Taking the Path Less Travelled: Options Other than Continuing by Brent Randall There has been extensive discussion regarding the positive aspects of not-for-profit and charitable corporations continuing under the new Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Most of the analysis focuses on perceived positive elements such as the clear rights afforded to members or the more streamlined […]
Taking the Path Less Travelled – Continuing Provincially
Taking the Path Less Travelled – Continuing Provincially By: Brent Randall Last month, we looked at some reasons why an organization may not want to continue under the new Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (“the CNCA”). We also considered the option of reorganizing the corporation as a charitable trust as a means to avoid being subject […]
Maiden Voyage for the New Political Communication Rules
Maiden Voyage for the New Political Communication Rules By: Brent Randall With the recent provincial election in Quebec, an upcoming election in British Columbia, and speculation that Ontario may do the same, charities across Canada may be considering the impact they can make in the political arena. While we previously wrote that Budget 2012 maintained […]
Donation of Intellectual Property Rights Can Be Controversial
Donation of Intellectual Property Rights Can Be Controversial By Brent Randall Intellectual property rights, which include trade-marks, copyrights and patents, are frequently transferred or licensed between parties. Generally, ownership of intellectual property allows the owner to profit by way of royalties, licensing fees or sale of the rights. The right to profit from intellectual property […]
How to Structure Community Interest Corporations
How to Structure Community interest corporations By Brent Randall This past May, British Columbia became the first province in Canada to approve a new business model that is focused on the social economy rather than profit. The province’s Business Corporations Act will be amended to include definitions and provisions relating to “community contribution companies”. Nova […]
Feeling Duped Into Donating
Feeling Duped into Donating: Can You Be Protected? By Brent Randall At his pinnacle, Lance Armstrong was one of the most famous athletes in the world and the most dominant professional cyclist ever. His popularity at the time, and his personal story of overcoming cancer, inspired many to contribute to the charity he founded, the […]
Market for Art is Subject to Unparalleled Sources of Ambiguity
Market for Art is Subject to Unparalleled Sources of Ambiguity By Brent Randall Last month, sculptures once thought to have been created by Michelangelo failed to sell at auction. The pieces, originally appraised at $31 million, were found by experts to actually have been the work of Johan Gregor van der Schardt, and therefore “only” […]
Virtual Currencies
Virtual Currencies: Implications for Charities By Brent Randall Virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin, have been steadily increasing in popularity. At the time of this writing, one Bitcoin is valued at nearly $90 CAD. While an explanation of the exact nature of Bitcoin is outside of our scope, what can be said with certainty is that […]
The Impact of Business Activities
The Impact of Business Activities on Your Organization by Brent Randall If you operate an organization that engages in business activities (which CRA defines as deriving revenues from the provision of goods and/or services), the nature and goals of this business can help determine whether charitable registration is suitable for your group. Charities are able […]