Sports as a charitable object?

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled last year that sports organizations below the national level do not qualify as registered charities. The ruling is the result of a case involving the Amateur Youth Soccer Association (AYSA), which operates at the provincial level. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the Ottawa-based law firm Drache LLP, discusses the promotion of soccer and fitness as a charitable object, and the likelihood of obtaining charitable status for sports organizations.

Sports as a charitable object? (MP3)

Understanding charitable objects: Benefit to the community

For an organization to be registered as a charity, its purposes must fall within one of four categories, one of which is "other purposes beneficial to the community in a way the law regards as charitable". Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the Ottawa-based law firm Drache LLP, explains what this encompasses, and what doesn't fit into this category.

Understanding charitable objects: Benefit to the community (MP3)