GARTL's Submission on Recommendation #65 of Federal Budget 2026
Submitted to:
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Finance
Department of Finance Canada
Submission Date: October 6, 2026
Re: Recommendation #65 of the Standing Committee on Finance Report for Budget 2026
Dear Minister Champagne,
On behalf of the Guelph & Area Right to Life Association (CRA Registered Charity No: 891531048RR0001) and our localized pregnancy support initiative, Sanctuary Outreach, we are writing to formally submit our feedback regarding the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance’s pre-budget report. Specifically, we urge the Department of Finance to reject the regulatory components of Recommendation #65, which proposes altering the Income Tax Act (ITA) to target specific charitable viewpoints under the guise of sector transparency.
Guelph & Area Right to Life has operated transparently within our community since 1974. Through our Sanctuary Outreach program, we provide free, compassionate, and non-judgmental peer support, community resource connections, and immediate material aid—such as our local Infant Car Seat Fund and Hospital Bag Fund—to pregnant women and families navigating unexpected or challenging life events.
We strongly object to the implementation of Recommendation #65 for the following key reasons:
1. Preservation of Regulatory Neutrality in the Income Tax Act
The Income Tax Act must remain ideologically neutral. For decades, the Canadian charity model has successfully evaluated eligibility based on a clear, legally defined framework of public benefit rather than alignment with the prevailing political policy of the sitting government. Restructuring tax law to isolate and add burdens to specific organizations based on their public policy positions risks setting a dangerous precedent that weaponizes the ITA against the entire charitable sector.
2. Redundancy of Existing Compliance Frameworks
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) already maintains rigorous public disclosure regulations. Under existing guidelines, registered charities are strictly required to ensure their descriptions, programming, and public statements match their legally approved charitable purposes. The CRA possesses all the investigative and compliance mechanisms necessary to address public deception or structural misuse. Introducing specialized, targeted rules for pregnancy centers adds administrative burden to an already heavily regulated sector.
3. Tangible Public Benefit to Local Communities
The Sanctuary Outreach program directly alleviates financial and emotional pressures on families within Guelph and the surrounding areas. By supplying car seats, apparel, prenatal supplies, and long-term parent resources, we directly support local social infrastructure. Defunding or creating regulatory barriers for organizations like ours would ultimately reduce access to vital, free material support for families who willingly seek out our services.
Conclusion and Recommendation
We respect that public health policy prompts deep debate in Canada. However, tax compliance should remain independent of public policy disputes. We urge the government to protect the neutrality of the Canadian charitable sector, reject the implementation of ITA amendments under Recommendation #65, and ensure that localized care programs can continue serving their communities without ideological interference.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and service to our country.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline M Jeffs
President Guelph & Area Right to Life Association
26 Norfolk St
Guelph, ON, N1H 4H8
Telephone: 519-836-6311