CIDA

Blumbergs’ Canadian Charity Law List - January 2012

Here is the Blumbergs’ Canadian Charity Law List - January 2012

CIDA announces funding for 53 Canadian partnerships in international development - $142 million

Minister of International Cooperation, Bev Oda, announced on December 23, 2011 the results of the Call for Proposals process of the Partnerships with Canadian branch.  53 organizations received about $142 million in total commitments.

CIVICUS WORLD ASSEMBLY in Montréal, September 10-12, 2011 - program updated and early bird extended

If you register before June 30, 2011 you get a 40% discount on your registration fee. CIVICUS is a great conference and it is in Montreal this year.

Canadian Election 2011 - will there be an effect on Canadian registered charities

Like many Canadians I will be watching the election.  I will be blogging on whether there are implications for the charitable sector and whether any of the parties have anything particularly interesting to say about the charitable sector.  Also, a quick reminder to registered charities, that they cannot be involved with partisan political activities and there are restrictions on the scope and resources that registered charities can use on political activities.  Here is an article on legal requirements for Canadian charities wanting to conduct political activities in the 2011 Canadian Federal Election.

Blumbergs’ Canadian Charity Law List - December 2010

Here is a copy of the Blumbergs’ Canadian Charity Law List for December 2010.

Copy of Mark’s Presentation on new CRA Foreign Activity Guidance

Here is a copy of a presentation I have given on CRA’s Foreign Activity Guidance.  It has been delivered in Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa over the last couple of months.  If groups are interested in trying to arrange such a presentation then let me know.

CIDA Call for Proposals (Muskoka Initiative Partnership Program)

Here is information from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Partnerships with Canadians Branch (PWCB) on a new $75 million “call for projects over $500,000 to take a comprehensive and integrated approach to address maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), under its Partners for Development Program.”

Blumbergs Canadian Charity Law List - October 2010

Here is a copy of the Blumbergs Canadian Charity Law List newsletter for October 2010.

Minister Oda unveils CIDA’s Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy

CIDA today released further information on its third and last priority theme:Sustainable Economic Growth.  CIDA had previously discussed food security and children and youth.

CIDA releases Report to Parliament on Canada’s Official Development Assistance 2009-2010

Here is CIDA’s “Report to Parliament on the Government of Canada’s Official Development Assistance 2009-2010”.  It is 47 pages long and provides some details on Canada’s official development assistance (ODA) or “foreign aid” activities.  This is the second report under the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act.
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/INET/IMAGES.NSF/vLUImages/ODAA/$file/ODAAA-2009-2010_EN.pdf

October 3rd is final day for Pakistan flood matching

Here is a press release reminding Canadians that the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund matching period ends October 3

Papers from Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation on CIDA

Those interested in CIDA may find these 4 papers from the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation interesting.  Here is a copy of the press release.

Workshops on Foreign Activities by Canadian charities - Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg

I will be delivering some workshops on the new CRA guidance on foreign activities by Canadian charities in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Understanding CIDA’s Matching Funds for Pakistan Flood Relief Fund - an article by Mark Blumberg

The recent floods in Pakistan have resulted in CIDA setting up a matching fund and here is my article entitled Understanding CIDA’s Matching Funds for Pakistan Flood Relief Fund.

OCIC Global Citizens Forum in Toronto Oct 14 and 15, 2010 - capacity building for international dev.

Once every three years the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) organizes its Global Citizens Forum.  It promises to be a great two day conference in Toronto on international development, global citizenship and humanitarian assistance. http://www.ocic.on.ca/Page.asp?IdPage=9241&WebAddress=ocic  Here is the 4 page program http://www.ocic.on.ca/PDF/OCIC_Program_V1.pdf  It is fast approaching.

CIDA Extends Deadline for Contributions to the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund to October 3, 2010

Here is the press release from the Canadian government on the extension of the contributions to the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund to October 3, 2010.  http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/ACDI-CIDA.nsf/En/FRA-911134657-NUX?OpenDocument  Registered charities will have until October 18, 2010 to report donations. 

CIDA’s advice on ensuring that your donation to flood relief in Pakistan is spent well

In CIDA’s Frequently Asked Questions on the Pakistan flooding here is the CIDA advice on picking a good charity to donate to.  Also CIDA correctly discourages in kind gifts in favour of cash.

Blumbergs Canadian Charity Law List - September 2010

Here is my “Blumbergs Canadian Charity Law List - September 2010”.  You can add yourself to our newsletter at: http://www.globalphilanthropy.ca/index.php/pages/subscribe/

CRA provides information on Pakistani disaster relief for Canadian charities and donors

Here is a link to CRA’s new page “Floods in Pakistan” http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/whtsnw/tms/pkstn-fldng-eng.html  It also has links to CIDA’s matching program.

CIDA Announces Pakistan Flood Relief matching program for Canadian charities

CIDA has announced that it will have a matching fund for donations raised by Canadian charities for the Pakistan relief from August 2 to September 12.  The Pakistan Floods Relief Fund will not be given to each charity that raised funds but instead there will be an application process in which charities can apply for the funds and they will have to demonstrate that they have the capacity to do the work effectively.  This is similar to the Haiti earthquake fund a few months ago. 

CIDA presentation and material on Partnership with Canadians Branch (PWCB)- August 2010

For those who could not attend the CIDA presentation today in Toronto here is a copy of the CIDA presentation and material on Partnership with Canadians Branch- August 2010.  There are some questions posed in this document that CIDA is looking for input by Wednesday August 25.  Here is a cleaner copy of the CIDA presentation from the OCIC, without the questions.

Minister Oda announces next step to CIDA’s Aid Effectiveness

Here is a press release in which CIDA Minister Bev Oda announces further steps to achieve aid effectiveness. http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/ACDI-CIDA.nsf/eng/CEC-722111726-KXG  There is also a backgrounder.  This document is a must read for any organization receiving CIDA funds or hoping to one day.  There is a lot in this document and it will be interesting to see if practically this makes any real difference at CIDA.

CRA’s New Guidance for Canadian Registered Charities Carrying out Activities Outside Canada

CRA has just released a new guidance called “Canadian Registered Charities Carrying out Activities Outside Canada”.  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/plcy/cgd/tsd-cnd-eng.html  Although the name indicates “foreign activities” this document deals with a lot more than foreign activities.  It covers the relationship between a Canadian charity and any non-qualified donee, whether in Canada or abroad.  If a Canadian charity has dealing with, for example, a non-profit that does not have charitable status then the same rules apply as a Canadian charity dealing with a foreign entity.  Essentially, almost all organizations outside of Canada are non-qualified donees.  If you are going to transfer resources to them you need to maintain “direction and control” over those resources.  This documents helps a Canadian charity understand what is required for direction and control. Failure to maintain direction and control can result in a 105% penalty of the amount transfered and/or revocation of charitable status.

Conference in Toronto on “What’s Next?” for Sustainable Development in the 21st Century

This conference on June 11, 2010 may be of interest

Government of Canada Response to Natural Disasters Abroad - presentation from Foreign Affairs

Here is a copy of a presentation by the Government of Canada entitled “Response to Natural Disasters Abroad”.  It was delivered May 5 to Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC) by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.  This presentation will give one an idea of the process and thinking of the Canadian government in dealing with disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti.

Conflicts of interest, or perceived conflicts of interest, can be very costly for Canadian charities

The New York Times has reported that “The Gates Foundation has withdrawn a $5.2 million grant to a Canadian research center for planned tobacco control work in Africa, after learning that the chairwoman of the center’s board was also a board member for a unit of one of the world’s largest tobacco companies.”  What is unusual about this story is how public it has gotten with press releases etc.  Canadian charities should take the issue of conflicts of interest seriously and should have conflict of interest policies and they should follow them.  It is easier and better to avoid problems such as this one rather than having to deal with them.

Federal Government Budget increases foreign aid by 8% this year

The March 4, 2010 Federal budget increased Canada’s foreign aid or “International Assistance Envelope” by 8% for the 2010/2011 year.  The government has said that it will review thereafter whether there is any increase.  In light of the difficult financial circumstances in Canada this is a good news story.  Hopefully the government will continue in future years to increase the budget as Canada is a wealthy nation and we are still far below the 0.7 gross national income target.  There will also hopefully be greater transparency at CIDA and in the aid process so that Canadians and others can understand how their money is being spent and how decisions are arrived at to spend that money. 

Webinar: Haiti - Legal and Ethical Issues for Canadian charities responding to the earthquake

[the archived recording of the webinar Haiti - Legal and Ethical Issues for Canadian charities is now available at https://ocsa.webex.com/ocsa/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=TC&rID=619547&rKey=680663606ebf9a91&act=pb (It is approx 1h and 10 min)]  We are also beta testing some other webinars at: http://www.globalphilanthropy.ca/index.php/blog/comments/webinars_on_canadian_charity_law_-_charity_law_information_program_clip_by_/

OCIC, myself and Capacity Builders will be organizing a free one hour webinar entitled “Haiti - Legal and Ethical Issues for Canadian charities responding to the earthquake”  As we are all aware with the earthquake in Haiti, Canadians have responded quickly and donated generously.  Canadian charities have received record contributions to help with the disaster in Haiti.  Many of the charities raising funds for Haiti have never operated in Haiti and/or been involved in disaster assistance. We have learned from past disaster responses in post-conflict areas that good intentions and money are not enough.  Join charity lawyer Mark Blumberg (editor of http://www.globalphilanthropy.ca) as he highlights some of the top legal and ethical challenges facing Canadian registered charities operating in Haiti.  From Income Tax Act rules to ethical dilemmas it is important that charities are aware of these and other issues.  For all Capacity Builder Webinars you can see https://ocsa.webex.com/mw0306l/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=ocsa

Article in Embassy “Post-traumatic stress real threat to aid workers, diplomats”

This article by Laura Payton is particularly timely.

Outpouring of support for Haiti by Canadians so great that charity servers are crashing!!

Keep the lines and internet sites busy.  Donate to reputable, experienced, knowledgeable Canadian aid organizations that already have operations in Haiti such as the members of the Humanitarian Coalition (http://www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca/) or Doctors Without Borders Canada (http://www.msf.ca/)  Here is an article on the outpouring of support by Canadian donors.