Faith on the Chopping Block? Ottawa Eyes End to Religious Charities

Faith on the Chopping Block? Ottawa Eyes End to Religious Charities By Dale Jodoin A government finance committee has recommended removing the charitable status of religious organizations in Canada, a move critics warn could cripple churches, silence faith groups, and harm millions of Canadians who rely on them. In December 2024, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, which included Liberal, NDP, and Bloc MPs, recommended eliminating “advancement of religion” as a valid reason to qualify for charitable status. If passed, religious groups would lose their tax-exempt status unless they prove their work falls under other categories like poverty relief or education. The committee also recommended removing charitable status from groups that oppose abortion. Together, these suggestions sparked outrage from faith leaders, community advocates, and concerned citizens across the country. Charitable status allows organizations to operate tax-free and issue receipts for donations essential for funding day-to-day operations. Churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues rely on this status to survive and serve. Without it, smaller congregations and faith-based charities could collapse. Donations would shrink. Programs would vanish. Support for the vulnerable would dry up. Religious groups aren’t just preaching, they're feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, comforting the sick, and supporting families in crisis. And according to studies, every $1 given to a faith-based charity creates $3 in community value. Take that away, and the people who suffer most won’t be clergy; they'll be the poor, the elderly, and struggling families. Here’s what makes the recommendation more shocking: it doesn’t target a fringe group. It goes after most of the country. According to Canada’s 2021 Census, 67.3% of Canadians over 25 million people identify with a religion. 53.3% are Christian, 4.9% Muslim, 2.3% Hindu, 2.1% Sikh, 1.0% Buddhist, 0.9% Jewish, and 2.8% follow other religions, including Indigenous spirituality. This is not about one group. This is about the majority of Canadians, their beliefs, their traditions, and their right to practice freely. Some see this as more than a financial move. They see it as an early sign of state control over belief systems. Mary, a woman from Ontario, didn’t mince words: “This is very scary. This is how communism starts. First, they silence the churches. Then they go after everyone else.” Historically, communist regimes like the Soviet Union, China, and Cuba began by attacking religion. Faith gives people identity, purpose, and hope for things the state can’t control. That’s why it becomes a target. And now, in Canada, many are asking: Is this the first step toward silencing dissenting voices? The Conservative Party of Canada was the only political group to formally oppose the recommendation. In their dissenting report, they warned that this move would “threaten thousands of organizations and violate religious freedom.” But for now, the idea is still on the table. It hasn’t been passed into law but it’s been floated. Quietly. That’s how these things start. If the recommendation becomes law, churches and temples will lose charitable status, donations will drop, smaller congregations will shut down, and faith-run shelters, food banks, and programs for seniors, kids, and the sick may close. Families who depend on these services will be left without support. And it won’t just hit Christians. Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, and others will all be affected. Why is this happening? Is it about controlling speech? About cutting funding to voices who don’t agree with government policy? Some say it’s about removing traditional values and replacing them with state-approved thinking. Others think it’s simply a way to cut costs regardless of who gets hurt. Whatever the motive, the outcome is clear: this is a direct attack on freedom of religion in Canada. If the advancement of religion no longer counts as a public good, what’s next? Silencing sermons? Censoring prayer? This isn’t about inclusion. It’s about the exclusion of the very people who built and continue to serve Canadian communities. This is still just a recommendation, not yet law. But the time to act is now before it gets buried in a federal budget or quietly passed without debate. Here’s how to make your voice heard: contact your MP by phone, letter, or email and say clearly, “Do not remove charitable status from religious organizations.” Talk to your local faith leaders and ask them how your place of worship is responding. Share this article so others know. Speak out in your community. This could be one of the most serious threats to faith in Canadian history. The government isn’t just going after beliefs, it's going after the very system that allows religious groups to help others. If you think this doesn’t affect you, think again. When shelters close, food runs out, or services disappear, everyone feels it. This is more than tax policy. It’s a line in the sand. If we stay quiet now, we may wake up tomorrow in a country where faith is no longer free, and the government decides who gets to serve. If you found this article important, contact this newspaper and let them know. Ask for more reporting on issues that protect faith, freedom, and the everyday Canadians who hold this country together. Your voice matters. Use it.