Media VS Non Profit, Charities & The Public

The Public is sometimes involved in activities of Organizers and organizations, such as fundraising events like cultural and beauty pageants to promote ethnic culture in the mainstream.  It is also influenced by the Media before or after these events, when publicity and review articles are written or broadcasted either positive or negative in viewpoint.  The Authorities such as Canada Revenue Agency that set guidelines and laws for  organizations operating non-profit and charities and for profit businesses and corporations can help decide issues concerning funding and financial reporting of income.  Currently, a hot issue involves a new Senator appointed by the Prime Minister, whose background in banking probably explains his success in generating funds for organizations including those he headed Philippine Independence Day Council and its Mabuhay Festival and Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation.  Some media and other organizers are questioning how he and his wife are successful in organizing these public events, but not reporting financially to their own members and other organizations they fundraised for such as Kalayaan Cultural Community Center.

Based on CRA guidelines IT-496R,  Personal Benefit section 11, 'no part of the income of an association, ... can be payable to, or otherwise made available for the personal benefit of, any member of the association', but section 12, 'certain types of payments made directly to members, or indirectly for their benefit, will not, in and by themselves, disqualify an association from being tax-exempt...include salaries, wages, fees or honorariums for services rendered to the association, provided the amounts paid are reasonable and no more than those paid in arm's length situations for similar services.'  From their lack of reporting of the income generated, which according to CRA website the public and media can request certain information, it opens up to speculation whether the funds are being used for the organizations or only for personal benefit.  However, the CRA can reveal to public and media requests for information on the financial statements of organizations, but keeps confidential information about fundraisers by charities

       'Form T3010

       Schedule 4, Confidential data

• Information about fundraisers'

and non profits are not even required to file tax returns T2 sometimes nor obligated to reveal financial information T1044 to media nor to the public;  this causes a dilemma on transparency of financial reports because fundraisers are often the biggest income generating activity for these cultural organizations!'

The Philippine Press Club Ontario is involved because of an online and email petition by some organizations members against some media members such as Balita which is against the Senator and his wife's fundraising activities.  Unfortunately, both the President and Vice President of the new Board of the PPCO resigned and some other committee heads, so until the special election in March to replace them, it is at a standstill.  Besides, media members are entitled to their own opinions and viewpoints regardless of what the PPCO as a group discuss or agree on.  Only Authorities such as the CRA and Toronto Police can investigate on individuals and groups.  Charities and non-profits have guidelines set by the CRA and are tax exempt under certain conditions and requirements, but not all are registered and continue to operate anyway.  The press can only speculate and inquire but not investigate. 

Considering that organizations and the media both have influence on the public and promote culture in the community, and have credibility and status, it becomes difficult for anyone to take sides until a formal investigation by authorities is done.  The PPCO was even given free tables and access by the PIDC to Mabuhay Festival for a few years during the leadership of the new Senator and his wife.  Until authorities actually investigate, the public has to decide on its own when reading articles, listening to broadcasts, and attending cultural events.

Refer to:
Non Profit Organizations IT-496R http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it496r/it496r-e.html
T4117 http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/t4117/t4117-e.html
Charity vs Non Profit http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/pplyng/rgstrtn/rght-eng.html
Request Info on Charity http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/cntct/nfrmtn-eng.html
Public and Confidential Information http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/prtng/rtrn/nfpblcb-eng.html
Petition to PPCO http://fairnessadvocacy.blogspot.ca/2012/12/letter-to-philippine-press-club-ontario.html
Balita
Community Leader Tells All
http://www.balita.ca/2013/02/a-community-leader-tells-all-unmasks-tobias-enverga/
PPCO in Shambles
http://www.balita.ca/2013/02/ppco-in-shambles-petition-worsens-seething-unrest-in-torontos-press-club/