April 19, 2016 Newsletter

During the 2015 federal election, Canada Revenue Agency published an advisory telling charities to censor partisan comments on their website, blogs and social media.

This follows the string of audits of charities' political activities since 2012. While further audits have been cancelled, active audits are still ongoing and the sector-wide chill remains in effect.

At this week's Sunday meeting in Vancouver, BCHA Executive Director Ian Bushfield will elaborate on how these symptoms are part of a system that silences Canada's civil society, including the BC Humanist Association, and how the government could instead encourage free debate.

Here's the video we showed at Sunday's meeting.

Annual General Meeting

As a reminder, our AGM will be held on Sunday, May 1. Come out and help elect our next Board of Directors. All current members are eligible to vote.

Latest on our website

News

• Federal government tables assisted dying law

Blog

• Our inalienable natural rights by Craig Spence

Upcoming Events


Ian Bushfield - The government is still censoring us Sun, Apr 24, 2016 at 10 AM Oakridge Seniors' Centre, Vancouver BCHA Executive Director Ian Bushfield will take a look at Canada's charity law, how it restricts the ability of charities (including the BCHA) to advocate and how it privileges religion. Finally we will look at opportunities for change.	Annual General Meeting Sun, May 1, 2016 at 10 AM Oakridge Seniors' Centre, Vancouver Hear reports from our current board and Executive Director. BCHA members have the chance to run & elect a new Board of Directors. Details can be found online.

Book club - Fields of Blood by Karen Armstrong Tue, May 3, 2016 at 7 PM Goldis' Home, Vancouver From the renowned and bestselling author of A History of God, comes a sweeping exploration of religion's connection to violence.	Autumn Reinhardt-Simpson - Female Personhood Sun, May 8, 2016 at 10 AM Oakridge Seniors' Centre, Vancouver Female personhood is one of the most urgent issues of our time and is deeply entwined with questions of religion. Learn what female personhood is and why it should matter deeply to Humanists around the world.