A proposed amendment will allow charities to fully engage in non-partisan public policy dialogue and development in furtherance of their charitable purposes

Canada Without Poverty made a declaration “that the phrase 'charitable activities' used in s. 149.1(6.2) be read to include political activities, without quantum limitation, in furtherance of the organization’s charitable purposes.” A joint Finance/CRA Press Release has now indicated that although this decision (which contains “significant errors”) will be appealed “to seek clarification on important issues of constitutional and charity law,” this Fall the Government will also introduce retroactive amendments “consistent with recommendation no. 3 of the Report of the Consultation Panel on the Political Activities of Charities.” That recommendation (in its detailed form) stated:

The Panel recommends that amendments:

1. retain the current legal requirement that charities must be constituted and operated exclusively for charitable purposes, and that political purposes are not charitable purposes;
2. fully support the engagement of charities in non-partisan public policy dialogue and development in furtherance of charitable purposes, retiring the term "political activities" … and clearly articulating the meaning of "public policy dialogue and development" to include: providing information, research, opinions, advocacy, mobilizing others, representation, providing forums and convening discussions; and
3. retain the prohibition on charities’ engaging in "partisan political activities", with the inclusion of "elected officials" (i.e. charities may not directly support "a political party, elected official or candidate for public office"), and the removal of the prohibition on "indirect" support, given its subjectivity. …

Neal Armstrong. Summaries of Statement by the Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Finance on the Government’s Commitment to Clarifying the Rules Governing the Political Activities of Charities (15 August 2018 Press Release) and of Report of the Consultation Panel on the Political Activities of Charities 13 March 2017 under s. 149.1(6.2).