[NatureNS] Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities

From: Paul Ruggles <cpruggles@eastlink.ca>
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 09:16:40 -0300
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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liant.net&lt;br&gt;To&amp;#58=3B naturens@chebucto.ns.ca&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div&

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Thanks Wayne for a clear statement about "Non- Partisan Activities" .

The gutting of the Federal Fisheries Act is a tragic example of how =
business interests trump fish conservation and environmental concerns =
simultaneously.

First the Cod. Then Global Ecosystems.

Paul Ruggles.

On 2014-10-19, at 12:15 AM, Wayne P. Neily wrote:

>   The idea of excluding groups that lobby from being charitable =
organizations was originally to discourage them from lobbying for =
projects of private interest or from which some one or some business =
could profit at the expense of the public.  Of course, various =
governments have broadened this concept to include any advocacy of =
positions they disagreed with, but prior to the current federal =
government, those advocating environmental protection or health were =
considered to be lobbying in the public interest, and were not =
threatened beyond the mention of this possibility if a government's pet =
projects were threatened.  Private interests often referred to us as =
'special interest groups", in contrast with public interest groups, and =
shallow media coverage has often gone along with this, allowing =
proponents of environmentally unsound projects or policies (often the =
governments that must approve or deny them) to ensure that =
environmentalists are treated as being unimportant in comparison to =
those investing money in such projects.  This has become more serious in =
recent years in Canada because of the weakening of our federal =
environmental impact assessment process in the name of reducing "red =
tape".
>=20
> Ironically, the greatest tax breaks of all go to the donors to most =
partisan of organizations - the political parties.  This may help =
explain the rise in Green Parties in many parts of the world.
>=20
> Wayne Neily
> Tremont, N. S.
>=20
> Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 22:48:13 -0300
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities
> From: jim.edsall@bellaliant.net
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>=20
> How is this any different for telling churches they can't advocate for =
the poor and social justice
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> Jim Edsall
> Check out my new website at http://jimedsall.com
>=20
>=20
>=20
> -------- Original message --------
> From: David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>=20
> Date: 10-17-2014 9:02 PM (GMT-04:00)=20
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities=20
>=20
>=20
> Hi John & All,                        Oct 17, 2014
>     This is one of those topics that touches just about everything in =
one=20
> way or another. But I will be brief.
>=20
>     With respect to the two-way choice I would accept both as valid.
>=20
>     I may be repeating myself but, on the subject of choice: freedom =
of=20
> thought and expression without fear of retaliation, provided it does =
not=20
> infringe on similar rights of others, has been throughout the history =
of=20
> humanity a very rare condition. Our current immense prosperity is in =
large=20
> measure a consequence of the almost unique conditions that gradually=20=

> developed over the last five centuries in the Western world.
>=20
>     On the other hand, status as a registered charity for tax purposes =
is a=20
> small bone that is offered to restrain freedom of choice. It seems =
obvious=20
> that a Naturalist Organization would advocate on behalf of the natural =
world=20
> and perhaps the best way to maintain that freedom would be to =
de-register=20
> the organization; if necessary by a name change.
>=20
> Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: "John and Nhung" <nhungjohn@eastlink.ca>
> To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
> Sent: Friday, October 17, 2014 12:18 PM
> Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities
>=20
>=20
> > Either we have some well-intentioned, bright, but overly na=EFve
> > decision-makers who need more exposure to reality before they assume =
the
> > responsibilities they carry, or we have a pathological aversion to
> > inconvenient truths.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
> > On Behalf Of Burkhard Plache
> > Sent: October-17-14 11:26 AM
> > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> > Subject: [NatureNS] Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities
> >
> > Please read the following piece by CBC about an Ontario Field =
Naturalist
> > Club.
> > Revenue Canada considers their activities partisan ant threatens to
> > reconsider their tax exempt status.
> >
> > =
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/revenue-canada-targets-birdwatchers-for-po=
li
> > tical-activity-1.2799546
> >
> > Not cheered,
> > Burkhard
> >
> >
> > -----
> > No virus found in this message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4040/8390 - Release Date: =
10/14/14
> >=20
>=20


--Apple-Mail-1--525379343
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	charset=iso-8859-1

<html><head><base href=3D"x-msg://1/"></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: =
break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: =
after-white-space; "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
18px/normal Helvetica; ">Thanks Wayne for a clear statement about "Non- =
Partisan Activities" .</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
18px/normal Helvetica; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; ">The gutting of the Federal =
Fisheries Act is a tragic example of how business interests trump fish =
conservation and environmental concerns simultaneously.</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; =
"><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
18px/normal Helvetica; ">First the Cod. Then Global =
Ecosystems.</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
18px/normal Helvetica; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; ">Paul Ruggles.</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; =
"><br></div><div><div>On 2014-10-19, at 12:15 AM, Wayne P. Neily =
wrote:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div class=3D"hmmessage" style=3D"font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: Calibri; "><div dir=3D"ltr">&nbsp;&nbsp;The idea of =
excluding groups that lobby from being charitable organizations was =
originally to discourage them from lobbying for projects of private =
interest or from which some one or some business could profit at the =
expense of the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, various governments have =
broadened this concept to include any advocacy of positions they =
disagreed with, but prior to the current federal government, those =
advocating environmental protection or health were considered to be =
lobbying in the public interest, and were not threatened beyond the =
mention of this possibility if a government's pet projects were =
threatened.&nbsp;&nbsp;Private interests often referred to us as =
'special interest groups", in contrast with public interest groups, and =
shallow media coverage has often gone along with this, allowing =
proponents of environmentally unsound projects or policies (often the =
governments that must approve or deny them) to ensure that =
environmentalists are treated as being unimportant in comparison to =
those investing money in such projects.&nbsp;&nbsp;This has become more =
serious in recent years in Canada because of the weakening of our =
federal environmental impact assessment process in the name of reducing =
"red tape".<br><br>Ironically, the greatest tax breaks of all go to the =
donors to most partisan of organizations - the political =
parties.&nbsp;&nbsp;This may help explain the rise in Green Parties in =
many parts of the world.<br><br>Wayne Neily<br>Tremont, N. =
S.<br><br><hr>Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 22:48:13 -0300<br>Subject: Re: =
[NatureNS] Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities<br>From:<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"mailto:jim.edsall@bellaliant.net">jim.edsall@bellaliant.net</a><br=
>To:<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><br><br=
><div>How is this any different for telling churches they can't advocate =
for the poor and social =
justice</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><=
div><div style=3D"font-size: 16px; ">Jim Edsall<br>Check out my new =
website at<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"http://jimedsall.com">http://jimedsall.com</a></div></div><br><br>=
<br>-------- Original message --------<br>From: David &amp; Alison =
Webster &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:dwebster@glinx.com">dwebster@glinx.com</a>&gt;<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>Date: 10-17-2014 9:02 =
PM (GMT-04:00)<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>To:<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>Subject: Re: [NatureNS] =
Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br><br><br>Hi John &amp; =
All,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oct =
17, 2014<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is one of those topics that touches =
just about everything in one<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>way or another. But I =
will be brief.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With respect to the two-way =
choice I would accept both as valid.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I may be =
repeating myself but, on the subject of choice: freedom of<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>thought and expression =
without fear of retaliation, provided it does not<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>infringe on similar =
rights of others, has been throughout the history of<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>humanity a very rare =
condition. Our current immense prosperity is in large<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>measure a consequence =
of the almost unique conditions that gradually<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>developed over the last =
five centuries in the Western world.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the =
other hand, status as a registered charity for tax purposes is a<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>small bone that is =
offered to restrain freedom of choice. It seems obvious<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>that a Naturalist =
Organization would advocate on behalf of the natural world<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>and perhaps the best =
way to maintain that freedom would be to de-register<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>the organization; if =
necessary by a name change.<br><br>Yt, Dave Webster, =
Kentville<br><br><br><br><br>----- Original Message -----<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>From: "John and Nhung" =
&lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:nhungjohn@eastlink.ca">nhungjohn@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;<br>To:=
 &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>&gt;<br=
>Sent: Friday, October 17, 2014 12:18 PM<br>Subject: RE: [NatureNS] =
Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan Activities<br><br><br>&gt; Either we =
have some well-intentioned, bright, but overly na=EFve<br>&gt; =
decision-makers who need more exposure to reality before they assume =
the<br>&gt; responsibilities they carry, or we have a pathological =
aversion to<br>&gt; inconvenient truths.<br>&gt;<br>&gt; -----Original =
Message-----<br>&gt; From:<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.c=
a</a><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[mailto:naturens-owner@chebuc=
to.ns.ca]<br>&gt; On Behalf Of Burkhard Plache<br>&gt; Sent: =
October-17-14 11:26 AM<br>&gt; To:<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><br>&gt=
; Subject: [NatureNS] Revenue Canada and Non-Partisan =
Activities<br>&gt;<br>&gt; Please read the following piece by CBC about =
an Ontario Field Naturalist<br>&gt; Club.<br>&gt; Revenue Canada =
considers their activities partisan ant threatens to<br>&gt; reconsider =
their tax exempt status.<br>&gt;<br>&gt;<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/revenue-canada-targets-birdwatcher=
s-for-poli">http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/revenue-canada-targets-birdwat=
chers-for-poli</a><br>&gt; tical-activity-1.2799546<br>&gt;<br>&gt; Not =
cheered,<br>&gt; Burkhard<br>&gt;<br>&gt;<br>&gt; -----<br>&gt; No virus =
found in this message.<br>&gt; Checked by AVG -<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>&gt; Version: 2014.0.4765 =
/ Virus Database: 4040/8390 - Release Date: 10/14/14<br>&gt;<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br><br></div></div></blockqu=
ote></div><br></body></html>=

--Apple-Mail-1--525379343--

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