Hugh Scher of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition applauds decision.
The pro-euthanasia lobby group Dying with Dignity has been stripped by the Canada Revenue Agency of its charitable tax status.
Dying with Dignity was created in 1982 and had charity status from the beginning. In Canada, charities are allowed to allot 10 per cent of their financial and time resources to political but non-partisan activities. The law defines political activity as lobbying and working to change Canadian law.
Dying with Dignity has been audited by the Canada Revenue Agency as part of a general investigation of advocacy groups and found to be in violation of CRA’s requirements from day one. The CRA told Dying with Dignity it had intended only to audit the group for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years but had discovered the group had been outside the bounds of charity work from its inception, with a “political purpose – to expand choice in dying, including by securing the legal right to die … it is our view, based on our review of the organization’s objects and activities on file from 1982, the organization was registered in error and ineligible for registration under the (Income Tax) Act at the time of its registration.”
In a 21-page letter dated Jan. 16, the CRA informed Dying with Dignity that “while we have determined that the organization’s services for the sick consisted mostly of charitable activities, our audit did not identify any activities advancing education in the charitable sense.” The CRA said, “it is our position the organization’s primary focus remains on advocating for alternatives to preserving human life and selectively informing the public in support of its political purpose to expand choice in dying.” Charitable groups, says the letter, must not “engage in pressure tactics on governments such as swaying public opinion, promoting an attitude of mind, creating a climate of public opinion or exercising moral pressure” when the goal is to drive or prevent legislative change.
Media reports quote Dying with Dignity CEO Wanda Morris saying she will not appeal the decision.
Because the group is no longer constrained by federal laws on how much political activity they engage in, Dying with Dignity said it would begin endorsing political candidates.
Hugh Scher, a lawyer with the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, said “it’s unfortunate when an advocacy group is effectively breaking the rules in order to promote its private goals on the backs of the taxpayers.”
The EPC never had charity status and does not claim to be one.
New Democratic Party Finance Critic MP Murray Rankin claimed that the Agency’s decision was political, with the CRA punishing “left-leaning or human rights” groups that are not “aligned with the Conservatives.”
In 2012, the federal budget included money for increased audits of groups to ensure compliance with the Income Tax Act to ensure charities were not engaged in political activities. The media painted the policy as a witch hunt against activist groups that opposed the Harper government’s agenda.
Rebecca Rogers, a spokeswoman for Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay, told CTV News, “audits done by the Canada Revenue Agency are done at arm’s length, without any political interference.”
The Interim has received reports from numerous pro-life groups over the past 15 years, that they have been investigated and sometimes lost charity status due to the perceived political work that they do. LifeSiteNews reported one pro-life charity worker who said they reformulated their educational program to be “more collaborative” and “that told all sides of the story.” That group, it now appears, is in compliance with the Income Tax Act.
