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.
To assist us in achieving diversity in the ACCS member representation, the application includes questions about applicants’ field of expertise, sector of affiliation, province or territory, area of residence (e.g., rural, Northern, urban), and demographic profile. For more information on roles and responsibilities and membership composition, I encourage you to read the ACCS Terms of Reference.
There are two steps to the application process, both of which must be completed by June 3, 2022 (23:59 ET):
- Mail or fax your application to the Charities Directorate.IMPORTANT: Please note we cannot accept applications sent by email for this open call.
- Email the Charities Directorate with the subject line “ACCS membership applications” to express your interest in the process so that we may confirm receipt of your application when we receive it by mail or fax. Do not send personal information or your application by email.
If you want to make a difference in the charitable sector in Canada and provide recommendations to the Minister of National Revenue and Commissioner of the CRA, I encourage you to visit our website and apply today.
We thank you in advance for your interest in this important role.