September 23, 2020
Now is the time to get onto CRA’s Digital Services for Charities
While restrictions are easing up and businesses are getting back to work, now is still a good time for registered charities to get on to CRA's new…
September 22, 2020
CRA Charities Directorate email today on upcoming changes with our comments
The Charities Directorate of CRA sent out an email today to their electronic mailing list. The full text is below and our comments are in [brackets…
September 19, 2020
Eisbrenner v. Canada, 2020 FCA 93 (Federal Court of Appeal) deals with CGI tax shelter donation scheme
In the case Eisbrenner v. Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal deals with 2 tax shelter donation schemes that were not accepted in the Tax Court of…
September 19, 2020
Mudge v. The Queen – deals with Canadian donation tax scheme and drafting of pleadings
In the case of Mudge v. The Queen, it deals with a charitable scheme and a motion by the taxpayer to strike out portions of CRA's pleadings when CRA…
September 14, 2020
Decline in trust in the Canadian non-profit and charity sector as a result of the WE Charity scandal
A recent public opinion poll by Proof Communications, which runs the CanTrust index, dealing with trust shows a 6% decline for the non-profit and…
September 4, 2020
What will be the impact of the WE Charity scandal on the Canadian charity sector?
The WE Charity scandal has now been going on for over 2 months. A few weeks ago the Minister of Finance resigned and parliament was prorogued. Some…
August 28, 2020
CRA asking about cryptocurrencies on charity audits
When CRA audits charities they typically send a long questionnaire to be filled in by the charity on many different issues. With some…
August 20, 2020
“Steve Bannon Is Charged With Fraud in We Build the Wall Campaign” – some quick thoughts on fundraising and restricted gifts
In this New York Times article published today entitled "Steve Bannon Is Charged With Fraud in We Build the Wall Campaign" it has shocking…
August 18, 2020
If your CNCA directors change – you need to let Corporations Canada know in a timely way!
With the current focus on WE Charity and the CSSG program, there is a lot that can be learned about transparency in the charity sector. I will now…
August 14, 2020
CRA Question and Answer Teleconference on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Here is information from CRA on their upcoming teleconference on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). Charities and giving - CRA:…
August 13, 2020
WE Charity files today Federal lobbyist registration forms
Today Dalal Al-Waheidi, Executive Director of WE Charity, told the Finance Committee that today they filed their registration for the Federal…
August 13, 2020
Charities should pay attention to the Lobbying Act if you “lobby” the Federal government for funds
Would you like to obtain a grant from the Federal government? Well if you "communicate with a public officer holder" asking for funds that probably…
August 10, 2020
We just launched a new course – Membership of Non-Profits and Charities in Canada
There is so much confusion on memberships for Non-Profits and Charities in Canada that we have just launched a 2-hour course on the topic. Here is…
August 9, 2020
Some recent Finance Committee meetings on WE Charity and the CSSG
The Finance Committee has had a number of meetings to inquire into the CSSG and WE Charity. You can watch the testimony live or a recording of…
August 5, 2020
Corporations Canada extends AGMs for Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (“CNCA”) corporations till Dec 31, 2020
In what is very good news for many non-profits and registered charities in Canada, Corporations Canada has extended the deadline for AGMs for Canada…
July 31, 2020
Corporations Canada moving forward to extend deadlines for AGMs etc for CNCA corporations
As we have noted previously, the Federal government has brought in a new bill C-17 dealing with various issues especially extending CNCA deadlines…
July 31, 2020
Transparency in the Canadian Charitable Sector and the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return Online Course
Every year we do a 3-hour course on transparency and the T3010. This year there has been a lot of interest in transparency around charities. On…
July 28, 2020
WE Charity, ME to WE and WE Charity Foundation – is the story complicated enough yet?
Many people are struggling to understand the CSSG and WE Charity story. Partly it does not help that information is coming out daily that could…
July 28, 2020
WE Charity filings with Corporations Canada
WE Charity is a Federal Corporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (“CNCA”). The CNCA is corporate legislation that applies to…
July 22, 2020
What is WE Charity Foundation? It is a wee story I tell you. In the story you will learn about transparency or lack thereof in the charity sector
What is the WE Charity Foundation? It is a charity that probably no one had heard of until recently when the Canadian government decided that it was…
July 20, 2020
Mark Blumberg’s written submission to the Finance Committee on transparency in the non-profit and charity sector
Here is my Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the Upcoming Federal Budget on Transparency and Accountability in the…
July 20, 2020
If the T3010 annual charity return improves perhaps the charity sector and transparency will also improve
In 2012 I had suggested certain additional questions be added to the T3010. There are many groups actively opposing any greater transparency in the…
July 20, 2020
CRA releases letter on whether an entity is eligible for CEWS and discusses public institution
Here is a CRA letter on whether a public institution is eligible for CEWS: SUMMARY: CEWS—Public institution—ITA-149(1)(a), 149(1)(b),…
July 20, 2020
CRA Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Application Guide
Here is an application from CRA relating to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Canada Revenue Agency Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy…