Dear Prime Minister Harper,
Over the past many years I have made many donations to various Israeli and Jewish charities. Unfortunately many of those were not recognized by CRA and I was not able to obtain a Canadian tax receipt.
Today I was asked to donate to a wonderful cause by an incredible political pundit by the name of Ted Belman who manages the Israpundit blog. In this case the charity is the Judea Samaria Fund.
If find it hard to understand, why our neighbors to the south who we both know run an administration that is not too friendly with Israel but yet who’s IRS does recognize this charity as a valid US charity for tax purposes. On the other hand, our great country who greatly supports Israel and values her friendship does not recognize this charity?
If what you say is true about our support of Israel and doing so because it’s the right thing to do, isn’t time that we begin to recognize many such charities to help our little friend, Israel?
After all, our country continues unabatedly to pour millions of dollars in support of dubious Palestinian causes and to the corrupt PA administration itself. We don’t give a dime to the Israeli government. All I’m asking is to at least allow some of us to donate to some charities that will help Israel continue to survive as a Jewish nation, it’s raison d’etre.
Sincerely,
Leon Kushner
Toronto
A charity would have to be set up in Canada and approved by CRA to get its tax deductible number. For example, a charity called “Canadian Friends of Laniado Hospital” (which is a hospital in Netanya) has a charitable number, and donations to it are Canadian tax deductible. After Canadian administration costs (which I know for a fact are minimal) the proceeds go to the the hospital in Israel.
Canadians can still donate. It’s a worthwhile cause!
@ Bill Narvey:Leon knows whereof he speaks. If you look carefully at the Canadian objects for charitable status, you will see that they apply only to activities in Canada. In the US they have a charitable status that includes objects that further American values anywhere. Canada has no such broad objects.
I did donate to the Judea and Samaria fund and did receive a U.S. tax receipt. I intend to submit it with my other donation receipts. Last year when I submitted receipts from Israpundit which is out of Israel it was accepted. An oversite by the Canadian Gov’t? I don’t know. I will continue to submit out of country receipts unless told otherwise.
Leon and Ted, as regards the various charities Leon alludes to where the U.S. issues tax receipts, is it not correct that such charities must have established with the IRS, charitable status in the U.S.?
If so, I expect the CAR also requires such established charitable status in Canada in order to authorize that organization to issue tax deductible receipts.
Do you or any other commenters know what the situation in Canada is on this matter?