Christian charities across Canada could be faced with “devastating” consequences if never-seen-before recommendations to end religious privilege exemptions are implemented. The proposal is the latest in an extensive list of liberal policies adopted by the North American country in recent times.
Each year, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance compiles a report ahead of the annual budget announcement and has this year called for the removal of charitable status from anti-abortion organisations and for national income tax laws to be amended to remove charitable status from organisations which primarily exist to “advance religion,” which could see churches targeted.
Proponents of the amendment point out that the move would save $3.2 billion a year, according to a report by the Centre for Inquiry Canada. However, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) say it could “devastate” and “destabilise” the charitable sector, claiming that 42 percent of the nation’s registered charities advance religion, and that many of Canada’s 23,000 Christian congregations have charitable status.
While Canadian finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland is not obligated to accept the recommendations submitted in the yearly report, the EFC remain concerned as this is the first time such measures have been recommended by a parliamentary committee.
EFC public policy director Julia Beazley told en: “Religious communities’ existence and ministry benefit Canadian society in ways far beyond the religious adherents themselves. This is a time to encourage the presence and participation of religious charities, which foster hope, mutual support and belonging, rather than taking steps to destabilise them.”
