Re: “Big Oil’s Rottweilers muzzle barking beagles,” Nov. 23.
Jack Knox’s column contains inaccurate statements regarding charity audits conducted by the Canada Revenue Agency.
In 2012 alone, $14.24 billion was tax-receipted from 86,000 registered charities. All charities with the ability to issue tax receipts should be fully accountable. Charities must respect the law and the CRA has a responsibility to ensure charitable dollars are used for charitable purposes.
The accusations made by Knox are a complete fabrication. The rules regarding charities and political activities are long-standing. Senior CRA officials and I have repeatedly indicated that CRA audits occur at arm’s length from the government and are conducted free of any political interference or motivation.
In a recent message to all CRA employees, the CRA commissioner and deputy commissioner stated: “To be clear, the process for identifying which charities will be audited for any reason is handled by the Charities Directorate alone, and like all our audit activities, is not subject to political direction.”
The 2012 budget provided additional resources to increase transparency, education and compliance activities. The 52 charities undergoing a political activities audit represent a cross-section from all four charitable categories, including relief of poverty, advancement of education, advancement of religion and other purposes beneficial to the community (which includes human-rights organizations, environmental and animal-rights groups). These audits represent approximately two per cent of all charity audits.
The CRA is enforcing the rules as they are laid out in the Income Tax Act. It is shameful that some continue to perpetuate blatant falsehoods regarding charity audits.
Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay
Minister of National Revenue
Ottawa
