I presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance today along with 5 other witnesses.  There was a lively discussion of transparency, cross border philanthropy, tax incentives and preventing abuse of registered charities.

Here is a copy of my brief to the Standing Committee of Finance:
Submission to Finance Committee by Mark Blumberg of Blumberg Segal LLP.

Here is a minute of the meeting.

“Publications – May 8, 2012

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 57
Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 7-52, 131 Queen Street, the Chair, James Rajotte, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Mark Adler, Hon. Scott Brison, Guy Caron, Shelly Glover, Randy Hoback, Brian Jean, Cathy McLeod, Peggy Nash, James Rajotte and Dave Van Kesteren.

Acting Members present: Niki Ashton for Wayne Marston and Glenn Thibeault for Hoang Mai.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Mark Mahabir, Analyst; Brett Stuckey, Analyst.

Witnesses: CanadianCharityLaw.ca: Mark Blumberg, Lawyer and Partner, Blumberg Segal LLP. Canadian Diabetes Association: Michael Cloutier, President and Chief Executive Officer. Charity Intelligence Canada: Kate Bahen, Managing Director. Food Banks Canada: Shawn Pegg, Director, Policy and Research. Women’s College Hospital Foundation: Mary Dodd, Vice-President, Finance and Operations. Social Innovation Generation: Allyson Hewitt, Director, Social Entrepreneurship.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, the Committee resumed its study of tax incentives for charitable donations.

Mark Blumberg, Michael Cloutier, Kate Bahen, Shawn Pegg, Mary Dodd and Allyson Hewitt, by videoconference from Toronto, Ontario, made statements and answered questions.

At 5:19 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Guyanne L. Desforges
Clerk of the Committee “