Preserve faith-based charities' status
Petitioners ask the government to reject Recs. 429 and 430, exclude them from the budget, and preserve faith-based charities' status. The government responds it will not remove advancement of religion as a charitable purpose.
Why we would sign this petition
- Preserves the ability of faith-based charities to continue social services rooted in religious belief, keeping food banks, newcomer supports and community programs eligible for donations and tax benefits.
- Affirms freedom of religion by opposing removal of 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose, reducing the risk of singling out organizations for their beliefs.
- Maintains pluralism and social cohesion by keeping religious groups within the charitable sector rather than excluding them based on doctrine.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Proponents argue some faith-based groups engage in political advocacy (e.g., anti-abortion activity), which may fall outside charitable purposes and justify revocation or review.
- Allowing broad 'advancement of religion' status may let organizations claim tax benefits while promoting positions that conflict with public policy or equality goals, raising fairness concerns.
- A more precise approach would clarify Income Tax Act rules to distinguish charitable service delivery from partisan or political advocacy, rather than blanket protections.
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, draw attention of the Government of Canada to the following: Whereas: Recommendation 430 of the House of Commons Finance Committee's pre-budget report proposes removing the "advancement of religion" as a recognized charitable purpose under the Income Tax Act; Recommendation 429 proposes revoking charitable status from anti-abortion organizations; Religious charities in Canada provide vital services to society, including food banks, care for seniors, newcomer support, youth programs, and mental health outreach - all rooted in their faith traditions; These communities promote hope, belonging, social cohesion, and compassion, benefiting both their members and the broader public; Freedom of religion and belief are fundamental rights in Canada, protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and Singling out or excluding faith-based charities from the charitable sector based on religious belief undermines the diversity and pluralism foundational to Canadian society. We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Reject Recommendations 429 and 430 of the House of Commons Finance Committee's pre-budget report; 2. Refrain from including these recommendations in the federal budget or any related legislation; and 3. Affirm the charitable status of faith-based organizations whose work flows from sincerely held beliefs and whose contributions serve the common good in Canada.
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 or to revoke the status of faith-based charities that express their sincerely held religious views or that carry out activities consistent with their religious beliefs.