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The EFC received an email from a Finance Department manager this week, confirming that “The Government is not considering removing the advancement of religion as a qualifying charitable purpose under the ITA.” It echoes the response by the Finance Minister to a petition about charitable status that was tabled on Nov. 3. “The Government of Canada is not considering amending the Income Tax Act to remove the advancement of religion as a qualifying charitable purpose, nor is it a

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Nov/Dec 2025). →en français The positive contribution of faith communities in Canada is being challenged by a new series of initiatives targeting religious institutions and public religious expression. Many of the challenges are grouped together in a disturbing committee report on the advancement of secularization presented to the Quebec government in August. The 300-page report provides a comprehensive vision of wha

We continue to hear from many churches concerned about possible changes to charitable status. We haven’t seen any direct communications from the Finance Minister on the government’s plans, but there are MPs going on the record to indicate there are no plans to change charitable status for religious organizations. The Finance Committee held pre-budget consultations this past summer and received 948 written briefs, including from the EFC. The EFC, along with many others, asked

Bill C-9 was introduced in the House of Commons on September 19, 2025. It has now passed in the Senate and will become law. The bill defines hatred and creates four new offences in the Criminal Code. It also removes the requirement that the Attorney General consent to laying charges for hate propaganda offences. Recent history On December 9, 2025, the Justice Committee voted to amend Bill C-9 so that it removes the religious belief defence from the hate speech provisions in

Justine Hendricks, President and CEO​ Farm Credit Canada 1800 Hamilton Street Regina, SK S4P 4L3 Dear Ms. Hendricks, As a national association of evangelical Christians in Canada, we see the contribution of churches and religious groups in Canada, evident in both rural and urban communities across the country. We recognize the significant role they play in offering spiritual care and support, fostering a sense of meaning and purpose, promoting social connection, spurring v

Mise à jour sur les questions les plus urgentes au Canada Soumissions prébudgétaires : Que devrait contenir le prochain budget fédéral ? L'AÉC a fait les six mêmes recommandations au Comité des finances de la Chambre des communes et au ministère des Finances : (1) maintenir la promotion de la religion comme objectif caritatif ; (2) éviter de politiser le statut caritatif ; (3) augmenter le financement pour protéger les lieux de culte ; (4) établir une stratégie nationale perm

The EFC made a submission to the federal Department of Finance in its August 2025 pre-budget consultation on what should be in Budget 2025. The EFC’s brief has six recommendations, including that the government: maintain the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose avoid politicizing charitable status increase the budget of the Canada Community Security program to help protect places of worship establish a permanent national strategy to combat human trafficking fund ex

Traduit de l'anglais par François Godbout Mise à jour sur les questions les plus urgentes au Canada Liberté religieuse : Un tribunal du Québec examinera cet automne l'affaire Harvest Ministries. Il s'agit d'un contrat de location résilié par un ministre provincial en raison des convictions de ce ministère. L'AÉC intervient conjointement avec le Centre canadien pour les organisations caritatives chrétiennes et un réseau évangélique québécois. Prostitution : Une décision est at

The EFC made a submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee. The committee is holding consultations to hear and discuss the spending priorities of Canadians in advance of the Fall 2025 Budget. The EFC called on the Finance Committee to maintain advancement of religion as a charitable purpose and to avoid politicizing charitable status. The submission also called for a permanent, funded national strategy to combat human trafficking and support for palliative care. Rea

The Department of Finance is holding consultations on what should be in the next budget. Consider filling out the questionnaire before August 28, 2025 and suggesting they support your community by not politicizing charities, including pro-life charities, and by maintaining the charitable status of advancing religion.

→le français suit →Related: Ask your MP to support charitable status The Hon. François-Philippe Champagne Minister of Finance and National Revenue Department of Finance Canada 90 Elgin Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5 Dear Minister Champagne, Congratulations on your election victory and your new portfolio. We pray for wisdom and clarity for you and your staff as you serve in these critical roles in turbulent times. May God bless you, be gracious to you and give you strength for

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Mar/Apr 2025). →en français Have you ever been reluctant to share your deeply held views with others? Your pro-life beliefs, for example? Won’t it result in an argument? Will you be dismissed, labelled or judged without being fully heard? Could this undermine a relationship or get you shunned, affecting your workplace, community volunteering or school? For one young Christian medical student at the University of Mani

The EFC made a submission to the federal Department of Finance in its March 2025 pre-budget consultation on what should be in Budget 2025. The EFC’s brief urged the finance department to reject two of the recommendations of the House of Commons finance committee dealing with charitable status. The EFC’s brief emphasized the importance of the charitable sector and the benefits of religious charities to Canadian society. It also urged the department not to politicize charities

Ask your Member of Parliament to support advancing religion as a charitable purpose. Note: the Finance Minister confirmed in November 2025 that the government “is not considering amending the Income Tax Act to remove the advancement of religion as a qualifying charitable purpose, nor is it actively developing policy on this issue.” A Finance Department email to the EFC in November 2025 echoed this message. Some key points you can use The House of Commons finance committee re

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Jan/Feb 2025). →en français Canadians and their organizations have long had free use of public spaces like parks, and been able to rent facilities such as schools, libraries, hotels and conference centres. Denying access based on religion violates religious freedom and hinders the ability of religious communities to contribute to the public good. But denying access is occurring more frequently and a Christian ministr

Les églises et autres organisations caritatives confessionnelles favorisent l'espoir, le soutien mutuel et l'appartenance. Elles contribuent à rendre nos communautés plus résilientes et nous rappellent le but de notre vie et notre espoir en l'avenir. Mais un comité parlementaire a formulé des recommandations qui, si elles étaient adoptées, dévasteraient de nombreuses organisations caritatives religieuses et déstabiliseraient le secteur caritatif. Les propositions supprimeraie

Demandes anticipées d'euthanasie : Le gouvernement fédéral a lancé une consultation en ligne sur les demandes anticipées. Ce questionnaire de Santé Canada est ouvert au public jusqu'au 14 février 2025, à l'adresse suivante : go.theefc.ca/advreq. Une demande anticipée permettrait de mettre fin à la vie d'une personne lorsqu'elle n'est plus en mesure de donner son consentement, supprimant ainsi une mesure de protection essentielle. Le statut d'organisme de bienfaisance pour l'a

A parliamentary committee made troubling recommendations to the federal government of changes to make in the next federal budget in December 2024. The House of Commons Finance Committee recommended that the government remove the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose and no longer provide charitable status to "anti-abortion" organizations. Among its 462 recommendations, the Finance Committee recommended that the government: Recommendation 429 No longer provide charit

EDITOR'S NOTE: Learn more on this issue and find resources for action at TheEFC.ca/protect-charitable The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc Minister of Finance Department of Finance Canada 90 Elgin Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5 Dear Minister LeBlanc, We pray for wisdom for you as you navigate this new role and portfolio. We are very concerned about the recommendation in the Finance Committee’s pre-budget report to remove advancement of religion as a charitable purpose. Recommendation

Traduit de l'anglais par François Godbout Mise à jour sur les questions les plus urgentes au Canada À la Cour suprême : L’AEC était à la Cour suprême en novembre avec ARPA Canada pour soutenir les lois actuelles sur la prostitution. Cette affaire concernait deux hommes reconnus coupables d'avoir procuré et profité financièrement de la prostitution d'autrui. L’AEC et l'ARPA ont fait valoir que les lois sur la prostitution, connues sous le nom de LPCPVE, protègent la dignité hu