It's time to stop harassing environmental groups and other charities and to let them do their work.
That's what the Liberals promised to do in the last election. They made the promise after the Harper government poured millions of dollars to launch dozens of political-activity audits of environmental groups and anti-poverty and human rights organizations.
These charities just happened to be critical of policies of the Harper government. Interestingly, right-wing charities, like the Fraser Institute, reported zero political activity and didn't catch the attention of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The Liberals condemned the program as "tax audit harassment" and a "witch hunt" against critics of the Harper government.
Earlier this year, National Revenue Minister Dianne Lebouthillier announced CRA would begin "winding down" these audits, but later reversed course and announced 24 political activity audits launched during Harper's time in power would continue as planned.
It's time for the Liberals to make good on the commitment to allow charities to do their work, as the Liberal party platform stated, "free from political harassment." Let's tell the Liberals to end the political audits of Canadian charities.
Dear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier,
It's time to stop harassing environmental groups and other charities and to let them do their work.
In the last election, you promised to end the political activities audits of Canadian charities that were critical of the Harper government. The Harper government poured millions of dollars to launch dozens of political-activity audits of environmental groups and anti-poverty and human-rights organizations.
The Liberal party platform condemned the program as "tax audit harassment" and a "witch hunt" against critics of the Harper government. Interestingly, right-wing charities, like the Fraser Institute, reported zero political activity and didn't catch the attention of CRA.
Earlier this year, Minister Lebouthillier announced CRA would begin "winding down" these audits, but later reversed course and announced 24 political activity audits launched during Harper's time in power would continue as planned.
It's time to make good on the commitment to allow charities to do their work "free from political harassment." I am calling on you to end the political-activity audits of Canadian charities.
[Your comments here]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
