Charities that do not comply with the Charities Act of 1978 may still receive funding, Minister of Community Affairs and Sport Dale Butler said Friday in the House of Assembly.

Mr. Butler was responding to questions submitted by Shadow Minister of Youth, Sport & Recreation Jon Brunson regarding the documentation required by the Ministry for bodies applying for financial assistance.

According to Mr. Butler, a charity may still receive funding even if it has not registered under the Charities Act of 1978 or if it has failed to file a financial statement within the prescribed period of time under the Charities Act of 1978.

Mr. Butler clarified that the Ministry's policy is for financial statements to be submitted upon application for grants or funds. The review of an organisation's annual financial statement is one of the principal assessments used to account for how money was spent over the year.

Nonetheless, a charity's failure to comply with this policy, and thus the Charities Act of 1978, would not be reason enough to refuse funding for that charity.