By: Lex Klombies The federal government’s Budget 2021 was released earlier today. Much of the proposed spending is relevant to non-profit organizations and charities, such as a ten-fold increase in capacity building for Black-led not-for-profit organizations and an extension of existing covid-19 recovery benefits. One of the items in Budget 2021 that charities should be […]

By: Lex Klombies Budget 2021 proposes[1] to provide more funding for Black-led organizations’ workplaces and community spaces through the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (the “Initiative”). The Initiative is a social development partnerships program administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (“ESD Canada”). The Initiative supports capacity-building of Black-led charities and non-profit organizations so they […]

By: Lex Klombies Budget 2021 confirmed[1] the current federal government’s intention to proceed with amending the Income Tax Act provisions relating to Qualified Canadian Journalism Organizations.[2] Specifically, to proceed with the legislative proposals released on April 17, 2020 to clarify support for Canadian journalism. The proposals were summarized in a news release April 17, 2020 […]

By: Karen Cooper The impacts of COVID-19 have highlighted gaps in our social systems and have spurred innovative ideas about ways to build a better economy and country.  Prior to the pandemic, the federal government had taken some preliminary steps through the creation of a number of social innovation and social financing initiatives, including the […]

By Alexandra Tzannidakis Budget 2021 has some expansive spending plans, and a significant part of that spending is, predictably, focussed on helping the economy recover from the pandemic. We are glad to note that the budget recognizes the important role that charities and non-profits have to play in social recovery, alongside their for-profit counterparts. As […]

By Adam Aptowitzer Several years ago, we argued a case to the Supreme Court of Canada. In the Guindon matter the director of a charity (and not incidentally its legal advisor) was fined for signing tax receipts, which turned out to be false, in circumstances which amounted to ‘culpable conduct’. The Act defines culpable conduct […]

By: Adam Aptowitzer Over the years we have written many times of the constitutional truism that the responsibility for regulating the charity sector rests with the Provinces. It is only through the indolence of the Provinces in legislating in this area has the CRA become the regulator of charities in the public interest. From time […]