From AFP International (www.afpnet.org)

(June 26, 2006) The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has temporarily suspended the activities of its national advisory committees while it undergoes a review of the role and mandate of these bodies.

Twelve advisory committees, including the Charities Advisory Committee on which AFP serves, are affected by the suspension. The review is expected to be finished by the end of the summer.

According to a letter from the Minister of National Revenue, the review is being conducted to “ensure that the CRA gets the best possible value from the advisory committee process and that participation from committee members has the greatest effect.”

“While we understand the need for CRA to review various committees, we strongly encourage the agency to continue the advisory process, especially for the charitable sector,” said Susan Mullin, CFRE, vice president of development for York University Foundation in Toronto and chair of the Canadian Government Relations Committee. “The exchange of ideas and perspectives between the government and the sector through these advisory committees is invaluable, and their loss would be a step backwards in terms of accountability and responsiveness.”

AFP will be writing letters to the CRA and other government officials in support of keeping the committees.

The Technical Issues Committee, which addresses issues of a technical nature affecting charities including the T3010 form, receipting issues and ten-year gifts, is unaffected by the review, although its name has been changed to the Technical Issues Working Group. AFP also serves on this body.

For more information, contact Jason Lee, director, government relations, at jlee@afpnet.org.