Canada Revenue Agency supports innovative approach to educating charities

From EndCanadianPoverty.ca

• Date: January 29th, 2007
• Source: Government of Canada News Releases
• Link to article: Canada Revenue Agency supports innovative approach to educating charities

"The Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue, is pleased to announce the implementation of a new contribution agreement, signed by the Canada Revenue Agency and Carleton University’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development in July of 2006. Under the contribution agreement, the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development will deliver training programs to help other charities meet their tax obligations.

“Canada’s New Government is pleased to support charitable and non-profit organizations in the important work they do to better the lives of all Canadians,” said Minister Skelton. “This is an innovative way for the Agency to help the charitable sector educate itself about the regulatory obligations spelled out in the Income Tax Act. Information and education will help improve compliance in the charitable sector, and Canadians will be able to donate to the nation’s charities with confidence.”

This is the second contribution agreement signed under the Canada Revenue Agency’s Charities Partnership and Outreach Program, which supports compliance-related education and training projects for charities. The contribution agreement will provide $1.35M in funding over three years.

The Charities Partnership and Outreach Program is a key part of the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) efforts to modernize the regulation of charities. With funding from this program, the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development will develop programs to educate, inform and raise awareness of registered charities throughout Canada with respect to their legal obligations under the Income Tax Act and its regulations.

“We are pleased to be able to reach out to charities across the country and provide this important training and support,” said Paula Speevak Sladowski, Managing Director of the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development. “The CRA’s support of our project is a concrete demonstration of how the Government of Canada is working collaboratively with the charitable and voluntary sector. Not only will this work improve year-end administrative practices such as the filing of their Registered Charities Information Return but it will also enhance public information about charities, transparency, and public trust in the system.”

The federal government is working with its partners in the provinces and territories and the voluntary sector to improve the regulation of the charitable sector for the benefit of all Canadians. More information is available on the CRA’s Web site at"