James Heilman wrote:
The next step to getting Wikimedia Canada up and running is finishing our Statement of Purpose. I have altered and added what Wiki UK has to what we had before. http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Canada/Proposed_by-laws#Statement_o...
Our main justification for charity status will be "advancement of education". The purpose also include aspects of "research in a recognized field of knowledge" and "providing and maintaining museums and public art galleries". If all could comment it would be appreciated. Once we agree one things I will use this to apply for charity status with the CRA.
The specific "advancement of education" as a main justification won't work. The courts have been consistent in their interpretation of this in the very strict sense of formal education. This legacy of 1601 is precisely what was behind Wikimedia-UK's initial failure to receive charitable status. Something modeled on what was achieved by Vancouver Free Net in court would be more likely to succeed.
I have to some extent been marking time on incorporation because of the pending changes in the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act. It was passed by parliament in 2009 and received royal assent. It is expected to be proclaimed later this year. I greatly simplifies the incorporation process.
I would propose a meeting in person of key interested people from across the country in the fall. I would suggest that this takes place in Ottawa. Since Canada has the highest proportion of Wikipedia users in the world there is a strong desire at WMF for a Canadian chapter to get its act together. I had some discussion about this with Sue Gardner in Berlin, and she advised that subsidies may be available to get people together in one place. She has also indicated that there have been inquiries from potential donors willing to provide significant donations once charitable status has been achieved.
It would also be great if someone additional to myself could find his way to Gdansk for Wikimania. Some of the other chapters have had impressive success and accomplishments. Nothing illustrates that point better than meeting these people in person, and many of them will be in Gdansk. I will be flying there from Vancouver on July 4.
Ray