Thread by @SteveRickettsSP

the Canadian Freedom Institute (@CanFreedomInst) Twitter account has been jumping into my conversations to challenge my views on Alberta's carbon tax and my criticisms of the #UCP.

it's a registered charity, so i looked into it...
#ableg

here's a link to its listing in the CRA charitable database. its most recent filing dates back to Dec 2017.

apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch…

its stated program: "Canadian Freedom Institute is committed to improving public knowledge in the principles of free market economies. The organization conducts research to provide information or topics from health care, taxation, democratic reform."

its executive director: Peter Coleman

(a "Peter Coleman" is also the President and CEO of the National Citizens Coalition. hmmmm....)

in 2017, it appears to have raised the princely sum of $0, and spent $830. it has assets of $843 and liabilities of $5,377

its stated objective : "Research (scientific, medical, environmental, etc)".

its website lists a few research papers, including one titled "POPULISM & GETTING ALBERTA BACK ON TRACK", which is basically a pitch for electing a UCP govt.

From that CRA page: "A registered charity may pursue political activities only if the activities are non-partisan, related to its charitable purposes, & limited in extent...

"...A political activity is any activity that explicitly communicates to the public that a law, policy or decision of any level of government inside or outside Canada should be retained, opposed, or changed."

here are a few of its recent tweets and retweets

hmmm... it seems to me that questioning the value and efficacy of a carbon tax, and promoting the defeat of a govt doesn't meet that guideline.

one wonders what the CRA thinks of the CFI's activities. maybe i will ask

/fin

update: Peter has blocked me. is it something i said? :)