One truly from the heart

Re: Charity ought to be its own reward, Andrew Coyne, May 6.

Yes, indeed let us all contribute in our own way and f ashion to charities and political parties, and let it be from the heart, and, if in cash, certainly not in expectation of a year- end tax rebate to which we’re all expected to contribute, whether or not we believe in the cause or not.

Hopefully some courageous politician will soon be presenting this as a private member’s bill and all will be amazed at the positive response — except from the whingers who have a vested interest in keeping this un- level playing field from being put on an even keel — i.e., abolished. Willem Lenselink, Gatineau, QUE.

Andrew Coyne’s column recommending the government “do away with the tax break” on charitable contributions implies that donations to charity are “tax free” and often given to organizations which “aren’t charities.” Eligible charities for tax credits must meet certain verifiable charitable objectives in order for its contributors to enjoy a tax credit equal to a percentage of the amount contributed. Contributors to charities must still pay 60 per cent or more out of their own pocket as the maximum tax saved on a charitable donation is roughly 40 per cent. To imply as his column does that the charities supported by private donations should, of course if considered worthy, be fully funded by government is ridiculous. All I can say is if Andrew sits on the board of a registered charity that charity doesn’t need any enemies with friends like Andrew. C. Patrick O’Neill, Ottawa.

I will be happy to relinquish the tax credit I now receive for donations to the charities I support as soon as the Government of Canada ceases all donations for foreign aid, international development funding, business grants and arts funding, including the CBC. Dorothy Hawley, Caledon, ON