OTTAWA — The country’s most active right-leaning charities reported zero “political” activity in 2014 while engaging in work that appears to meet the Canada Revenue Agency’s own definition, a new Broadbent Institute survey has found. This raises fresh questions about how conservative-oriented charities are interpreting CRA’s definition of “political” activity and the agency’s political-activity auditing program.

Stephen Hume / Vancouver Sun

Is Prime Minister Stephen Harper Canada’s equivalent to Richard Nixon, that U.S. president who was eventually impeached for using state powers to punish critics of his government and policies?

Kelly Grant / The Globe and Mail

At a moment when end-of-life issues are at the top of the political and legal agendas in Canada, a prominent voice for legalizing medically assisted suicide is about to lose its charitable status after a federal audit of its political activities.

David Akin / QMI Agency

OTTAWA — A left-leaning think-tank says right-leaning charities haven't been subjected to the same scrutiny of their political activities as have opponents of the Stephen Harper government.

Dean Beeby / CBC

The Broadbent Institute is calling for an independent probe of the Canada Revenue Agency, saying tax auditors are targeting critics of the Harper government while letting right-leaning groups off the hook.

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — A left-leaning think tank is raising new questions about the possibility of political interference in audits of charities. 

Report shows inquiry needed to examine CRA processes to ensure transparency and fairness

OTTAWA—Right-leaning charities are reporting zero “political” activity while engaging in work that appears to meet the Canada Revenue Agency’s definition, a new Broadbent Institute report has found. This raises new questions about the agency’s selection process for determining which charities are targeted for political-activity audits and how charities are interpreting CRA’s definition of “political” activity.