Technical Issues Working Group

Since 2004, the Technical Issues Working Group has played the important role of advising the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on issues related to the regulation of registered charities and other qualified donees.     

Mandate

The Technical Issues Working Group provides a forum to discuss trends and technical issues in the charitable sector, to explore workable solutions, and expand the directorate’s understanding of this sector. The Working Group typically meets twice a year.

Composition 

The Technical Issues Working Group consists of officials from the CRA and the Department of Finance Canada, and members with experience in the charitable sector. This includes representatives from registered charities and national umbrella organizations, academics with a research interest in the charitable sector, and accounting and legal experts. Members serve for two-year terms.

Listed below are the names of the members for the 2022 to 2023 term and the names of related organizations:

List of 2022-2023 members
Name Affiliation (as applicable)
Heather Keachie, Ontario
Chair of the Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section,
Canadian Bar Association
Ryma Nasrallah, Ontario Vice-Chair of the Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section,
Canadian Bar Association
Kate Bake-Paterson, British Columbia Past-Chair of the Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section,
Canadian Bar Association
Caroline Pombert, Quebec  Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada
Ruth Cummings, Ontario Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada
Pandit Roopnauth Sharma, Ontario Canadian Multifaith Federation
Nicole D'Aoust, Ontario
Imagine Canada
Cathy Taylor, Ontario Ontario Nonprofit Network
Karen Ball, Alberta President and CEO, Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations
Vivian Smith, British Columbia Association of Fundraising Professionals
Deina Warren, Ontario Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
Bryan McLean, Ontario Vice-President of the Muttart Foundation and former Director of Policy,
Planning and Legislation Division, Canada Revenue Agency
Iryna Khovrenkov, Saskatchewan Associate Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy,
University of Regina
David Oyler, Nova Scotia Oyler Consulting

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