Blumbergs looking to hire Charity and Corporate Law Clerk / Legal Assistant
We are looking to hire Charity and Corporate Law Clerk / Legal Assistant, Here is further information.
Blog
The Charities Directorate is really in to infographics – now to explain the charity audit process
The CRA recently posted an Infographic entitled Audit process for charities. It is helpful for charities to understand an outline of the process.
How does CRA decide which registered charities to audit?
This is a commonly asked question. For some it is very simple – the Prime Minister is up late at night and decides who will live and who will die! Others probably think that there is a big wheel…
20 Ways We May Be Able To Help You With ONCA as We Go Into 2017
For some the mention of ONCA causes anxiety or anger. Never fear – help is here! Here are “20 Ways We May Be Able To Help You With ONCA as We Go Into 2017“.
Charities Directorate statistics on audits for 2015/2016
We recently had Gary Huenemoeder of the Charities Directorate presenting at our Blumbergs’ Charity Law Institute and providing an update on charity audits. According to CRA, in 2015/2016 there were 726 audits completed. The results are broken down here:…
Mark Blumberg’s article “CRA consultation on political activities – to submit or not to submit?”
I recently wrote an article for Hilborn entitled “CRA consultation on political activities – to submit or not to submit?” Here is the text of the article: CRA consultation on political activities – to submit or not to submit? The…
CRA is now including a T3010 reminder notice in Notification of Registration letters
Recently we noticed that CRA is now including a T3010 reminder notice in the Notification of Registration letters being issued to new Canadian registered charities. The reminder notice relates to the due date of the charity's annual information return with CRA. This…
CRA releases new educational video series on ‘Gifting and Receipting’
CRA recently released its first video as part of a new educational video series on 'Gifting and Receipting'. This series is meant to educate the public, donors, and those involved in the charitable sector on the type of donations that…
An ICN Webinar – CRA Regulations and the Political Activities of Charities
I am pleased to be co-presenting to the ICN a webinar on “CRA Regulations and the Political Activities of Charities“. Here is the blurb on it: An ICN Webinar – CRA Regulations and the Political Activities of Charities On September…
Blumbergs’ Snapshot of the Ontario Charity Sector 2014 – focus on Ontario registered charities
We are proud to present the Blumbergs’ Snapshot of the Ontario Charity Sector 2014. The data subset used is the CRA's 2014 T3010 data but only for registered charities based in Ontario. A large part of the Canadian registered charity sector is based…
Finance Committee report “The CRA, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion: Recommended Actions”
The Finance Committee of the House of Commons (FINA) has just released a report entitled “The Canada Revenue Agency, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion: Recommended Actions“. It is certainly worth reading. The Committee recommendations are: Recommendation 1 The Minister of National…
Mayne v. The Queen – involvement in one scheme is not enough for this taxpayer, so he does two
This case involves an auto worker who invested in an abusive charity gifting tax scheme. When caught by CRA he went to another group called Fiscal Arbitrators and they suggested he claim a large amount of business losses even though…
V. Ross Morrison v. The Queen – appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed
We had previously covered the V. Ross Morrison v. The Queen case dealing with the Canadian Humanitarian Trust and the Canadian Gift Initiatives donation programs. The appellants appealed the earlier decision of Justice F.J. Pizzitelli of the Tax Court of Canada and…
CCLA Webinar to discuss the CRA’s new consultation on political activities with Mark Blumberg
As many know the CRA has launched a consultation on political activities by Canadian charities. The Canadian Charity Law Association will be having Mark Blumberg present a webinar on the consultation and various ways of responding or not responding to it.…
UK Charity Commission finds misconduct by charity due to deficient safeguarding procedures
The UK Charity Commission has published a report regarding its inquiry into a registered charity (the Bristol Community Church Trust). The inquiry started in 2011 and related to sexual abuse allegations that were made against the charity's youth pastor and…
NYT article “They Took In One Refugee Family. But Families Don’t Have Borders.”
There is a new article in the New York Times entitled “They Took In One Refugee Family. But Families Don’t Have Borders.” It is a followup to an earlier article on the experience of 3 Syrian families who had come…
Charities Directorate Political Activities Education and Information Plan
As part of the CRA focus on political activities the CRA did some educational activities and awareness raising about the rules for Canadian charities conducting political activities. Here is a copy of the Charities Directorate Political Activities Education and Information Plan.
CRA letter on improvement districts qualifying as a municipal or public body
CRA has released a letter which discusses whether improvement districts, particularly in British Columbia, would be considered municipal or public bodies performing a function of government for the purpose of paragraph 149(1)(c) and therefore able to issue donation receipts as…
Blumbergs’ Snapshot of the Ontario Charity Sector 2014 to be released
On October 28, 2016 at the Blumbergs' Charity Law Institute we will be presenting the results of the Blumbergs’ Snapshot of the Ontario Charity Sector 2014 including how the numbers have changed between 2011 and 2014. Some of the highlights from 2014…
The Foundation Payout Debate at Arnova in Washington
I am pleased to be on a panel at Arnova in Washington entitled “The Foundation Payout Debate: Comparative Perspectives on Distribution, Perpetuity and the Role of Foundations”. Here is the full description and presenters: The Foundation Payout Debate: Comparative Perspectives…
Institute of Corporate Directors Collaboration for Greater Impact – November 22, 2016
I am looking forward to presenting at the upcoming ICD session Collaboration for Greater Impact on November 22, 2016. The panel will include Rahul Bhardwaj (CEO ICD), Joanne Doyle (UWTYR), Donna Duncan (CEO The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre), Ian Smith (Chair The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre) and…
CRA Q&A on Charity Sector regulation and political activities
Here is a CRA Questions and Answers on Charity Sector regulation and political activities from 2012 that was obtained through access to information. It discusses the Charities Directorate's role, strategic priorities, how charities will be selected for audit, and other matters.
Draft CRA Communications Strategy in January 2013 on charities and political activities
Here is the Draft CRA Communications Strategy from January 2013 on charities and political activities. The comms strategy discusses CRA's response to the 2012 Federal Budget changes affecting Canadian charities and political activities.
A quick introduction to CharityData.ca from Mark Blumberg
Blumbergs has created a very interesting new website called CharityData.ca. Here is a short video which provides an overview of this powerful tool with information on over 86,000 Canadian registered charities with up to 10 years historical information on each registered…