News release

Canada Revenue Agency launches consultations with small and rural charities

Ottawa, Ontario, October 9, 2007... Minister of National Revenue Gordon O'Connor today announced a series of consultations with small and rural charities. As the federal charities regulator, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) wants to better understand the unique service needs and compliance challenges of small and rural charities.

"Canada's New Government recognizes the unique needs of these organizations," stated Minister O'Connor. "I look forward to receiving the results of these consultations and reviewing the recommendations."

A series of workshops will take place in October 2007 in Toronto, Saskatoon, Lethbridge, Kelowna, Trois-Rivières and Moncton. A panel containing six to nine individuals from small and rural charities, chaired by the CRA, will then meet in November 2007 to develop recommendations for the Minister of National Revenue. The panel is expected to deliver its recommendations by the end of December 2007.

The CRA recognizes that most small and rural charities have limited resources and rely mostly on volunteers to carry out their activities, which can limit their ability to meet their obligations and maintain their status as a federally registered charity. The CRA is committed to help these charities and enable them to meet their obligations, through a toll-free telephone enquiries service 1-800-267-2384, as well as through such initiatives as the Charities Partnership and Outreach Program and the long-running Charities Roadshows.

The new consultation process is tailored to provide recommendations aimed at improving and enhancing services and reducing the administrative burden for small and rural charities.

The CRA regularly consults with the charitable sector, as well as with other federal, provincial and territorial partners, to find new ways to enhance its services and administrative processes.

For more information about the small and rural charities consultations, or about any charities-related subject, call 1-800-267-2384 or visit the CRA's Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/charities.

This document is also available for download in .pdf format.

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