QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Charitable Organizations
June 25, 2025
Senator Gold, a few months ago, with great fanfare, the government announced the listing of Samidoun as a terrorist organization, which we all complimented, applauded and thought was the appropriate thing to do.
Yet, months later, what’s the point of naming Samidoun as a terrorist organization if they continue to operate in the streets of Canada and continue to recruit and travel back and forth. And, most egregiously, they still hold the status of not-for-profit organization by the Canadian government.
How are these two things congruent with each other? On the one hand, they’re listed as a terrorist organization, and on the other, the government refuses to pull away from them the not‑for-profit status, which they enjoy.
Senator, thank you for your question. The decision to list the organization as a terrorist organization was a long time coming, and it was the right decision. That was within the direct prerogative of the government, taking advice — as we discussed many times in this chamber — from security forces and others.
The decision to grant, withhold or withdraw charitable status from an organization is, if I understand correctly, primarily in the hands of the Canada Revenue Agency, or CRA. It has not been the practice or policy of this government or previous governments, to my understanding, to direct them on what to do.
The incongruity that you underline may very well be a function of different decision-making authorities over these two matters. It is certainly a matter that I will reflect upon and bring to the attention of the government.
We were also enthused by the fact that, although it took a long time, both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, and Samidoun were listed as terrorist organizations.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, government leader, it’s not incumbent on government to direct the CRA, but it is incumbent on government to ensure that all agencies across all levels of government respect the wishes of the Canadian government when we list terrorist organizations.
Government leader, do we need political will here to make sure that when we list terrorist organizations, all agencies must go after those terrorist organizations?
Senator, I can’t agree with the way you formulated the question. I understand the sentiment behind it, but I think you would agree with me that it is important for governments of any political orientation to respect the divisions of labour, to say nothing of the separation of powers, between the government and agencies that have an independent status.
