Christ Church United in Chesterville (Nelson Zandbergen photo)

Liberal gov’t recommends taking charitable status away from churches, MP says

James Pascual
Farmers Forum

OTTAWA — Due to inflation and higher taxes, cash-strapped Canadians have tightened their belts on donations but the Liberal government is looking to make things even more difficult for churches.

Just before Christmas, the federal finance committee issued a report recommending an amendment to the income Tax Act “which would remove the privileged status of ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose.”

Durham region Conservative MP Jamil Jivani calls this an attack on religious freedom. “We must take a stance against anti-Christian bigotry, and fight for the rights that all Canadians are entitled to under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” he said in a prepared statement.

While Liberal critics say that the government is not attempting to claw back tax credits from religious groups, Jivani points to recommendation 430 on page 136 of the government report titled Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Budget.

The committee’s recommendation would take the charitable status away from churches and prevent donations to churches from being tax deductible, he said. Such a policy would “severely harm” Christian and other faith communities in Canada, he said.

He has also launched a petition urging governments at all levels to take stronger action to defend religious freedoms and Christian communities. The petition was authored by residents in Ontario’s Durham Region and can be found at www.protectchristiancanada.com.

The petition is about ensuring that Christians can live freely without fear of discrimination or violence, Jivani said.

More than 100 Christian churches have been burned down or vandalized since 2021 when the CBC reported that a grave of 215 native children were buried on the site of a former residential school. That allegation has never been proven.

“This is about whether Christians have the freedom in Canada to live according to their own traditions and practice their own faith.”

Jivani stressed that the initiative outlines several priorities, including strengthening penalties for crimes targeting places of worship, such as arson and vandalism. Jivani also highlighted the need to defend parental rights, safeguard the conscience rights of healthcare workers, and protect the legal status and freedom of expression of Christian charities.

Jivani pointed to recent incidents that underscore the importance of the campaign. In education, there has been growing concern over policies that exclude parents from key decisions about their children’s gender identity. Some parents have even faced child services investigations for questioning their child’s transition.