Is charitable status at stake for churches?
The Federal government’s Finance Committee made a couple suggestions in December 2024 that would remove charitable status from pro-life ministries and churches (recommendations #429 and #430).
These recommendations are not binding but, if adopted, would make massive changes to the relationship between church and state. Christian and other religious groups have become engaged in the discussion and it seems doubtful the recommendations will be endorsed. But, once again, this latest episode underscores the importance of the church communicating to government that such a move is bad is public policy.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has been busy imploring government leaders not to remove charitable status. I received word from one of our pastors that after contacting his MP on this issue, his MP assured him “there are currently no measures before the House of Commons that would remove or restrict the charitable status of churches and other faith-based organizations.” The MP also stated that, “any recommendations… lapsed with the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the 45th Canadian general election.”
This is good news. However, this episode reminds churches and faith-based organizations we must remain vigilant.
The HALO EFFECT
The Fellowship conducted a “HALO” study in 2019 because of the concern that charitable status might be removed. A senate standing committee was studying the charitable sector in Canada and the word on the street was they were studying whether to change charitable and tax laws. Fellowship National and a few dozen member churches conducted a study (costing $60,000) to confirm this was a bad public policy move. We confirmed the significant socio-economic support churches provide to every community in Canada.
The average Fellowship church provides $785,922 of socio-economic support to their community each year!
I encourage you to read the HALO Report and discover what our churches are contributing on average to communities across Canada. This information should be provided to our civil magistrates as proof that removing charitable status from churches is bad public policy. I know of pastors who have provided this study to their mayor or council members to prove this very point.
Autumn 2025 edition of “Fellowship Religions Freedom WATCH newsletter”
The latest edition of our Religious Freedom Watch newsletter has been published and you can see it here.
This edition focuses on impending changes to MAiD, concerns with Bill C-373 (removing religious exemptions), Bill C-63 (the online harms act), prostitution law update, free speech and the recent Sean Feucht episode, growing antisemitism in Canada and more.
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