Effective December 31, 2013, the Manitoba Legislature has
repealed The Charities Endorsement Act. This change
reduces the regulatory burden on charities engaged in fundraising
activities in Manitoba.
The Charities Endorsement Act had previously provided that
no person or organization could solicit donations for a charitable
purpose unless they were authorized by the Manitoba
government. This required most charities fundraising in
Manitoba to register with the Manitoba government (subject to
certain exemptions). It was also necessary to file copies of
any agreements with promotional agencies conducting fundraising on
a charity's behalf. With the repeal of the Act,
provincial registration in Manitoba will no longer be
required.
It is important to remember that fundraising activities are still
subject to provincial regulation in three provinces. In
Alberta, the Charitable Fund-raising Act requires
registration by charities and fundraising businesses engaged in
solicitations in Alberta. The Charitable Fund-raising
Businesses Act of Saskatchewan imposes a registration
requirement on fundraising businesses that solicit funds on behalf
of charities. The Charities Act of Prince Edward Island also
has a registration regime, but exempts charities that are
registered under the Income Tax Act.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
