No public Benefit, Global Warming
Will Suzuki Foundation go the Greenpeace route in losing charitable status?
By Judi McLeod
Monday, June 18, 2007
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) host and man made global warming shill David Suzuki, being chased by a Revenue Canada posse, had better beware.
The David Suzuki Foundation is being subjected to a third audit, and somewhat like the RCMP, Revenue Canada always gets their man.
"I am being hounded by the current government because I have a foundation that has my name and so they're trying to take away my charitable (status)," Suzuki said in a speech last week. He told the transit trade group he had to preface his speech with a tax-auditor-saving caveat. "Everything I say is my personal opinion, has nothing to do with my foundation." ( www.treehugger.com).
Suzuki's personal opinions include saying that Ottawa's plan to fight global warming is a "national embarrassment" and of the government's energy policy: "It's not a strategy, it's a sham."
Suzuki's words about the government are kind in comparison to how he treats talk radio hosts who happen to ask the wrong question. The global-warming-is-manmade crusader walked out in a fury during an interview with Radio AM 640's Don Oakley last February.
We don't know if everything Suzuki says has nothing to do with his lucrative foundation, but we do know that when Revenue Canada goes after charitable status it is thorough.
Suzuki's Greenpeace friends were stripped of their charitable status in 1999.
Just in time for that year's anti-logging campaign for British Columbia, Greenpeace suffered a setback in credibility after losing its attempt to gain the charitable status it had been seeking for more than a decade.
Revenue Canada refused to recognize the Greenpeace Environmental Foundation as a charity, deeming its activities as having "no public benefit" and charging that "lobbying to close polluting industries could drive people "into poverty"."
Greenpeace appealed, but the case was closed after the group withdrew.
"I don't think Greenpeace is going to be made a charitable organization, and we seem to be doing okay without a charitable status," Peter Tabuns, Greenpeace Canada's executive director concluded at the time.
Putting a brave face on things notwithstanding, without charitable status Greenpeace cannot offer tax receipts to its donors.
Having the double blow of losing the battle for charitable status coupled with the public criticism of having "no public benefit" by Revenue Canada dealt a serious blow to Greenpeace's fundraising efforts.
Indeed Greenpeace, as slick as any public relations corporation in finding new ways to solicit public donations, began offering its own series of personal cheques.
"When you come back as a whale you'll be glad you put Greenpeace in your will," stated an advertisement for bequests in a Greenpeace magazine.
"Every time you order a supply of Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior Series Personal Cheques from Federated Cheque Services Inc., Greenpeace will receive more than 10% of the purchase price. These highly visible, full colour cheques maintain our message and raise additional awareness and funds to continue our critical work. Cheques are printed with solvent-free vegetable-based inks, on chlorine-free paper.
"Greenpeace message cheques carry all of your personal information. They are accepted in all Canadian financial institutions--100% guaranteed or a refund will be provided."
Greenpeace lost its status under the Liberal government of Prime Minister Jean Chrtien.
According to Canadian rules, charities have wide latitude to comment on politics, provided they don't endorse parties or candidates and can devote up to 10 percent of their resources for non-partisan political activities. The agency says this spending can be undertaken "to influence law, policy and public opinion on matters related to charitable purposes." Among the permitted activities, groups can meet with elected officials, hold conferences, workshops, lectures and rallies, and mount letter-writing campaigns about issues.
"Certainly I try very, very hard not to be partisan," Mr. Suzuki said, "but I still will criticize government for policy. I think that's the right of all people." (Globe and Mail).
As www.treehugger which depicted Suzuki in front of his cross-Canada global warming bus advise, "(Suzuki) "better get on that bus and head for the border."
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2018 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2018 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement