CRA proposes revoking many charities' registrations

Summary#

The Canada Revenue Agency published notices in the Canada Gazette on March 21, 2026 proposing to revoke the registered charity status of a large number of organizations under the Income Tax Act. Some revocations are because the CRA says the charities failed to meet requirements; others were requested by the charities themselves.

What it does#

• The CRA proposes to revoke registration of certain charities for failing to comply with parts of the Income Tax Act. Examples listed in the notices include COUNCIL ON HOMOSEXUALITY AND RELIGION INC. (Winnipeg), LIONS OF CANADA FUND FOR LCIF (Dundas), and FONDS D’EMPRUNT ÉCONOMIQUE COMMUNAUTAIRE (QUÉBEC) (Québec).
• The CRA also published notices showing it will revoke the registration of many charities where the organizations themselves asked for revocation. Examples include WHY ENCOUNTER, INC. (Winnipeg), BRIDGEPORT UNITED CHURCH (Kitchener), and THE SALVATION ARMY MEADOW LAKE CORPS (Meadow Lake).
• The notices state the revocations are effective on the date the notice appears in the Canada Gazette (that is, March 21, 2026). The notices are signed by Sharmila Khare, Director General, Charities Directorate.

Who's affected#

• The main people affected are the charities listed in the Gazette notice. They include many local churches, foundations, community groups, arts and health organizations and smaller non-profits across Canada.
• Donors to those charities may be affected if the organizations lose their registered status.
• Clients and communities who rely on services from these charities could notice changes if an organization closes, restructures, or loses funding tied to charitable status.
• The Gazette notice lists many specific organizations by name and business number; consult the Canada Gazette entry for the full list.

Why it matters#

• Losing registered charity status removes a group’s federal recognition as a charity. That typically means the organization can no longer issue official donation receipts for income tax purposes and may lose access to some tax-related benefits.
• For donors, this can affect the tax treatment of future donations and may change incentives to give. For service users, it could mean reduced or stopped programs if a charity closes or reorganizes.
• If you gave money to, volunteer with, or rely on a listed organization, check the Canada Gazette notice or contact the charity or the Canada Revenue Agency for details and next steps.