Retain advancement of religion
Petitioners ask the Government to reject Recommendation 430 for removing 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose, exclude it from the budget or laws and affirm faith-based charities' charitable status. The government responds it will not amend the Income Tax Act to remove advancement of religion and is not pursuing policy on this issue.
Why we would sign this petition
- It preserves charitable recognition for faith-based groups that the petition says provide food banks, seniors care, newcomer supports and other social services.
- It protects freedom of religion by keeping belief-driven charitable work eligible for tax benefits under the Income Tax Act.
- It avoids sudden policy changes that could reduce funding or disrupt services delivered by religious charities to communities.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Removing 'advancement of religion' could refocus charity law on measurable public benefit rather than belief, clarifying eligibility criteria.
- It may prevent tax privileges from supporting activities perceived as primarily religious rather than broadly charitable, addressing fairness concerns.
- Targeted reforms (for example, clearer public-benefit tests) could address specific problems without preserving a broad exemption for religion.
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: 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; Religious charities in Canada provide vital services to society, including food banks, care for seniors, family supports, assisting newcomers, 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 public; Freedom of religion and belief are fundamental rights in Canada, protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Reject Recommendation 430 of the House of Commons Finance Committee's pre-budget report; 2. Refrain from including this recommendation in the federal budget or any related legislation; and 3. Affirm the charitable status of faith-based organizations whose work results 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, nor is it actively developing policy on this issue.