Reject FINA recommendation 430
Petitioners ask the government to reject FINA recommendation 430 and protect citizens’ right to promote religion without punitive financial measures. The government responds it will not remove 'advancement of religion' from the Income Tax Act.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would prevent financial penalties targeting religious expression, protecting individuals and groups who use religion to contribute to the common good.
- Reaffirming openness supports pluralism and civic engagement by allowing diverse beliefs to participate in social and public life.
- Rejecting the recommendation avoids sudden tax changes that could disrupt charities’ operations and services to vulnerable people.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Tax rules may need review to prevent misuse of charitable status for political or personal gain, so blanket protection could shield abuses.
- Recommendation 430 might aim to improve fairness or fiscal sustainability; rejecting it could forgo needed policy reforms.
- Keeping existing privileges without review may reduce accountability and transparency over how charitable funds are used.
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, nor is it actively developing policy on this issue.