MOOSE JAW — The president of Moose Jaw’s pro-life organization is concerned that new federal legislation could negatively affect the group’s ability to support new mothers and their babies with services and household goods.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government announced on Oct. 29 that the Department of Finance planned to introduce new legislation to amend the Income Tax Act and Income Tax Regulations to protect “reproductive freedom by preventing abuse of charitable status.”
The finance department said the new law would “require registered charities that provide services, advice, or information in respect of the prevention, preservation, or termination of pregnancy” to disclose where they “do not provide specific services, including abortions or birth control.”
“Under this legislation, a registered charity that provides reproductive health services would need to disclose if, at a minimum, it does not provide the contact information for an abortion services provider and a birth control service provider,” the finance department continued.
Essentially, the bill would mandate that registered charities — such as pro-life pregnancy centres — disclose whether they offer abortion or birth control services or if they provide contact information to those who do.
The Department of Finance clarified that where “a charity fails to meet the requirements specified in the legislation, the Minister of National Revenue would be permitted to revoke its registration.”
Jean Landry, president of Moose Jaw Right to Life (MJRTL), said the proposed legislation could harm the organization considering its focus is providing moms, babies and families with clothing and other infant-related items.
“Are we worried at all? Absolutely. Yeah. Because it just seems like such an unfair thing when you’re helping people and then to be shut down,” she said.
If MJRTL lost its charitable tax status, that would negatively affect donors because many people appreciate receiving a tax receipt, she pointed out. However, people donate most items for free, so hopefully, it could continue distributing those materials.
The organization also engages in yearly fundraising activities, so it could acquire some money to pay expenses, but donations are always a big help, Landry noted.
“It’s just so sad … that someone would pick on groups that are helping others. It just doesn’t make sense,” she said.
The federal government only recently introduced this proposed legislation, so the Moose Jaw pro-life group board has not yet met to discuss this further, Landry continued. However, she pointed out that there was a rumour several years ago that the federal Liberals wanted to eliminate charitable receipts for churches and pregnancy crisis centres.
“So, I guess it’s slowly coming to be that way,” she added.
Jeff Gunnarson, national president of Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), told the media that stripping pro-life charities of their charitable status jeopardized “the very existence of these crucial organizations.”
“They would be forced to close, leaving the women and babies they serve without the support they need,” he stated.
Most pro-life pregnancy centres already disclose that they “don’t commit or refer for abortions,” so this proposed legislation puts them under “unfair scrutiny and perpetuates misinformation from abortion-activist organizations, which falsely claim that they aren’t transparent,” he continued.
Gunnarson noted that with the proposed legislation, “the Liberal party is once again reaffirming that it is not the party of ‘choice’ but the party of abortion as the only choice.
“We call on opposition parties to unite to oppose this legislation,” he added. “It must not pass. Lives depend on it.”
