PFC News The Taxpayer Ombudsperson’s report: Charity Begins with Fairness: More to Explore Jean-Marc Mangin PFC News 4 mins read Apr 4, 2023 News & Insights PFC News The Taxpayer Ombudsperson’s report: Charity Begins with Fairness: More to Explore Concerns of Anti-Muslim bias at CRA remain: government leadership needed to restore trust The Taxpayer Ombudsperson’s report Charity Begins with Fairness: More to Explore was released on March 27, 2023. The purpose of the investigation was to probe anti-Muslim bias at the CRA and the audit process for registered charities in Canada. And so it was with extreme disappointment that the results of the investigation outlined in the Taxpayers Ombudsperson’s report were largely inconclusive, due to a lack of access to key information and files. Critical issues of transparency and accountability were trumped by concerns over national security and protecting the privacy of income tax information and audit processes. Although CRA has accepted the key recommendation that the Ombudsperson was able to make on anti-bias training, the report is unable to assess any patterns nor lift the serious allegations of systemic anti-Muslim bias. This outcome undermines public trust in government but also contributes to public mistrust in the charitable sector. Why it matters Anti-Muslim bias intersects with and is compounded by other forms of oppression including racism and misogyny. It harms Muslim organizations, Muslim non-profit and charity workers and volunteers, and Muslim communities served by Canadian organizations. It also undermines common goals that we all share for religious freedom, security, and equity for all people. Muslim organizations, like all Canadian organizations, deserve to receive fair, unbiased, and respectful treatment from the CRA and all government departments. As noted in the Taxpayer Ombudsperson’s report, during the last decade there have been countless terrorist attacks and other serious but senseless incidences of discrimination and violence against Muslims in Canada. Indeed, an incident of Anti-Muslim violence occurred in the context of PFC’s national conference in Montreal last year. In July 2021, the Government of Canada held two National Anti-Racism Summits, one on antisemitism and the other on Islamophobia. At the National Summit on Islamophobia, the government heard from members of the Muslim community about their experiences, including the sometimes-deadly impact of hate-fuelled violence. The Prime Minister also spoke to community members and expressed that institutions of the Government of Canada, including the CRA and national security agencies, should support Canadians, not target them. Members of these communities presented recommendations, including calls to examine activities of national security agencies, and for reform at the CRA. The report observed that it is problematic that ‘operating outside of Canada’ is considered a factor based upon which a charity may be audited. It also noted several other issues with the decision process related to audits. While it was noted that audit policies themselves were mostly fair, there were aspects of the audit procedures which could create bias, and the Ombudsperson was not able to assess whether policies and procedures were complied with or implemented fairly based on the information they had access to. Next steps The key concrete recommendation that has stemmed from the report relates to anti-bias training. This is good, but it’s just one step in a wide spectrum of actions that are needed to address the issues that have been raised. As our colleagues at Imagine Canada and other sector leaders have underscored, the problem is not about a few bad apples. The issue is unchecked, systemic racism, that continues to be propagated by inadequate processes. Solutions must be found that advance transparency and accountability, while also allowing Canada to address its national security responsibilities. The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) has begun a review of this issue. To avoid a similar dismal outcome, we urge the government to find ways to ensure that NSIRA has access to all required information, personnel and documents to carry out a fulsome and conclusive review into the issues raised by Muslim charities and a wide spectrum of other leaders in the charitable sector. Share This Article Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous Article Budget 2023 represents a missed opportunity to strengthen the contributions of philanthropy to Canada in a time of uncertainty and crisis March 28, 2023
PFC Conference 2022: Reflections on Mobilizing Capital for an Equitable Community-Driven Finance Ecosystem PFC/FPC Guest Posts 4 mins read Oct 20, 2022
Statement by PFC’s President & CEO on an Islamophobic incident in Montreal Jean-Marc Mangin PFC News 2 mins read Oct 7, 2022
Build power, share power, leverage power: How foundations can best support youth-led organizations and movements to amplify their impact (Full Report)
Equitable Recovery Collective Submission: Consultations By Finance Canada: Boosting Charitable Spending In Our Communities