Charities Under Threat

NetSquared Vancouver’s most recent event was a panel discussion on how advocacy NGOs are responding to difficult political climate. Bottom line: Canada’s charity laws are woefully out-of-date. Join Imagine Canada’s push to reform the legislation.

Gareth has generously shared his slides. You can also check out his thesis.

Federal cabinet ministers have called registered charities criminal organizations and terrorist organizations and the government has set aside $13 million for stepped up audits of charity activities by Canada Revenue Agency. This panel explored the effects on charities and their ability to pursue their societal Missions, the “best practices” that charities can pursue to minimize their risk of losing their charitable status, and the implications for society and democracy of the government’s actions. The panel included a charity lawyer and a researcher whose thesis jump-started a national conversation on these issues.