existence of human-caused climate change. Writing about Suzuki meeting with Calgary elementary school students, states that the speech "was essentially urging those listening not to vote Conservative. That makes his message partisan and should exempt the David Suzuki Foundation from receiving tax deductible status." In 2007, Suzuki distinguished between what he says as an individual and what the foundation formally states. His personal opinions have been published, including the statement that Ottawa's plan to fight global warming was a "national embarrassment" and the federal government's energy policy was "not a strategy" but a "shame." According to a 2007 article in Treehugger, in Canadian law, charities are permitted to comment on politics, "Charities have wide latitude to comment on politics, provided they don't endorse parties or candidates and can devote up to 10 per cent of their resources for non-partisan political activities". Charitable organizations can spend funds "to influence law, policy, and public opinion on matters related to its charitable purposes." This includes meeting with elected officials, holding "conferences, workshops, lectures and rallies", and mounting "letter-writing campaigns about issues". In 2012, when then Prime Minister Stephen Harper was engaged in "scorching attacks on environmental activists and charities." the federal 2012 budget earmarked $8 million to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to audit selected charities—including seven environmental groups were soon targeted. The CRA budget for these political-activity audits was subsequently increased to $13 million a year which allowed the CRA to audit anti-poverty, foreign aid and human rights groups charities, such as Amnesty International, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the United Church of Canada. An investigation by the Canadian Press reported in Maclean's in 2014, said that the majority of the ten 2012-2013 political-activity audits were "conducted on charities in one narrow category—environmental groups, all of whom opposed" the Harper administration's energy policies." which included the David Suzuki Foundation. In 2015, an investigation undertaken by the journalist, Mike De Souza, published in the Narwhal, showed that a senator who was keenly interested in Krause's research on environmental groups, had "worked to advance Krause's public persona, introducing her to key figures in the Canadian political and energy landscape". See also Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund List of foundations in Canada West Coast Environmental Law References External links Sustainability within a Generation (report) Video segment from 'Connected Life' Environmental organizations based in British Columbia Non-profit organizations based in Vancouver Climate change organizations Foundations