Non-profits and charities have an essential role and voice in shaping public policy in Canada and BC. We should not be intimidated out of that role, and certainly not because of misconceptions about the rules.

Canada Revenue Agency rules limiting non-profit “political activities” were thrown out by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in July 2018, quashing a longstanding rule limiting to 10 per cent the resources any Canadian charity is permitted to devote to political activities. The CRA will not appeal that decision, but as of August 2019, a review process continues around how to define overly political engagement by non-profits.

There are two big questions for boards of non-profits and charities operating within BC:

  1. Are we lobbying according the the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists BC (and if we are what does that entail)?
  2. Are we going to run afoul of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)?

Registrar of Lobbyists

British Columbia has expanded the definition of who is a lobbyist in terms of whether an organization has to register their lobbying activity – that is, their efforts to influence politicians and civil servants in the BC government from the level of Assistant Deputy Minister up. While charities were generally exempt from having to register before because of an exemption for any orgaization lobbying less than 100 hours a year, that exemption has been removed when it is your paid staff doing the lobbying. Volunteers such as board members are not required to register their activity as lobbying.

View the Registrar of Lobbyists infographic on whether your organization will need to register its lobbying activity. Here’s a guidance document from that office for non-profit organizations. Remember, registering your lobbying activity is only required when it’s a British Columbia politician or civil servant in a position of Assistant Deputy Minister or higher.

Canada Revenue Agency

Read the CRA’s 2019 guidance on public policy dialogue and development for charities.

The CRA defines three types of activities:

  • Charitable activity – advocacy that charities can carry out that is considered part of their charitable mission
  • Political activity – advocacy that charities can carry out, but there are limits to keep in mind and the activity MUST be reported on the T3010
  • Prohibited activity – charities must NOT engage in these – includes partisan activity

Charitable Activities

  • Meeting with or writing to MPs, cabinet ministers, public servants
  • Appearing in front of a Parliamentary committee
  • Appearing in front of a public tribunal
  • Activities must be:
  • Connected and subordinate to charitable purpose
  • Non-partisan
  • Based on a well-reasoned position
  • No call to political action

Political Activity

  • Organizing a rally, petition, or letter-writing campaign
  • Buy ads to pressure the government
  • Publicly share views that a law or policy should be changed or retained
  • Essentially, a public call to action
  • Funding others to do political activity
  • All of these are fine with certain conditions
  • No more than 10% of resources used in any year
  • Related and subordinate to charitable purpose
  • T3010 reporting – even if there is no expenditure

Prohibited Activity

  • Illegal protests
  • Partisan activity — directly or indirectly supporting or opposing a political party or candidate
  • Endorsing or opposing a party platform
  • Encouraging supporters to vote for or against a party or candidate
  • Unequal treatment of candidates during an election period

Please don’t stop speaking out on public policy issues! We have important things to contribute to the discussion.