An open letter to my MLA, Bruce McAllister,
You have known me as a committed member of our community and a dedicated professional in the non-profit field. I am disheartened by my government’s decision to reduce the tax credit for charitable giving in our province. As our provincial economy slows, all forms of revenue for charities will reduce. I am already witnessing a reduction in corporate and individual support for my organization. Many of my colleagues confirm that this is also their experience.
At the same time, many charities are called upon to respond to increased community needs. Much of the charitable work that occurs in our province is filling a gap in social care that the government cannot fill. Charities work on lean budgets and do so efficiently. In many ways, they are the backbone of social care in Alberta.
The 2015 budget has reduced the Charitable Tax Credit from 21% to 12.5% for donations totalling $200 or more. Given the difficult economic times and the important work that charities perform in our province, the bottom line is that you should not be making it more difficult for them to raise funds to meet the needs of our community.
Sincerely,
Melissa From
