Our religious freedoms are under attack. Buried in the NDP-Liberal-dominated Finance Committee’s December 2024 report, “Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Budget,” lies Recommendation 430—a dagger aimed at the heart of our churches, mosques, and synagogues. This radical proposal calls on the government to “amend the Income Tax Act to provide a definition of a charity which would remove the privileged status of ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose” (House of Commons, Report 21). If this becomes law, nearly 40% of Canada’s charities—over 30,000 religious organizations—will lose their charitable status, plunging our communities into chaos.
If the Liberals win a fourth term they will be desperate for cash. Most houses of worship will be forced to shut their doors. Without charitable status, these groups lose tax exemptions and the ability to issue donation receipts. For many, donations will dry up—studies show religious Canadians give generously, with frequent service-goers leading as top donors (Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Dec. 20, 2024). Cash-strapped, congregations will face crippling property taxes and operational costs. Picture your local church, mosque, or synagogue—a place of solace, charity, and community—shuttered, its building sold off to developers or left to rot. Cardus estimates religious groups provide $18.2 billion in annual socio-economic benefits, from soup kitchens to refugee support (Cardus Halo Project, 2024). Strip that away, and our society crumbles.
The NDP-Liberals might claim churches can transfer assets to other charities to dodge this disaster. Don’t be fooled. The Income Tax Act allows asset transfers to “qualified donees,” but if “advancement of religion” is axed, few religious groups will qualify (Income Tax Act, Section 188). Secular charities focused on poverty or education won’t take on a church’s mission—or its costly heritage building. Most congregations lack the legal savvy or funds to navigate this mess, and the CRA’s strict rules mean many transfers could be rejected as “sham” deals. The result? A 100% revocation tax on assets, forcing liquidation. Your place of worship becomes a government cash grab.
This isn’t just about money—it’s an assault on faith. The Liberals and NDP, backed by atheist activists like the BC Humanist Association, want to erase religion from public life (BCHA, Jan. 5, 2025). They ignore how religious charities fill gaps government can’t—feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, fostering hope. The Conservatives fought this in committee, dissenting from the report, while the NDP-Liberals cheered it on.
We can stop this.
The next election is your chance to send a message. Vote Conservative to protect our religious communities. Contact your MP now—demand they reject Recommendation 430. Our faith, our charities, our Canada hang in the balance.
Let’s rise up and defend what matters.