Legislation Update

Senate Bill Seeks to Address Governance Data Gap in the Charitable Sector

Senate Bill S-279, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (data on registered charities), was introduced by the Honourable Senator Ratna Omidvar on October 4, 2023. Bill S-279's stated purpose is to "[amend] the Income Tax Act to require that registered charities provide certain demographic data concerning their officers to the Minister of National Revenue, who must compile that information for reporting purposes."

On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Senator Omidvar addressed the objectives of Bill S-279 in its second reading in the Senate by stating that the legislation aims to foster transparency and inclusivity within the charitable sector. The proposed legislation seeks to mandate the annual collection and public disclosure of diversity data concerning charity governance, providing tangible evidence to assess progress and address any disparities.