The federal government today announced additional details of the extension of the December 31 deadline for donations in support of victims of last month’s tsunami in southern Asia to qualify for tax relief for the 2004 taxation year.

The measure is part of a package of tsunami relief assistance efforts announced by the Prime Minister today.

The government said it will implement measures to allow individuals, if they so choose, to have charitable donations made from January 1, 2005, to January 11, 2005, to the tsunami relief effort considered as having been made during the 2004 taxation year.

In order to qualify, these donations must be directed exclusively towards the tsunami relief efforts and must be made to eligible registered charities involved in the relief effort.

A list of eligible registered charities can be found on the Web site of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca.

“Canadians have opened their hearts and their pocketbooks in the wake of the terrible tragedy in southern Asia,” said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, in a release. “This announcement recognizes the contributions that individual Canadians will continue to make in the days ahead to ease the suffering of the survivors and assist in reconstruction efforts in the region.”

Legislation to implement the necessary changes will be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity.