This video provides a brief introduction to the definition of political activities for a charity. It’s the second of three videos brought to you by the Canada Revenue Agency on registered charities and political activities.

A political activity is considered to be any activity that tries to change, retain, or oppose a law, decision, or policy of any government.

For example:

• a charity formed to increase traffic safety might set up an online petition urging a province’s minister of transportation to lower speed limits on highways;
• a charity that helps senior citizens might put out a message on its website arguing that the city council should reduce bus fares for seniors;
• a charity set up to protect endangered animals might tell tourists to boycott a country, with its internal communications showing that the point of the boycott is to pressure that country’s government to increase legal protection of its wildlife;
• a charity might make a gift to another charity that helps senior citizens and say the gift is for its campaign to encourage city council to reduce bus fares for seniors.

However, if a charity decides not to engage the public, and instead makes a representation only to government,this is generally considered charitable and not political. This allows charities to provide their experience and expertise directly to public officials and elected representatives, as long as representations to government remain a minor focus of the charity and support its charitable purposes.

For example, a charity that runs a food bank might set up a meeting with a federal Member of Parliament to urge her to push for increased employment insurance benefits for people who are out of work. This would be considered a charitable activity, even if the charity’s goal is to try to change the law.

Visit the Canada Revenue Agency’s webpage called "Resources for Charities about Political activities." You’ll find information sheets, guidance, a self-assessment tool, and questions and answers about political activities and Canada’s charities.

This video is part of the Canada Revenue Agency’s balanced program of education and responsible enforcement to make sure that if a charity is carrying out political activities, they are doing so in a manner that complies with the law. The next video in the series addresses the legal requirement for a charity to operate in a non-partisan manner.