Protect charitable status neutrality
Petitioners ask the House to prohibit political or religious 'values tests' and ensure charitable-status rules are applied neutrally without discrimination. The government responds that charities must follow tax law and may lose registration for breaches.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would block denial of charitable status based on political or religious beliefs, helping charities continue delivering services relied upon by many Canadians.
- It would prevent politicized 'values tests' like past Canada Summer Jobs policies from excluding otherwise eligible organizations.
- It would reinforce freedom of expression protections for charities and individuals acting on conscience.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Tax rules require charities to operate for public benefit; banning any values consideration could weaken enforcement of those legal standards.
- The government cites protection of reproductive rights; removing scrutiny of organizations' stances may conflict with broader public policy goals.
- A blanket ban on 'values tests' could be impractical; clearer legal definitions or targeted guidance might better balance neutrality with enforcement.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: The Liberal Party of Canada has promised in its 2021 platform to deny the charitable status of organizations that have convictions about abortion which the Liberal Party views as "dishonest"; This may jeopardize the charitable status of hospitals, houses of worship, schools, homeless shelters, and other charitable organizations which do not agree with the Liberal Party on this matter for reasons of conscience; Many Canadians depend upon and benefit from the charitable work done by such organizations; The government has previously used a "values test" to discriminate against worthy applicants to the Canada Summer Jobs Program, denying funding to any organization which was not willing to check a box endorsing political positions of the governing party; Charities and other non-profit organizations should not be discriminated against on the basis of their political views or religious values and should not be subject to a politicized "values test"; and All Canadians have a right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to freedom of expression without discrimination. Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis, without discrimination on the basis of political or religious values and without the imposition of another "values test"; and 2. Affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P. The government recognizes the vital role charities play in delivering essential services to those in need, including some of the most vulnerable in Canadian society. In order to support the work that they do, registered charities are provided federal, as well as provincial or territorial, supports under the tax system including an exemption from income tax and the ability to issue official donation receipts for gifts that they receive. In return, all registered charities are expected to follow the rules set out in the Income Tax Act, including that they operate for charitable purposes and devote their resources to activities for the benefit of the public. To ensure public transparency and accountability, registered charities must also file a public information return each year with the Canada Revenue Agency, which is made publicly available on its website and provides details about a charity’s activities and how it spent its funds. Any registered charity that does not respect the rules contained in the Income Tax Act can have its registration revoked. The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose and ensuring access to comprehensive reproductive care across the country.