Charity Revocations, Rebar Trade Finding, Trout Habitat

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice, published December 5, 2020, collects several short government announcements. It includes proposed revocations of two charities' registrations, a trade tribunal finding that suggests dumped steel reinforcing bar (rebar) may be harming Canadian producers, broadcasting application notices from the regulator, and the naming of critical habitat for two trout populations in national parks.

What it does#

• Canada Revenue Agency: proposes to revoke the registrations of two charities for not meeting rules in the Income Tax Act.

  • ARK ANGEL FOUNDATION (business number 890241227RR0001).
  • THE CANADIAN DON’T DO DRUGS SOCIETY (business number 868879685RR0001).

• Canadian International Trade Tribunal: reports a preliminary finding (a “reasonable indication”) that dumping of hot-rolled deformed steel concrete reinforcing bar from several countries has caused or threatens to cause injury to Canadian producers. This is under the Special Import Measures Act. The notice describes the product (rebar up to 56.4 mm diameter, excluding some plain or fabricated products and a specific 10 mm rebar range produced and coated to particular standards and in lengths from 1 foot (30.48 cm) up to 8 feet (243.84 cm)).

• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission: posts applications and decisions online for public review. Examples listed:

  • TELUS Communications Inc. application for Rimouski (deadline January 11, 2021).
  • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation application for CHFA-10-FM Bonnyville (deadline January 8, 2021).
  • Administrative decision for Radio communautaire de Châteauguay (CHAI-FM).

• Parks Canada: names critical habitat for two fish populations under the Species at Risk Act. The notice says that 90 days after publication, protections in the Act will apply to the identified habitat areas:

  • Bull Trout (Saskatchewan–Nelson Rivers populations) in Banff National Park of Canada, Jasper National Park of Canada, and Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada.
  • Rainbow Trout (Athabasca River populations) in Jasper National Park of Canada.

Who's affected#

• The two named charities and their donors, who could lose registered charity status if the revocations proceed.
• Canadian steel and construction industries that use rebar, and importers/exporters connected to rebar from the countries listed in the tribunal notice.
• Broadcasters, local communities, and listeners in areas with applications or decisions mentioned (for example, Rimouski and Bonnyville) and anyone who files interventions with the CRTC before the shown deadlines (January 11, 2021 and January 8, 2021).
• Park managers, conservation groups, and people who use waterways or land in Banff, Jasper, and Waterton Lakes national parks near the identified trout habitat. Recreational or development activities in those specific areas may be constrained once protections take effect.

Why it matters#

• Losing registered charity status affects a nonprofit’s ability to issue official donation receipts and can change its tax treatment. Donors and beneficiaries may notice the impact.
• The tribunal’s finding could lead to anti-dumping measures (like duties) that change the price or availability of imported rebar. That can affect construction costs and projects that use steel reinforcement.
• CRTC postings give the public and stakeholders a chance to weigh in on local broadcasting decisions. Deadlines matter if you want to comment.
• Naming critical habitat means stronger legal protections for the Bull Trout and Rainbow Trout populations in those park areas. That can change what activities are allowed there, to help recover and protect these fish.