At the 2016 National Charity Law Symposium held on May 27, 2016, it was announced that Cathy Hawara has been promoted from her position as Director General of the CRA Charities Directorate to Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the CRA Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch effective June 6, 2016. Fortunately for the charitable sector, Ms. Hawara will continue to have oversight of the Charities Directorate in her new position.
After six and a half years, Ms. Hawara has been one of the longest serving Director Generals of the Charities Directorate. Throughout her tenure at the Charities Directorate, Ms. Hawara has encouraged greater engagement with the sector on issues related to the federal regulation of registered charities under the Income Tax Act. In addition, Ms. Hawara has led the Charities Directorate during a time of unprecedented change to the regulatory regime, including the introduction of new rules for qualifed donees, the ineligible individual provisions, the political activities audit program, and innovations related to the Charities Directorate’s delivery of guidance products, webinars, and other client service improvements. Ms. Hawara will be missed by the charitable sector and will no doubt be a hard act to follow.