As it prepares for a busy Christmas season, Food Banks of Saskatchewan has lost its charitable status. The provincial organization blames a filing error by its accounting firm for the loss of its registered status. “I went into full-on panic. What’s this going to do?” Executive director Michael Kincade told CTV News about his initial reaction. ... Our holiday season’s coming up, or holiday campaigns coming up. The busiest time of year." Food Banks of Saskatchewan is working to have the charitable status reinstated after the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revoked its registration in September, citing a failure to file its annual return. The organization, which supports 36 member food banks across the province, says the missed filing was the responsibility of its accounting firm, which they have used for several years, not its own administration. Kincade says the necessary paperwork had been completed and signed but was never submitted like every other year before. “It’s unfortunate. Really unfortunate. There was a lot of stress, but we’ve got it taken care of,” he said. The organization received notification from the CRA in February that its annual return had not been received. He says the accounting firm confirmed the matter would be handled. Kincade says Food Banks of Saskatchewan is seeking reinstatement. He assures “donors don’t have anything to worry about,” but is told under CRA rules, they can’t issue official donation receipts or accept gifts from other registered charities until the charitable status is reinstated. Kincade says the accounting firm has accepted responsibility. “They’ve done due diligence. They have owned it. They have provided all the resources to get this done,” he added. Kincade did not want to name the accounting firm, saying they need to maintain a good working relationship; however, he’s not ruling out switching accounting firms. “It’s something that we’ll definitely have to look at with our board, for sure.” Kincade says individual member food banks maintain their own charitable registrations and are not affected by the provincial organization’s situation. The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is also emphasizing that it is a separate organization and that its charitable status remains intact. Executive director Laurie O’Connor said in an email that donors can continue supporting the Saskatoon organization and receive charitable tax receipts for eligible donations. “Food Banks of Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre are separate organizations,” she stated. “The recent change to Food Banks of Saskatchewan’s charitable registration does not affect the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre. We remain a registered charity, and people can continue to donate to us and receive charitable tax receipts for eligible donations.” O’Connor also says the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre recognizes that Saskatchewan residents may still want to support the provincial organization’s work. “We know that people across Saskatchewan also want to continue supporting the important provincial work of Food Banks of Saskatchewan. Donors who wish to support that work can make a donation through the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre and indicate that preference,” she said. “We will ensure those funds are directed to support the work of Food Banks of Saskatchewan in accordance with charitable requirements.” In Humboldt, the local food bank says the approaching Christmas season is traditionally its busiest time of year, making community support especially important. Amy Shepherd, the president of the Humboldt Food Bank’s board of directors, said in an email local food banks haven’t been affected at all. “With Christmas coming, our busiest season is upon us. With the generosity of our community, our food bank and many other local food banks are still able to receive monetary donations,” read the email. “We’re unaware of the specifics regarding Food Banks of Saskatchewan, but we hope they’re resolved in a timely manner.” Food Banks of Saskatchewan is told that reinstatement could take up to two months.
