New Tools For Greater Public Access To Information About Charities

In June 2016, the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA") introduced two new web forms that give the public much greater access to information about Canadian charities by allowing individuals to make online requests for documents and information from CRA:

1. Charities Listings request form
2. Request for registered charity information

The first form, the Charities Listings request form, allows the public to request electronic versions of data that was previously accessible through the general Charities Listings web page. However, it appears that this new form will allow the public to request customized, aggregate data combined from several different options, including, for example, a list of charities registered with either an education, health, public welfare, or religious purpose. Information can also be requested by type of charity, location, and status (whether registered, revoked, or other).  This information was previously available online, but users did not have