JNF Canada lost its charitable status on August 10th and has appealed to Prime Minister Trudeau, saying it had been “blindsided”. But according to information from the Canada Revenue Agency, JNF has been misrepresenting itself for decades. Among other things, its famous “blue box” program was a “gimmick”. Read more….

On August 10, the Canada Revenue Agency revoked the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund of Canada, (JNF). The agency was was outraged claiming it had been blindsided and subjected to “targeted bias”, launching a campaign to lobby Prime Minister Trudeau to reverse the decision.

The CRA decision came in the wake of a widespread campaign by several progressive organizations including Independent Jewish Voices Canada, the Green Party of Canada, CJPME, Just Peace Advocates, and the federal NDP, all of which have long called for a crackdown on the charity due to JNF Canada’s past support for building projects on land in the West Bank, and on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military bases.

However, in addition to the legitimate political reasons for revoking JNF Canada’s charitable status, CRA officials have identified a number of legal and administrative reasons for doing so. This will make it even harder for JNF Canada’s backers to justify reinstatement.

On August 31, Canadian Jewish News released a 358-page document from CRA which indicated that JNF had been anything but blindsided, detailing how officials at the CRA increasingly lost patience with the JNF over more than a decade. Contrary to JNF’s public statements, it appears that the charity has known for years that Canada’s tax agency had “major concerns” with how it operates, according to Canadian Jewish News. 

A CBC investigation in 2019 revealed that JNF monies were used to build projects on IDF bases and in the occupied Palestinian territories.

One startling new revelation was that the famous JNF campaign to plant trees was really a “gimmick” to get donations. JNF funds were not actually paying for trees or parks, but rather for the labour costs of new Jewish immigrants who came from “backward Middle East and North African countries and countries of eastern Europe” (dixit JNF Canada). In a moment of candour, a JNF employee admitted to CRA that they appealed for money in a different way, keeping public relations techniques in mind.

Chutzpah or deceit?

JNF Canada acted as if it was protected politically, treating Canadian officials with remarkable disdain. On one occasion when asked for documentation about a specific project funded by JNF Canada, the documentation filed was about a completely different project.

In addition, JNF Canada kept its financial accounts in Israel, beyond the reach of Canadian auditors, contrary to Canadian charity regulations.

JNF Canada also repeatedly filed many documents in Hebrew rather than in one of Canada’s two official languages. Whether these actions were done in a deliberate attempt ot make it difficult for CRA to do its job, or just “chutzpah” is not clear, but it certainly did succeed in annoying CRA officials and raising suspicions.

Will the political campaign succeed?

JNF Canada claims it has already gathered over 10,000 signatures to ministers and MPs asking Prime Minister Trudeau to reverse the CRA decision. and others.

JNF has many powerful backers in the Israel lobby, including organizations like CIJA, Bnai B’rith Canada and of course many prominent members of the Canadian Jewish Community.

The loss of charitable status for JNF Canada will not really put a big financial dent in JNF activities in Israel. But the loss of face is considerable and might put a dent in JNF Canada’s ability to lobby for Israel in Canada. JNF Canada’s series of fundraising “Negev dinners” have not only raised cash for JNF activities, but also provide a platform for the Israel lobby to speak to influential politicians and businessmen.

This year, JNF Canada will be holding its Ottawa JNF-Canada Negev dinner on November 13th. Senior politicians, and many members of Parliament will be invited. (The JNF dinners are named “Negev dinners” ostensibly to help make the Negev desert bloom with those JNF funded trees, now revealed as a “gimmick”.) Ironically the Negev desert is the site of Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility. It is also the site of the Sde Teiman detention facility where hundreds of Palesltinian prisonrs are being held without charge in deplorable conditions, including being subjected to torture and even rape.)

CTIP readers who think the Canadian government should not buckle to political pressure from the lobby, and support instead the integrity of its public servants, should write to Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, M.P., Minister of National Revenue, (marie-claude.bibeau@parl.gc.ca) with a copy to Sharmila Khare, Director General, Charities Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency (Sharmila.Khare@cra-arc.gc.ca)

You might also want to suggest to your MP that they skip the JNF Negev dinner in Ottawa this year.

Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca