The London Free press and other papers and bloggers have been writing about the involvement of the Mayor of London Ontario with a particular charity gifting tax scheme. The Mayor of London, Ontario, apparently has threatened to sue the papers and bloggers over the coverage. The matter has not yet gone to court and may not go to court.
- A story
- Article in the London Free Press
- Some warnings by the CRA about involvement with certain charity donation schemes
- Blog by Tax litigator Natalie Worsfold which discusses GLGI
- Somewhat dated video on GLGI
- The only case considered by the Supreme Court dealing with abusive charity gifting tax schemes was Marechaux
In the case of the Mayor of London, Ontario, the charity in question is Trinity Global Support Foundation
Here is information from the CRA page:
“Canadian Registered Charities – Detail Page
The Charities Directorate has not necessarily verified the information provided by the Charity.
Trinity Global Support Foundation
BN/Registration Number: 851387159RR0001
Charity Status: Registered
Effective Date of Status: 2007-09-05
Sanction: N/A
Language of Correspondence: English
Designation Description: Private Foundation
Charity Type: Welfare
Category: (Welfare) Charitable Corporations
Address: 204-148 YORK ST.
City: LONDON
Province/Territory/Other: ONTARIO
Country: CA
Postal Code/Zip Code: N6A1A9 “
The ongoing programs are identified as:
Ongoing programs:
Our emphasis on assisting in the advancement of spiritual tenets and teachings continued with donations in various provinces to various religious and other aid organizations. Before funds are advanced to any group a detailed request is submitted which must be approved by the Grants/Gifting Committee and the Board of Directors. The Board is adamant that only approved recipients are receiving funds and supported by follow up. To expand our support on poverty and children’s program in March we undertook a children’s feeding program called Show Kids You Care that feeds 130,000+ children per week across Canada. At this time we anticipate focusing on expanding this program to more schools and children and to help families deal with poverty and nutrition needs. Our Grants/Gifting Committee we will continue to monitor carefully payments only to qualified donees under the religious category. Also continue our gifting initiative whereby Trinity receives monetary donations and donations of gifts in kind of life extending pharmaceuticals meant to help those individuals in developing nations which have been diagnosed with HIV. These pharmaceuticals are donated to the developing nations.
Here are the directors and officers from the CRA website:
Directors / Trustees and Like Officials – Trinity Global Support Foundation
13 Directors / Trustees and Like Officials.
Registered charities that notice problems with their online information should visit the amendment page for instructions on how to correct the information.
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Directors/Trustees and Like Officials
1
Last name:PITTS
First name: GILBERT
Initial/Middle name: E
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2010-09-16
End Date:
Position: DIRECTOR
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
2
Last name:TUDISCO
First name: PETER
Initial/Middle name:
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2008-12-04
End Date: 2010-09-16
Position: DIRECTOR
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
3
Last name:THOMSON-CICCONE
First name: KAREN
Initial/Middle name: R
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2007-05-24
End Date: 2010-07-28
Position: DIRECTOR & SEC/TREAS
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
4
Last name:LOREDANA
First name: ONESAN
Initial/Middle name:
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2011-05-11
End Date:
Position: DIRECTOR
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
5
Last name:BROOSTAD
First name: DAVID
Initial/Middle name: R
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2010-11-19
End Date:
Position: Director
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
6
Last name:CICCONE
First name: VINCENT
Initial/Middle name: C
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2007-05-24
End Date: 2010-11-19
Position: Chair
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?:
7
Last name:FONTANA
First name: JOSEPH
Initial/Middle name: F
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2008-12-04
End Date:
Position: Director
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: No
8
Last name:FONTANA
First name: JOSEPH
Initial/Middle name: F
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2009-09-01
End Date:
Position: Chairman
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: No
9
Last name:FONTANA
First name: UGO
Initial/Middle name: J
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2009-09-01
End Date:
Position: President
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: No
10
Last name:GILMORE
First name: EDWARD
Initial/Middle name: G
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2010-11-19
End Date: 2011-05-11
Position: Director
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
11
Last name:HOLMES
First name: PATRICK
Initial/Middle name: M
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2010-11-19
End Date:
Position: Secretary
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
12
Last name:HOLMES
First name: PATRICK
Initial/Middle name: M
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2010-11-19
End Date:
Position: Treasurer
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
13
Last name:HOLMES
First name: PATRICK
Initial/Middle name: M
Director/Trustee/Like Officials Term:
Start Date: 2008-08-12
End Date:
Position: VICE PRESIDENT
At arm’s length with other Directors, etc.?: Yes
In their 2011 T3010 Registered Charity Information Return Trinity Global Support Foundation noted in their Schedule 2: Activities Outside Canada
1 What were total expenditures on activities/programs/projects carried on outside Canada during the fiscal period, excluding gifts to qualified donees? $32,808,368
2 Were any of the charity’s resources provided for programs outside Canada under any kind of an arrangement including a contract, agency agreement, or joint venture to any other individual or entity (excluding gifts to qualified donees)? Yes
If yes, enter the amounts of the total reported on line 200 transferred to these individuals/organizations as required in the following table:
Name of individual/organization
Using the list on the reverse, identify country code where activities were carried on.
Amount ($)
Show amounts to the nearest single dollar.
Diocese of Kakamega KE $ 8,198,467
Diocese of Fianaratsoa MG $ 24,598,501
Suitcases For Africa KE $ 11,400
7 Is the charity exporting goods as part of its charitable programs? Yes
If yes, list the items being exported, their value, their destination (city/region) and country code.
Item
Value
Destination (city/region)
Country code
HIV/AIDS Antivirus $ 8,198,467 Kakamega KE
HIV/AIDS Antivirus $ 24,598,501 Fianarantsoa 301 MG
Schedule 5: Non-Cash Gifts – Trinity Global Support Foundation
1 Identify all types of non-cash gifts (gifts-in-kind) received for which a tax-receipt was issued:
Medical equipment/supplies Yes
2 Indicate the total eligible amount of tax-receipted non-cash gifts $ 69,236,400