What's Inside:

Enhance Your Mission: Master Employee Benefits With CCCC's Updated Resources

Explore the updated Employee Benefits and Deductions category, which includes new articles on initiating and evaluating employee benefits packages. Tailored for leaders and administrators of Christian charities in Canada, this resource provides crucial insights into managing employee compensation's legal, fiscal, and practical aspects. Whether your charity is new to administering payroll or looking to enhance your benefits package, this guide will assist you in planning and managing employee benefits in a way that aligns with your organization's mission. It also offers strategies to optimize tax implications and payroll practices effectively. Stay tuned for the final updates coming in June 2024.

Ministering Across Borders: Your Guide to Extra-Provincial Registration in Canada

Were you planning to expand your organization into another Canadian province or territory? It's essential to understand extra-provincial registration. Our guide offers key insights into when, where, and how to register your organization outside its original jurisdiction, helping you avoid potential legal issues. Learn about the processes, costs, and maintenance required to maintain registration. Check out this new resource for a comprehensive overview, including links to legislation and government websites.

Review Your Health Benefits Coverage Today - Request a Free Quote

Explore the new coverage options available in CCCC's Group Health Benefits plans, including Critical Illness coverage and Healthcare Savings Accounts, designed to enhance your organization's employee benefits strategy and provide comprehensive employee coverage and care!

CCCC Concerns and Recommendations Reflected in CSJ Report

In our February Bulletin, we shared CCCC’s written brief on the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program, which we submitted to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) in Fall 2023.

CCCC is pleased that many of our concerns and recommendations were quoted in HUMA’s CSJ report, recently tabled in the House of Commons.

The HUMA committee noted our concern about timely funding notification, which was "overwhelmingly" shared by others. Our idea of multi-year funding was mentioned, as was our recommendation that employers have more flexibility to structure the length of summer contracts to suit employee and program needs.

CCCC also expressed deep concern about how the attestation has been applied to many faith-based organizations in ways that raise Charter concerns. The main report cites some of our recommendations that we believe, would bring transparency to the CSJ application process. For example, publicizing when program officers conduct their own research on an applicant and publicizing the standards or indicators that prompt a program officer to ask for additional information about an applicant's hiring process.

While the main report quotes our concerns, it does not make recommendations to alleviate them, nor does it make recommendations proposed by other groups that could further exclude religious applicants.

The dissenting report urges officials in charge of CSJ to specifically take into consideration feedback from faith-based organizations, who serve "such an important role" in delivering the CSJ program. The dissent also highlights "serious concerns around religious freedom and fairness," referencing our concern that faith-based organizations are often subject to additional scrutiny.

CCCC is encouraged that our submissions have been read, discussed, and reflected in both the main and dissenting reports. We will continue to advocate for religious freedom and fairness in the CSJ program at every opportunity. 

Congratulations to Our Accredited Members!

Congratulations to the following Accredited Members who recently participated in an Accreditation Review and demonstrated their ongoing commitment to CCCC Accreditation standards: InterAct Ministries, Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada, and M2W2 Association. We are proud to have you as part of our Accredited Member community!

To learn more about CCCC Accreditation and our Accredited Members, visit giveconfidently.ca.

Clergy Residence Deduction

It must be tax time because there are many conversations in the Green right now on tax-related issues for charities! If you're curious, want to learn more or get tips and hacks from others, this is your topic! CCCC also hosted two webinars this month, Clergy Residence Deduction - Eligibility and The Clergy Residence Deduction – Payroll Administration. There is also a helpful blog on recent CRA changes to the T1223 online too. Enjoy a cup of coffee and sit down for all these great resources!

Pastoral Meals Policy - What Is Reasonable?

Reasonable is a word often used throughout CRA policy documents, but what is 'reasonable' is often in the eye of the beholder! This topic allows Green users to share experiences and practices (and even some policy ideas) around how to offer staff reimbursements or allowances while staying onside with CRA. There is lots of discussion around the CRA guidances on this as well. There are even some shared resources from CCCC's Knowledge Base that can provide good parameters here.