Lawton tables petition urging Liberals to protect religious charities

Conservative MP Andrew Lawton is fighting back against Liberal government proposals, tabling a petition in the House of Commons that demands protection for churches and faith-based organizations.

Source: CPAC

Conservative MP Andrew Lawton is fighting back against Liberal government proposals, tabling a petition in the House of Commons that demands protection for churches and faith-based organizations from losing their charitable status.

“Canadians are disturbed that the Liberal government is entertaining stripping charitable status away from houses of worship,” Lawton wrote in a post to X on Tuesday. “I submitted a petition in the House of Commons on behalf of those demanding the Liberals protect religious freedom and freedom of expression.”

Speaking in the House of Commons, Lawton said petitioners were “very alarmed by this encroachment on religious freedom and freedom of conscience for Canadians.”

“Religious institutions offer a range of philanthropic initiatives, and faith itself is invaluable for Canadians,” he said. “These petitions want religious freedom to be protected, and for this government to keep its hands off the charitable status of faith-based organizations.”

The petition, formally presented on Oct. 2, calls on the federal government to reject Recommendations 429 and 430 of the House of Commons finance committee’s pre-budget report. The recommendations propose revoking charitable status from anti-abortion organizations and removing the “advancement of religion” as a recognized charitable purpose under the Income Tax Act.

Signatories warn the proposals would undermine the charitable sector by penalizing organizations based on their faith and moral views.

“Religious charities in Canada provide vital services to society, including food banks, care for seniors, newcomer support, youth programs, and mental health outreach — all rooted in their faith traditions,” the petition states.

It further notes that “singling out or excluding faith-based charities from the charitable sector based on religious belief undermines the diversity and pluralism foundational to Canadian society.”

The petition asks Ottawa to reject both recommendations, exclude them from future budgets or legislation, and affirm the charitable status of faith-based organizations “whose work flows from sincerely held beliefs and whose contributions serve the common good in Canada.”

The move follows growing concern among faith communities over the proposals first raised in the finance committee’s report earlier this year.

In August, another petition sponsored by Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall gathered more than 11,500 signatures calling for the same protections. That electronic petition has since grown to almost 40,000 signatures.

Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis previously called the proposed changes a “callous attempt” by the Liberals to cut off “vital services that provide food, shelter, care, and hope.”

“Canadians will not be silenced,” Lewis said at the time, urging citizens to speak out against the recommendations.

While the petition emerged from the pre-budget submission, the Liberals are facing mounting fiscal and political scrutiny for their upcoming budget. The interim parliamentary budget officer has warned that the governing party may not have any fiscal anchors.

The budget, expected to be tabled this fall,will likely see the deficit skyrocket. Experts have suggested it could climb to over $92 billion by 2025–26.