Justin Trudeau’s Finance Committee proposed in a report in December 2024 to eliminate the tax exempt status of pro-life organizations and all religious organizations in Canada. Religious groups, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and other faiths across Canada have raised the alarm over the damage this would do to faith-based organizations, the people they serve and the social fabric of Canada.
The Catholic Cardinal of Toronto Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto voiced his concerns on Feb 21 in a letter to Dominic Leblanc, Finance Minister for new Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Leo pointed out that this “utterly deplorable and unacceptable” proposal would go against Canada’s long-standing tradition of valuing the role of religion, worship and faith in society. He said religious groups strengthen the very fabric of our nation through their dedicated service, outreach efforts, and care for those in need.
Julia Beazley, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC)’s public policy director concurred with Leo in a communication: “Religious charities foster vibrant social networks, mobilize compassionate outreach, spark local volunteerism and foster community resiliency.”1) In a letter sent by the EFC to Minister Leblanc, the group said “The existence and ministry of religious communities benefit Canadian society far beyond their own members.”
Since 40% of the charitable sector is represented by religious organizations, the potential impact to people in need is severe. Groups that are religious offer counselling, social and physical assistance to at-risk populations in the form of food banks, addiction recovery services and more. It would be foolish of the government to undermine work that is worth 10.5 times the monetary value of the tax exemptions they receive, according to a study done by the Cardus think tank last December.
The proposal stands to undermine a more intangible social benefit too, the ordering of individual needs toward serving the common good. According to the communication released by the EFC the common good “orients us and our communities outwardly, first toward God and then toward neighbour, in tangible, self-giving way[s]” according to the communication released by the EFC.
CALL TO ACTION: Christian Vote recommends that as candidates in the upcoming federal election come to your door, you ask them what their position is on removing charitable status from religious organizations.
- “Committee recommends removing charitable status for advancing religion,” Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, January 29, 2025.
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