Preserve advancement of religion
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to reject the Finance Committee recommendation to remove 'advancement of religion' as a registered charitable purpose. The government responds that it is not considering amending the Income Tax Act to remove 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose or developing policy on this issue.
Why we would sign this petition
- Preserves tax‑exempt status for religious charities that petitioners say deliver community services and help vulnerable people.
- Avoids disruption to volunteer networks and local programs that religious communities organize and fund.
- Offers legal and donor certainty by opposing a change that could alter charitable registration rules.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Maintaining the current rule continues to extend significant tax privileges, raising reasonable equity or secular‑policy concerns for some people.
- A blanket rejection forecloses consideration of targeted reforms or clearer limits on how 'advancement of religion' qualifies as charitable.
- The petition offers no alternative safeguards or clarifications, so it may miss opportunities to update or tighten charity rules where needed.
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, WHEREAS Religious charities play a significant role in the charitable sector and the life of our country; More than 30,000 charities fall under the advancement of religion, roughly 42% of the charitable sector; Religious communities foster vibrant social networks, mobilize outreach, spark local volunteerism and foster community resiliency. Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to reject the Finance Committee recommendation to remove the 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose.
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.