Bill C-274 (Historical)
An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for gifts)
This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.
This bill was previously introduced in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session.
Sponsor
Brian Masse NDP
Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Status
Introduction and First Reading
(This bill did not become law.)
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, provided by the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
November 16th, 2009 / 4:40 p.m.
See
context
NDP
Brian Masse Windsor West, ON
It's very helpful to know that.
Mr. Draimin, I'll turn my questioning to you. I actually worked in the not-for-profit sector for over ten years, and I just want to clarify one thing. It's an interesting model; I'm going to give it some serious review.
I have a private member's bill, Bill C-274, that adjusts the charitable giving act to replicate that of political party and organization, that it return to the current structure past the $1,275 donation limit to individuals in politics or parties. What's happened over Canadian public policy in the last 10 or 15 years is that as we've reduced corporate and personal income taxes, it's had an adverse impact on charitable giving because it's tied to the lower income at income tax time, so charities are going to be able to bill back less at giving time. In fact, we're talking about 8% of the Canadian economy here that's had no effective policy over that period of time, because lowering corporate tax cuts for not-for-profit agencies doesn't do anything for them.
Just to be clear, one of the things is that many agencies can carry over only certain amounts of funds. That's when you saw, at the end of the year--and it happens here, even in the offices of Parliament--if you had a budget, you'd go out and buy your fax, your computers, at the last minute, and do unnecessary upgrades that probably wouldn't have been the most important things that you would decide to do. It happens all the time, because what ends up happening is you can't get the funding for other programs.
But if you move along a model like this, how do you ensure that the core value of the agencies is maintained? Because then we would have other types of interests at stake. Often not-for-profits are formed for social issues that aren't being administered by governments--for example, community action groups that get together to create the entity that isn't being provided out there. Would there be some shareholder thresholds or voting restrictions? How would it operate in terms of making sure it stayed within the mandate of so much investment of people over so many times?
Brian Masse Windsor West, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-274, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for gifts).
Mr. Speaker, this bill would amend the Income Tax Act and provide for greater donations and return for those individuals who give to the not for profit sector, charities, organizations and groups. In particular, the proposed bill mirrors the political system, where for the first $1,275 that a person gives, charities will be able to issue a greater tax break back to the middle and lower income earners, who will get a better return. It treats the system fairly.
This is a significant change that would help the industry. The charitable industry sector is around 8% of the Canadian economy. It employs two million people in great causes, everything from seniors to children, universities and colleges. I would request that all members support this bill. It is important for economic stimuli. It is ironic that the last two budgets passed by this Parliament, the Conservatives actually reduced the amount of charitable tax one gets back as an individual Canadian citizen.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)