Few Canadian Charities Report Spending on Politics

A tiny fraction of Canada’s 85,000 federally registered charities report spending money for political purposes, according to The Canadian Press, which reviewed nonprofit groups’ tax filings in light of the national government’s push for greater scrutiny of charities’ advocacy work.

Charities are allowed to engage in limited, nonpartisan political activity and are required to disclose to the Canada Revenue Agency. Four hundred and fifty groups listed in the agency’s database report doing political work.

The Conservative Party government’s 2012 budget allocates $8-million to step up monitoring of nonprofit groups’ spending and foreign fundraising, citing “concerns have been raised that some charities may not be respecting the rules regarding political activities.” Conservative and corporate groups have complained that environmental activists are getting money from U.S. foundations to fight Canadian oil and gas projects.

Green groups contend the greater scrutiny is aimed at chilling criticism of such projects, including a planned pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia.