Press Release: Senator Ratna Omidvar Welcomes the Government of Canada’s Inclusion of her Two Senate Bills in the Budget Implementation Act
Ottawa – June 23, 2022 – Senator Ratna Omidvar is pleased that Bill C-19, the Budget Implementation Act, has passed and included the essence of two of her Senate bills – S-216, the Effective and Accountable Charities Act and Bill S- 217, the Frozen Assets Repurposing Act.
Bill C-19 included measures that changed “direction and control” requirements that regulate charities who work with non-charities. In addition to being inefficient, ineffective, and costly, “direction and control” regulations are an example of a quiet but deeply embedded form of systemic racism. Partner organizations are forced to give over control of their projects to the charity. Understandably, many community groups, including BIPOC-led organizations and local groups overseas are uneasy being directed and controlled, which limits true partnerships with charitable organizations that wish to support their work.
“These are big and important changes. They provide a path to get rid of the deeply imbedded form of systemic racism that was contained in the Income Tax Act. In its place will be strong, accountable and effective partnerships based on mutual respect,” said Senator Omidvar.
Many thanks to the charitable sector who played an integral role in advocating for the changes. Groups such as Imagine Canada, Cooperation Canada, the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities, Philanthropic Foundations Canada and the United Way of Canada, as well as 42 of Canada’s top charity lawyers who, in two open letters called for a change to this law.
Bill C-19 also included measures related to the freezing of assets of foreign officials and entities whose misrule has breached international peace and security, created mass forced displacement and other humanitarian crises, and to use the proceeds to help those who have been victimized.
For far too long corrupt foreign officials have acted with impunity. Calling them out is not enough. It is time to make them pay by seizing and repurposing their frozen assets,” said Senator Omidvar.
The inclusion of the freezing and repurposing of assets in the bill could not have occurred without the leadership of the World Refugee and Migration Council. They have been integral as thought leaders and influencers who have made this important proposal possible.
It is encouraging to see that the Government of Canada has listened to individual actions by all parliamentarians. Good ideas, lots of hard work, persistence and above all, the voice and leadership of civil society is instrumental in creating change in legislation.
For more information visit or contact:
Paul Faucette
Director of Parliamentary Affairs, The Honourable Ratna Omidvar