Legislative Changes Regarding Political Activities of Charities

Back in mid-August, the Government of Canada announced its intention to amend the Income Tax Act to implement changes with regards to the political activities of charities. The proposed changes would allow charities to pursue their charitable purposes by engaging in non-partisan political activities and in the development of public policy.

The Department of Finance Canada released draft legislative proposals that would deliver on this commitment by removing the quantitative limits on political activities from the Income Tax Act. Under these draft legislative proposals, charities would still be required to be constituted and operated for exclusively charitable purposes, meaning they cannot have a political purpose, and restrictions against partisan political activities would remain.

Canadians are invited to provide comments on the draft legislative proposals by October 13, 2018. Click here for more information.

If you have questions with respect to the Income Tax Act and how it could affect your charity, please contact us and we would be happy to assist.