International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy (Canada) v. Canada (National Revenue)

International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy (Canada) v. Canada (National Revenue) Court (s) Database Federal Court of Appeal Decisions Date 2011-06-20 Neutral citation 2011 FCA 206 File numbers A-130-11 Decision Content Federal Court of Appeal Cour d'appel fédérale Date: 20110620 Docket: A-130-11 Citation: 2011 FCA 206 Present: NOËL J.A. BETWEEN: INTERNATIONAL RELIEF FUND FOR THE AFFLICTED AND NEEDY (CANADA) Applicant and MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE Respondent Dealt with in writing without appearance of parties. Order delivered at Ottawa, Ontario, on June 20, 2011. REASONS FOR ORDER BY: NOËL J.A. Federal Court of Appeal Cour d'appel fédérale Date: 20110620 Docket: A-130-11 Citation: 2011 FCA 206 Present: NOËL J.A. BETWEEN: INTERNATIONAL RELIEF FUND FOR THE AFFLICTED AND NEEDY (CANADA) Applicant and MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE Respondent REASONS FOR ORDER NOËL J.A. [1] I am seized with a motion by the respondent to strike the applicant’s application for an extension of time made pursuant to paragraph 168(2)(b) of the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.) (the Income Tax Act). Subsection 168(2) provides: Revocation of registration 168. (2) Where the Minister gives notice under subsection 168(1) to a registered charity or to a registered Canadian amateur athletic association, (a) if the charity or association has applied to the Minister in writing for the revocation of its registration, the Minister shall, forthwith after the mailing of the notice, publish a copy of the notice in the Canada Gazette, and (b) in any other case, the Minister may, after the expiration of 30 days from the day of mailing of the notice, or after the expiration of such extended period from the day of mailing of the notice as the Federal Court of Appeal or a judge of that Court, on application made at any time before the determination of any appeal pursuant to subsection 172(3) from the giving of the notice, may fix or allow, publish a copy of the notice in the Canada Gazette, and on that publication of a copy of the notice, the registration of the charity or association is revoked. Révocation de l’enregistrement 168. (2) Le ministre doit, dans le cas de l’alinéa a), et peut, dans les autres cas, publier dans la Gazette du Canada copie de l’avis prévu au paragraphe (1). Sur publication de cette copie, l’enregistrement de l’organisme de bienfaisance ou de l’association canadienne de sport amateur est révoqué. La copie de l’avis doit être publiée dans les délais suivants : a) immédiatement après la mise à la poste de l’avis, si l’organisme de bienfaisance ou l’association a adressé la demande visée à l’alinéa (1)a); b) dans les autres cas, soit 30 jours après la mise à la poste de l’avis, soit à l’expiration de tout délai supérieur à 30 jours courant de la mise à la poste de l’avis que la Cour d’appel fédérale ou l’un de ses juges fixe, sur demande formulée avant qu’il ne soit statué sur tout appel interjeté en vertu du paragraphe 172(3) au sujet de la signification de cet avis. [2] I agree with the respondent’s submission that since the applicant’s registration as a charity has been revoked, the extension of time is without object, and the application is accordingly moot. [3] The applicant’s contention that the respondent’s letter dated March 22, 2011 is evidence of the fact that registration can be reinstated after formal revocation and that accordingly the matter is not moot is without foundation. This letter merely sought to protect the integrity of the Court process in the event of a conflict arising from the due exercise of the Minister’s power to publish the Notice of Revocation and the power of the Court to extend the 30-day period. [4] As otherwise subsections 168(4) and 172(3) provide for an alternative means of reviewing the substantive issue raised by the applicant i.e. whether it qualifies as a charity, and as this process is engaged, there is no basis for this Court to exercise its discretion to hear the application despite its mootness. [5] I would accordingly allow the respondent’s motion to strike with costs. “Marc Noël” J.A. FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD DOCKET: A-130-11 STYLE OF CAUSE: INTERNATIONAL RELIEF FUND FOR THE AFFLICTED AND NEEDY (CANADA) MOTION DEALT WITH IN WRITING WITHOUT APPEARANCE OF PARTIES REASONS FOR ORDER BY: NOËL J.A. DATED: June 20, 2011 WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS BY: Yavar Hameed FOR THE APPLICANT Akbar Mohamed FOR THE APPLICANT Joanna Hill FOR THE RESPONDENT SOLICITORS OF RECORD: HAMEED & FARROKHZAD Ottawa, Ontario FOR THE APPLICANT KUTTY SYED MOHAMED Toronto, Ontario FOR THE APPLICANT MYLES J. KIRVAN Deputy Attorney General of Canada FOR THE RESPONDENT