Some other groups have been more discrete in their approach to charitable status. Presumably only a careful audit can determine the extent to which charitable donations are used to fund lobby activities. If such audits have not been completed by Revenue Canada, they should be. As with Friends of the Earth, we are not aware of many activities of these two groups which do not involve attempts to influence government policy - i.e., lobbying. So-called research studies are usually background papers constructed to support lobby positions.
Activists love to talk about corporations which abuse Canadian tax laws for corporate benefit.
The process now exploited by many of these organizations seems to be in contradiction of Canadian law. In any case, the process is open to abuse and clearly is in need of immediate investigation and review by Revenue Canada. If the charitable status does indeed allow for such extensive special interest lobbying at taxpayers' expense, it's time for the rules to be tightened up. We've alerted the Honourable Jane Stewart, MP for Brant, and Minister of National Revenue, of our concerns. Hopefully we'll see prompt action.