We assist Canadian charities, their staff and boards of directors, to understand their legal and ethical obligations when operating a Canadian registered charity and provide insights and information to non-Canadian charities interested in operating or fundraising in Canada.
The charitable sector in Canada has become more challenging. It is highly competitive with over 86,000 Canadian registered charities. As well donors, regulators, media, the public as well as other stakeholders, have increasingly high expectations of charities and how they operate. We assist charities in Canada grapple with these important legal and standards issues.
We have just launched our 3rd online course - this one is entitled "Fundraising from Canada: A course for groups outside of Canada". It is geared towards those outside of Canada thinking about fundraising in Canada and the options for structures that will assist including establishing a Canadian registered charity.
Many people in Ontario are wondering what the status of ONCA is. I just wrote this email to MGCS and look forward to hearing more and sharing it with the sector.
Elections Canada in late August 2019 updated their guide Political Financing Handbook for Third Parties Financial Agents and Auditors, which updates the last version of the guide which was published in June 2019.
The Tyee, an online magazine, recently posted an opinion piece by Tom McMahon entitled "Why Environmental Groups’ Attack on Elections Canada Is Wrong, and Dangerous". It is a very thoughtful piece from an individual who has a good understanding of electoral regulation. It cautions that the attack on Elections Canada was wrong and dangerous and that we must be careful what we ask for. It discusses changes in the US that led to a less than desirable political situation south of the border and he asks some environmentalists to "consider the dangerous door they are opening".
CANADALAND recently had a podcast which dealt with a number of topics but one of them was charities, political activities, Elections Canada and the upcoming Federal election. The podcast was called "#227 Scandal? What Scandal?". In the podcast Jesse Brown is joined by Sandy Garossino, a former Crown prosecutor and columnist for the National Observer. The discussion on charities and political activities takes place around 25:08 minutes in.
Private and Public Foundations are an important part of the Canadian charity sector. The Blumbergs' Fundamentals of Running a Private or Public Foundation in Canada will focus on compliance issues with an emphasis on those specifically relevant to running a private or public foundation that is a registered charity in Canada. While some foundations give out a small amount each year – others are giving hundreds of millions. Large gifts might have been $10-20 million a few years ago but are now $100 million and over. On September 17, 2019, we will be hosting a full-day event on public and private foundations. Register here.
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Mark Blumberg is a partner at the law firm of Blumberg Segal LLP in Toronto and works almost exclusively in the areas of non-profit and charity law.
mark@blumbergs.ca 
416.361.1982
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The material on this site is for general information and it is not offered as legal advice or opinion. Canadian Charity Law is a project of Blumberg Segal LLP, a law firm based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. If you would like to discuss your specific legal concerns please contact us. Disclaimer, Copyright and Privacy Notice.
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