As of May 2006, the Federal government eliminated the capital gains tax on donations of publicly listed securities to public charities.  The 2008 Federal Budget included an amendment to the tax law, adding exchangeable shares to the list of securities that the tax treatment already applies to, which includes: shares listed on most Canadian and certain foreign stock exchanges, prescribed debt obligations, shares of capital stock of a Canadian public mutual fund corporation, units of widely held Canadian mutual fund trusts and interest in related segregated fund trusts.

The benefits of donating a gift of securities to Habitat York are two-fold.  First, you will receive a tax receipt for the fair market value of the donation in the amount of the closing trading price on the day Habitat York receives the security (electronically).  Second, your donation is exempt from the capital gains tax that typically applies to the sale of securities; however the securities must be transferred directly to Habitat York.

How to Proceed

Contact your lawyer, financial advisor or broker

Habitat York encourages you to review this information with your advisors to find the appropriate type of gift that best suits your ultimate goals. Habitat York also advises you to involve/inform your family/relatives/Executor of your wishes.  When you are ready to proceed, we will be pleased to assist you in completing your gift.  We have also included links to our forms below to help you facilitate your gift.

Gifts of Securities Form

Sample Letter of Intent 

Contact Katherine Alyea, CFRE,  Director of Development

Phone: 905-868-8722/866-638-7242 x26

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

**Please note that the information provided is general in nature.  We encourage that you contact and consult your own legal and financial counsel in the development of your own financial estate plans.