There have been a number of articles dealing with Canadian charities and political activities over the last few weeks.  Here are some of them:

Green gets mean with Ottawa: Conservatives’ proposed dilution of environmental laws, attacks on groups has created backlash By Gordon Hoekstra, Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Green+gets+mean+with+Ottawa/6750315/story.html

How the Conservatives’ brief love affair with environmentalism came to an ugly end
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Conservatives+brief+love+affair+with+environmentalism+came+ugly/6728822/story.html

Globe editorial: Tory rhetoric creates chilly climate for free speech
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/the-governments-chilling-environment-rhetoric/article2432617/?goback=%2Egde_1866345_member_115387617

MPs told to consider accountability of charities
http://www.lfpress.com/news/canada/2012/05/13/19753181.html

Charities play important role in shaping our social policy
http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/letters/Charities+play+important+role+shaping+social+policy/6590556/story.html?goback=%2Egde_1866345_member_114084657

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Charities+play+important+role+shaping+social+policy/6590556/story.html#ixzz1v5Pjwc1k
Most foreign money given to Canadian charities doesn’t go to environmental groups, CRA records show
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/10/most-foreign-money-given-to-canadian-charities-doesnt-go-to-environmental-groups-cra-records-show/

Environmental charities don’t top list of foreign-funded groups
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/05/10/pol-cp-charities-foreign-fundraising.html

Senator Cowan demands accountability from Tory educational and charitable organizations
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/2012/04/27/senator-cowan-demands-accountability-tory-educational-and-charitable?page=0,0

Charities that spend on political action a ‘tiny fraction’
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/25/politics-charity.html

Foreign dollars a ‘minute segment’ of Canadian charities’ budgets
http://www.globalnews.ca/foreign+dollars+a+minute+segment+of+canadian+charities+budgets/6442630181/story.html

“David Suzuki charity questioned for alleged partisan politics” by Kathryn Blaze Carlson
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/25/david-suzuki-foundation/

A call for Canadian charities to become politically active by Alan Broadbent
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1165638—a-call-for-canadian-charities-to-become-politically-active

Harper to private group: Stop funding Forest Ethics Charity by Elizabeth May
http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/news/canadian_politics/2012/04/24/3807.html

Foreign charity threat is overblown By Elizabeth Payne, Postmedia News
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Foreign+charity+threat+overblown/6496598/story.html

David Suzuki resigns to save foundation from ‘bully’ charitable status threats by Sarah Boesveld, National Post
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/14/david-suzuki-resigns-to-save-foundation-from-bully-charitable-status-threats/

The politics of charity: When is a tax-exempt organization too political? by Kathryn Blaze Carlson National Post
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/06/the-politics-of-charity-when-is-does-a-tax-exempt-organization-to-political/

ForestEthics giving up charity status to take Tories on
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/04/18/pol-forest-ethics-charity-status.html

Harper just attacking charities he doesn’t like By Thomas Walkom
http://www.therecord.com/opinion/columns/article/710590—harper-just-attacking-charities-he-doesn-t-like

Charity funded by the government has links to Tory call centre
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Charity+funded+government+links+Tory+call+centre/6399771/story.html

Here are some notes that I have written on the subject of political activities and Canadian charities over the last few months:

How accurate are the T3010 charity returns when it comes to political activities?
https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/blog/how_accurate_are_the_t3010_registered_charity_information_returns/

CPS-022 CRA’s Guidance on Political Activities and Canadian Registered charities
https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/blog/canadian_charities_and_political_activities_-_cps022_cras_guidance_on_polit/

New blog on Political Activities and Canadian charities
https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/blog/new_blog_on_political_activities_and_canadian_charities/

Federal Budget 2012 – transparency and political activities.
https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/blog/federal_budget_2012_-_transparency_and_political_activities/

Canadian Senators comment on foreign funding and political activities of registered charities
https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/blog/senate_comments_on_foreign_funding_and_political_activities_of_charities/

Mark Blumberg’s submission to the Standing Committee on Finance on transparency, political activities and tax incentives
https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/blog/mark_blumbergs_submission_to_the_standing_committee_on_finance_on_transpare/