Charitable status for anti-racism. (Non-Profit Sector).

OTTAWA -- Canadian organizations and groups whose goal is to eliminate racism or are "devoted to promoting positive race relations within Canada" will be able register as charities under a new proposed policy statement issued by the Charities Directorate.

To qualify for charitable status groups working to eliminate racial inequality or working to promote cultural diversity would have to identify their activities under one or both of these categories:

* the advancement of education. or

* "other purposes beneficial to the community"

In the u.s. and the U.K. antiracist sentiment and the promotion of race relations are recognized as charitable purposes.

Though Canadian courts have not given any guidance whether promoting racial equality would qualify as a charitable purpose, the Directorate "intends to view the promotion of racial equality as consistent with existing broadly-based legislation and public policy."

However, if an anti racist group opposes or lobbies for changes in, or the retention of, the law, existing policy or decisions of any level of government, these actions would be considered political activities as defined by-the Tax Act, and not a charitable purpose. But the proposed policy does not consider it political activity when an "organization ensures conformity with existing laws, in the course of opposing racial discrimination."

However, fostering good relations between countries would be unacceptable as this would be considered a foreign policy matter and deemed a political activity, and "fostering relations between two disparate communities abroad is similarly not charitable because public benefit cannot be ascertained."