Ottawa, Ontario July 25, 2022
ALERT
Pro-Life Movement Under Assault
As part of their 2021 Liberal election platform, Forward. For Everyone. (page 4), Canada’s Liberal Party included a “promise” to:
No longer provide charity status to anti-abortion organizations (for example, Crisis Pregnancy Centres) that provide dishonest counselling to women about their rights and about the options available to them at all stages of the pregnancy.
The platform did not elaborate as to what constitutes “dishonest counselling” anymore than it did in identifying what constitutes “anti-abortion organizations”, women’s “rights” or “options available”. Could this policy include religious groups such as the Roman Catholic Church or Evangelical Churches which are also “anti-abortion”? If the Liberal party can pass legislation prohibiting religious leaders and religious based counsellors from counselling on sexual orientation and transgenderism (conversion therapy), why not also on abortion?
According to documents obtained under the Access to Information Act, dated September 10, 2021 a “compliance consideration” was made to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requesting a review of the charitable status of pro-life groups. The CRA is governed by both legislation (Income Tax Act) and the common law (in which “charity” is defined) with respect to charitable activity. The CRA correctly pointed out to the Liberals that it audits charities for fraud, i.e. determines whether they are acting outside their mandates, and that to date, have found no evidence of misbehaviour that would cause a pro-life pregnancy support centre to lose its charitable status. The CRA further advised the government that it did not have the authority to look to the philosophy behind the organizations it was auditing.
Further documents obtained under the Access to Information Act indicate that in November 2021 secret meetings had been held in the Departments of Health and Finance, with individuals holding “secret clearances only” status to determine how the Liberal’s platform on abortion would be implemented.
How the Removal of Tax-exempt Status Affects Charities
Unless one is an accountant or lawyer practicing in the area of charity law, most people would think that the loss of “charitable status” simply means that the organization can no longer give receipts to donors for tax purposes. That is only one consequence, and by no means the least. Revocation of charitable status means that the organization must be wound-up (i.e. closed down) so that its legal existence is ended. It means its property must be transferred to another registered charity, or the agency must pay a Revocation Tax. The Revocation Tax rate is equal to 100% of the value of all remaining assets once outstanding debts have been paid. Clearly, revocation of charitable status is about more than just losing the ability to issue tax receipts for income tax purposes. The effects of revocation would in most cases lead to the closure of pregnancy support centres and deprive women and their unborn child a viable alternative to abortion. It would force current centres to rebuild/reopen as non-profits (but without any of the tax breaks give to a registered charity) in order to carry on their valuable and lifesaving work. All this, of course, will impose addition financial burdens as these group re-organize and rebuild.
Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland
In the aftermath of the Trudeau Liberals’ charity revocation plans, it is important to note that petitions have been circulated against it. In response to one such petition, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, also a board member of the controversial World Economic Forum (WEF) stated:
“Registered charities that provide reproductive health services are required to provide ACCURATE, JUDGEMENT FREE and EVIDENCE-BASED information to women with respect to their rights and options at all stages of their pregnancy.” [Capitalization in the original.] (https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=441-00106 )
Freeland’s response is an example of the big lie and deliberate misdirection. Women entering an abortion clinics are not given “judgement free” advice or information, as they are encouraged to have the abortion. There is no such thing as “judgement free” counselling from such agencies. Their support is predetermined by the fact that they are in the business of providing abortion for their own profit. Freeland is trying to claim a false moral high ground on this matter.
The Reality of the Liberal Abortion Platform
The reality is that Trudeau and his Liberal Party are trying to restrict and destroy access to information about alternatives to abortion provided by the pro-life movement and pregnancy support centres by openly attempting to eliminate their charitable status. It is the pro-life movement and pregnancy support centres however, which provide accurate, evidence-based information. They are the only ones speaking the truth and providing compassionate assistance.
The 2022 Fall Budget
The Fall budget is looming once Parliament reconvenes in September. By then, the Liberals will have had a year to plan their amendments to the Income Tax Act to give effect to their unconstitutional, ideological attack on women and unborn children.
It seems that the Liberal party is no longer recognizable as a “liberal” party. It has degenerated into a socialist woke collective. The Liberals have corrupted our country.
What Must Be Done
- It is critical that you immediately contact your Member of Parliament (regardless of party) and the Senators about this despicable attempt by the Trudeau government to silence the pro-life voice in Canada.
- It is urgent that this “Alert” be sent to your acquaintances – family, friends and neighbours – who should be made aware of this incomparable danger to the pro-life movement.
- Please also write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about this matter. It will widen the circle of knowledge about this disgraceful policy.
For Family and Life
REAL Women of Canada