Charity registrations revoked after mergers

Summary#

The Canada Revenue Agency published a notice on February 11, 2023 saying it will revoke the registered charity status of several small religious congregations. The revocations were requested because those groups consolidated or merged with other organizations.

What it does#

• Announces that the Income Tax Act notice of intention to revoke registration has been sent to the named charities.
• Says the charities asked to have their registrations revoked because they consolidated or merged with other organizations.
• States the revocation is effective on the date the notice was published (February 11, 2023).
• The notice is signed by Sharmila Khare, Director General, Charities Directorate.

Who's affected#

The immediate effect applies to the following registered charities (business numbers shown):

• 730958915RR0001 — GATEWAY RUSSIAN CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Edmonton, Alberta
• 746392315RR0001 — ASSEMBLÉE DES TÉMOINS DE JÉHOVAH DE LAVAL-NORD‑LANGUE DES SIGNES, Laval, Quebec
• 746879311RR0001 — WALKERVILLE ARABIC CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Windsor, Ontario
• 757686316RR0001 — CEDAR HEIGHTS CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• 758243513RR0001 — CITY CENTRE CANTONESE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Scarborough, Ontario
• 764913489RR0001 — CARLYLE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Carlyle, Saskatchewan
• 766255483RR0001 — SIGN LANGUAGE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 892927245RR0001 — WEST CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Also likely affected are people and groups connected to those congregations: donors, volunteers, and the local communities they served.

Why it matters#

Registered charity status is an official designation from the Canada Revenue Agency. Removing that status means these specific groups are no longer listed as registered charities. That can matter for public recognition, fundraising, and how the organizations are treated for tax and reporting purposes. The notice itself says the revocations follow the charities’ own requests after consolidation or merger.