Canadian charities got a boost from the federal government on Monday, when Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and National Revenue Minister Élisabeth Brière announced that the deadline for making donations in the 2024 tax year would be extended to the end of February.
In simple terms, that means that you can donate to a charity up to Feb. 28, 2025, and still get a tax receipt for 2024. Before the announcement, the deadline would have been today.
There is a slight catch, because the change requires a change in legislation. That will come once Parliament resumes.
The extension means that charities might be able to recover from the four-week sa国际传媒 Post mail stoppage, which prevented mailed cheques from reaching them. In Greater Victoria, Maximum Express eased the blow with its free pickup and delivery service for charities.
The sa国际传媒 Christmas Fund was not immune, with a drop in the number of cheques received. Fortunately, more people came to our office with cash or cheques, used the online portal, called us on the telephone or relied on the Maximum Express service to help us reach our goal.
Our annual campaign starts every Nov. 12 and ends on Dec. 31. By Monday, we had received $1,156,025.58 from 3,261 donors, making this one of the best years ever.
We will wrap up the 2024 campaign today, but that doesn’t mean our work is finished.
While you read about the annual campaign for seven intensive weeks every year, we accept donations the rest of the year. Many people donate every month through an automatic charge on their credit cards.
Donations made after midnight tonight will still be put to good use. Rest assured, the money we receive is not wasted; it helps people in need.
At the end of February, we will issue tax receipts for all donations received since January 2024 that haven’t already had receipts issued.
We will provide updates on our Christmas fund in the weeks ahead.
A reminder that our Christmas Fund phone line — 250-995-4438 — will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today if you would like to call with your credit card number.
You could also go to tcchristmasfund.com, which is linked to sa国际传媒Helps. That site is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
You could also write a cheque, and there are three ways to get it to us:
• Mail it to the sa国际传媒 Christmas Fund, 201鈥�655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, sa国际传媒 V9A 6X5.
• Drop it off at our office during business hours.
• Contact Maximum Express today for free pickup and delivery of your cheque. Call dispatch at 250-721-3278 or email [email protected].
The money we raise goes to charitable organizations that help those in need at Christmas and throughout the year.
The organizations were chosen with the help of volunteers in the local chapter of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.
They determined which charities needed money the most, and which ones are the most efficient with the money they receive.
Thanks again, to all of you — for your support, your generosity and your patience.
Dave Obee
Editor and publisher,
sa国际传媒
