Legal Affairs Update

November 2026

Picture of Supreme Court of Canada sign and building

Thank you!

I've been studying Ecclesiastes lately, and one verse gave me particular pause: "Say not 'why were the former days better than these?'" (Ecclesiastes 7:10).

It's easy to look at the challenges facing Christian charities today and wonder if things used to be better. Perhaps they were in some respects! But Ecclesiastes offers a helpful reminder that looking backward isn't always the best way to approach the present. It doesn't mean forgetting history or failing to learn from it. Instead, it means recognizing that God has placed us here, at this particular moment, with opportunities to preserve and to cultivate what is good.

That's how I think about our work in Legal Affairs. We can't choose our time and place in history, but we can engage thoughtfully, advocate for positive change, and help charities navigate the challenges they encounter. I'm pleased to share some highlights of that work in this update. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and generosity that sustain our efforts. If you'd like to financially support this work, consider making a gift to CCCC's Legal Defence Fund. We're grateful to have you alongside us!

Four Court Interventions

A WIN! Equal Access to Public Facilities Affirmed (Quebec)

In July, the Quebec Superior Court decided in favour of a religious charity after the Quebec government cancelled the group’s event contract at a government-owned venue because of the charity’s pro-life views. The judge found that the Quebec Minister of Tourism exercised her power arbitrarily, abusively, and on the basis of ideological disagreement, and awarded punitive damages against the Minister of Tourism personally, along with breach of contract damages. CCCC intervened with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) and Réseau Évangélique du Québec (REQ) to defend collective religious freedom, expression, and to ensure that public spaces must remain open to religious groups. We are pleased with the outcome and trust that it will impact future government decision-making.

Limit Government Oversight of Spiritual Matters (Supreme Court of Canada)

On Friday, October 9, 2026, CCCC appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) in a joint intervention with the EFC in the Vabuolas case. You can watch CCCC/EFC oral submissions (beginning at 2:35:30) and can read CCCC/EFC written submissions here. The key issue in Vabuolas was whether the British Columbia Privacy Commissioner could compel production of purely religious records for line-by-line review. Prior SCC decisions, such as Wall and Aga (in which CCCC also intervened), confirmed that religious groups are free to determine their own membership and rules and that courts do not review religious matters. This case risks inserting a government actor into the heart of those determinations, and CCCC and EFC intervened to ensure that purely religious decisions, and records of those decisions, are not subject to state oversight. The SCC will release its judgement at a later date.

Conscientious Objection to Euthanasia (British Columbia)

This case challenges the right of faith-based healthcare organizations to decline provision of medical assistance in dying (MAID). CCCC intervened to protect collective conscience and ensure charities can continue serving in alignment with their faith-based purposes. We presented our oral arguments in April, 2026, focusing on organizational conscience and the potential impact of the decision on principles of charity law. Given debates about MAID expansion, we believe this case is of utmost importance. The decision will be released on or before November 27, 2026, and we will be sure to update our blog about the outcome.

Freedom to Worship in Private Facilities (Quebec)

We shared this case with you in June, and it remains in procedural stages to determine which court will hear the matter. This case is about a Quebec church that was fined by municipal enforcement for holding a weeknight worship service. The municipality argued that the worship service was not authorized by the church’s occupancy permit. The mayor suggested to the media that the event was a “show” that would not be tolerated; the evening included worship, a teaching time, and the Lord’s Supper. CCCC is intervening with the EFC and REQ to preserve an appropriately robust definition of “worship” for the purposes of occupancy permits.

Finance Committee Recommendations

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance has once again recommended changes politicizing charitable status, with recommendation 65 of its 2026 Budget Report targeting pregnancy care centres. It is only a recommendation, not legislation, but it still raises concerns. Singling out categories of charities rather than addressing compliance issues through existing tools that apply equally to all charities threatens the stability of the entire charitable sector. CCCC has already written to the Minister of Finance, urging the Minister to reject the recommendation. We will update our blog with the Minister’s response.

A Voice in the Charitable Sector

CCCC also participates in a variety of other forums to bring a thoughtful, biblically informed perspective to issues affecting Christian charities. Some examples of our recent engagement include:

Guest appearance on 100 Huntley Street in June 2026 to discuss MAID;
Ongoing consultations with the Canada Revenue Agency as a Technical Issues Working Group participant;
Interviewing with Future of Good regarding the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act;
Interviewing with Canadian Affairs regarding Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act;
Appearing as a witness before the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights regarding Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act (CCCC testimony at 16:07:42);
Participating in both the Ontario Bar Association and Canadian Bar Association Charity and Not-for-Profit Section Executives;
Making submissions to ISED’s AI consultation;
Preparing submissions for the Department of Finance’s Consultation on modernizing the charitable sector.

Our work takes many forms, but our commitment remains the same: advocate for a legal environment in which Christian charities can faithfully carry out their missions. Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we work together to preserve and strengthen the sector to make this possible.

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