As previously reported, the Standing Committee of Finance recommended in December 2024 that the federal government both “remove the privileged status of ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose” and “no longer provide charitable status to anti-abortion organizations” (see Recommendations 430 and 429, respectively).
Given the potential implications for thousands of religious charities across Canada, Christian Legal Fellowship has repeatedly urged the government to reject these recommendations, including in a recent letter, now endorsed by over 300 Canadian lawyers and law students.
Today, we are pleased to report that neither of these recommendations were included in the 2025 Federal Budget, which was tabled on 4 November 2025.
In addition, the federal government has confirmed that it “is not considering amending the Income Tax Act to remove the advancement of religion as a qualifying charitable purpose, nor is it actively developing policy on this issue.” This written notice also affirmed “the vital role that charities, including religious charities, play in delivering essential services to some of the most vulnerable in Canadian society.”
Christian Legal Fellowship welcomes this long-awaited affirmation, and today submitted a letter (below) to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue expressing our appreciation.
The government’s confirmation provides much-needed clarification to the religious charitable sector that the “advancement of religion” will remain a qualifying charitable purpose, and reflects a meaningful response to the concerns dutifully raised by Canadians over the past year.
However, a number of questions remain. The government has yet to address concerns expressed around Recommendation 429, and has not responded to CLF’s letter requesting confirmation that no registered charity will have its registration revoked, or be subject to any other penalty, solely because of its beliefs about the sanctity of human life. CLF reiterated this request in today’s letter to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue.
While the affirmation of “advancement of religion” as a charitable purpose at the federal level is reassuring, CLF also remains concerned about recent recommendations made at the provincial level by a Quebec committee. Specifically, that committee, which was tasked by the Quebec government to study how to strengthen laïcité (secularism) in the province, tabled the following recommendations in August 2025 (though these have not yet been adopted into law):
repealing the “advancement of religion” criterion for the recognition of registered charities;
eliminating tax exemptions and deductions, such as those for members of the clergy and other religious leaders and those relating to municipal taxation; and
prohibiting public funding of religious groups in colleges and universities.
The need to advocate on behalf of Canada’s religious charitable sector, and the vital role it plays in serving the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in our country, continues. CLF remains committed to doing so, and is grateful for the continued support and engagement of lawyers and law students across Canada on this issue.
Read CLF’s Most Recent Letter:
Read CLF’s Joint Statement, now endorsed by 310+ Canadian lawyers and law students:
Learn more:
CLF’s open letter to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue (September 2025)
CLF’s written brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee of Finance (August 2025)
CLF’s letter to the Minister of Finance and Chair of the Standing Committee of Finance (December 2024)