The exchange below between Leah Gazan and Chrystia Freeland also appeared in my ATIP to Finance. Gazan who is an NDP MPP asks Freeland about the removal of charitable funding from anti-abortion charities. I especially appreciate this part of her question that says:
(b) what stakeholders and interested parties have government representatives met with since September 21, 2021; and (c) on what dates were the meetings in (b) held?
True to form for this currently prorogued government, Freeland doesn't answer the question. In fact Freeland's answer to MPP Gazan is the same response she has given to people who write to her.
And now Ms. Freeland is running for the leadership of the Liberal party. Yikes.
Next we have Diane Lebouthillier Minister of National Revenue unable to answer the question either. At least she says she can't answer the question. As we all know now, they have changed their tactic of witch hunting pro-life charities, into instead Protecting reproductive freedom by preventing abuse of charitable status.
Concerns have been raised that some registered charities that offer reproductive health services to women, including pregnancy options counselling, may be spreading misinformation by presenting themselves as neutral, full-service pregnancy support service organizations when they are in fact anti-choice organizations that push women away from accessing the reproductive care of their choice. By concealing the true nature of their services, these anti-choice organizations are restricting the rights of vulnerable pregnant women to choose the reproductive care appropriate to them and their circumstances.
"Concerns... misinformation...concealing". No proof. No evidence. Just false allegations based on nothing. Again.
Question No.874—
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
12:20 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan Winnipeg Centre, MB
With regard to the commitment in the Liberal Party’s 2021 election platform to no longer provide charitable status to anti-abortion organizations, such as crisis pregnancy centres: (a) what consultation processes has the government established to define an anti-abortion organization; (b) what stakeholders and interested parties have government representatives met with since September 21, 2021; and (c) on what dates were the meetings in (b) held?
Chrystia Freeland Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the Income Tax Act does not define the concept of charity but relies on the common law definition. Under the common law, charitable purposes fall under one of four categories: relief of poverty, advancement of education, advancement of religion, and other purposes beneficial to the community in a way the courts have determined to be charitable, for example, the protection of the environment or the promotion of health.
Canadian tax incentives for charitable donations are considered to be amongst the most generous in the world. Given this generosity and other tax privileges provided to charities, organizations that choose to register as charities are required to follow a particular set of rules set out in the Income Tax Act. These rules are primarily designed to ensure that donated funds are used for charitable purposes, protecting public trust in the charitable sector as a whole.
All registered charities are required to ensure that the information that they provide is accurate and evidence-based, and are prohibited from disseminating information that is false or misleading.
Our government remains committed to no longer provide charity status to anti-abortion organizations that provide dishonest counselling to women about their rights and about the options available to them at all stages of a pregnancy.
Question No.875—Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
12:20 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan Winnipeg Centre, MB
With regard to the charitable status of anti-abortion organizations in Canada, broken down by province or territory and fiscal year, since 2015-16: (a) how does the government define what an anti-abortion organization is; and (b) how many organizations have received or maintained charitable status while meeting the definition in (a)?
Question No.875—Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
12:20 p.m.
Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-MadeleineQuébec
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Minister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the question, as the federal regulator of registered charities, the CRA is responsible for making sure charities comply with the requirements of the Income Tax Act and common law. While the CRA is responsible for administering policy once implemented, it is not the CRA’s role to develop tax policy. As such, while the CRA is prepared to administer any new rules that are implemented and to provide relevant guidance to the charitable sector, the CRA is currently unable to respond in the manner requested.
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