Dec 18, 2020
Reflections on the WE fiasco
An apparently hugely successful charity and social enterprise empire, WE Charity found itself vilified in the media, resulting in the loss of donors and the eventual closing of its Canadian operation.
Brian Iler
Brian Iler is a contributor to rabble's Pro Bono column. He is a partner at Iler Campbell LLP where he advises many of Ontario's co-operatives, non-profits and charities. Iler is counsel to the Ontario Co-operative Association and recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a founding director of the TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative, which erected the wind turbine at Exhibition Place in Toronto, and the Community Power Fund, which provides financing for community-based sustainable energy projects. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Social Innovation, he advised it on its recent purchase of 720 Bathurst Street, Toronto, and the Community Bond offering made to finance it. He is a member of the Ontario Non-profit Network's Expert Advisory Panel and author of much of its critique of the new Ontario Non-profit Corporations Act.
Jan 30, 2020
Canada's social economy about to get a boost, but problems remain
Canada's social economy is about to receive a significant boost in federal support. However, there are significant problems with the ways in which the fund is being set up.
Jul 20, 2018
Charities now free to engage in non-partisan political activities
The Ontario Superior Court's decision this week was a huge relief to those many charities that suffered through Stephen Harper's politically motivated Canada Revenue Agency audits.
Jan 5, 2017
Public interest should be central to regulation of charities' political activities
Charities, as advocates for the public interest, should be at least as unfettered as the voices of private interests when engaging in advocacy that advances their charitable purposes.
Mar 31, 2016
A taxing matter: Non-profits await change from Liberal government
The Trudeau government has promised to modernize the rules governing the non-profit sector, which was left under a chill by the Conservatives. What needs to change?
Aug 27, 2015
Climate in election 2015: The time for action is now
A broad range of programs and policies will be essential to achieve meaningful reduction in emissions and, at the same time, ensure that the burdens and benefits of climate action are fairly shared.
Apr 30, 2015
Carding and civilian control of police
Carding, the infamous police practice of stopping individuals for questioning, is back with a vengeance in Toronto. Who's holding police activities accountable to the community?
Jul 31, 2014
Charities and the limits of political action under the Harper government
When organizations seek charitable registration from government, they necessarily accept oversight by a government agency that, in an atmosphere as poisonous as Canada's these days, can overreach.
Apr 25, 2013
Why Canada needs more community power
Given the scientific consensus that wind turbines are not dangerous to human health, it is time to shift focus to a real issue: fixing wind energy policy to increase community power in Canada.
Oct 15, 2012
Report from international summit in Quebec City: 'The Amazing Power of Co-operatives'
Brian Iler
An international summit, held in Quebec City, put the co-operative model front and centre on the world's economic policy agenda.
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