Reject FINA recommendation 430
Petitioners ask the Government to reject FINA recommendation 430 and prevent financial penalties for promoting religion. The government responds it will not remove 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose under the Income Tax Act.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would protect individuals' and charities' freedom to promote religion by blocking financial penalties that could restrict religious expression.
- It affirms an open, pluralistic public culture by preserving space for faith-based contributions to the common good.
- It avoids chilling effects on faith-based charities that might curtail services rather than risk punitive fiscal measures.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Rejecting the recommendation could impede reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of tax benefits and leave potential accountability gaps.
- Broad protection from financial measures may prevent legitimate limits on partisan or harmful activities by some religious organizations.
- An absolute ban on punitive financial tools could hinder proportionate, targeted fiscal responses to misuse or abuse of charitable status.
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 Government of Canada We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call upon the Government of Canada to reject recommendation 430 of the FINA pre-budget report, reaffirm Canada's commitment to an open culture, and support each citizen's freedom to promote the common good through the advancement of religion, without punitive financial measures.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue Signed by The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne The Government of Canada recognizes the vital role that charities, including religious charities, play in delivering essential services to some of the most vulnerable in Canadian society. To support their important work, registered charities are granted significant tax benefits and privileges, including the ability to issue official donation receipts for the gifts they receive. Under the Income Tax Act, an organization may only qualify for charitable registration where it is established exclusively for charitable purposes and devotes all its resources to achieving those purposes. The legal interpretation of “charitable purposes” has developed over time to include the relief of poverty, the advancement of religion, the advancement of education, and other purposes recognized as charitable, such as the promotion of health or the protection of the environment. Today, Canada is home to over 85,000 registered charities, representing a wide variety of causes, beliefs, and interests. Registration as a charity does not indicate government endorsement of an organization’s specific goals or views. Instead, it confirms that the organization meets certain conditions, including that it is constituted and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. These benefits are extended to a broad range of organizations providing socially beneficial activities to the public, from educational institutions to religious organizations, as long as they meet the legal requirements for registration. The Government of Canada is not considering amending the Income Tax Act to remove the advancement of religion as a qualifying charitable purpose.