Government of Canada forms advisory committee on the charitable sector
March 11, 2019
BY Kevin Zakreski
Late last week, the Canada Revenue Agency announced the formation of a new advisory committee on the charitable sector. The purpose of the advisory committee is to serve as “a consultative forum for the Government of Canada to engage in meaningful dialogue with the charitable sector, to advance emerging issues relating to charities, and to ensure the regulatory environment supports the important work that charities do.”
The committee is “made up of 12 senior-level representatives from across sectors, including registered charities, national umbrella organizations, professional associations, charity researchers/academics, and legal experts. All members, including two sector co-chairs, are appointed by the Minister of National Revenue or the Commissioner of the CRA.” It plans to meet twice a year.
In its announcement, the CRA noted that forming the committee “marks the government’s final response” to the Report of the Consultation Panel on the Political Activities of Charities. Late last year, parliament passed Bill C-86, which among other things, amended the Income Tax Act, “revising the rules relating to the non-partisan political activities of charities.”
