Bill S-216

Effective and Accountable Charities Act

An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (use of resources of a registered charity)

This enactment amends the Income Tax Act to permit charities to provide their resources to a person who is not a qualified donee, provided that they take reasonable steps to ensure those resources are used exclusively for a charitable purpose.

Effective and Accountable Charities Act

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

moved that Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (use of resources of a registered charity), be read the first time.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today on Bill S-216. I would like to thank Senator Omidvar for her terrific work and tireless advocacy on behalf of charitable organizations around the world and specifically here in Canada.

I would also like to thank the member for Edmonton Strathcona for seconding the legislation and for her tireless work on behalf of charitable organizations.

I am very excited to introduce this legislation, because it would help charities do their great work around the world. Currently, charities are unfortunately encumbered by significant red tape and bureaucracy. This legislation would go from a granular control, where charitable organizations in Canada have to okay nearly every decision of the partners they work with around the world or in Canada, to a system of accountability and transparency that will increase accountability for charities while giving them the autonomy to do their great work.

I am in the House to do work on behalf of vulnerable people in Canada and around the world, so it is a great honour to present this bill.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)