Harper Suppressing Anti-Tar Sands Groups Through Audits, Threat Of Loss Of Tax-Exempt Status

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If the CRA determines that the organizations passed their annual political advocacy limit, they could lose their charitable tax status, forcing them to pay taxes and potentially driving away donors. That could cause some of the groups to shutter their doors, Gray and Berman said.

In addition to Environmental Defence, other groups being investigated include the David Suzuki Foundation, Tides Canada, West Coast Environmental Law, the Pembina Foundation, Equiterre and the Ecology Action Centre, according to the CBC, which first reported the audits.

The targeted groups have been instrumental in raising public awareness about the impacts of tar sands development on the environment and climate. They stoked a grassroots movement that helped delay the Northern Gateway pipeline in Canada and, together with U.S. environmentalists, helped make the Keystone XL a climate red line for Obama.

Environmental organizations appear to be bearing the brunt of the recent investigations. While most of the groups are still under review by the agency and are therefore staying mum, Gray said his organization received its results from the CRA. "They told us that basically everything we do is no longer charitable," he said. The group immediately filed an appeal. If rejected, Gray said he is unsure what that will mean for his organization's future.

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http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20140214/harper-govt-makes-moves-silence-canadas-leading-environmental-groups