I don’t have an independant second source for this memo and I’ve noted that a portion seems to be snipped. It’s the subject of a news release yesterday by the Canadian Christian College voicing concerns that Revenue Canada is again being used as a political arm of the Liberal Party of Canada.
The question of a registered charity’s address coming up on a whois search is timely – I wonder if Mr. Holland’s office has sent letters of concern over bloc-harper.com, registered by Sinclair Stevens using the contact info of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Toronto, a charity that also has ties to the office of the Governor General. Stevens is the chairman of the organization – surely this is an example that parallels that of the Canadian Christian College? (If someone can provide a memo from Mr. Holland’s office threatening to bring in Revenue Canada to inspect the RCSoT, I’ll be happy to publish it, too.)
More troubling, note the passage that refers to “associates of”. What does that mean? That those who are employees of registered charities must choose their political friends carefully, if they want to avoid the long arm of the auditor? That Christians who engage in the body politic are a subversive element that requires the attention of the government?
From: Holland, Mark – M.P.
Sent: June 1, 2005 2:38 PM
To: Holland, Mark – M.P.
Subject: MP Websites registered by Canada Christian College
Dear Colleagues,
A couple months ago I wrote to you about the fact that Charles McVety, President of Canada Christian College, has been registering domain names of MPs, a practice called “cybersquatting.”
Previously only two of these were active — www.josephvolpe.com and www.annemclellan.tv McVety is a strong opponent of same-sex marriage, and also believes in removing the boundaries between church and state.
It has come to our attention that many domains that were previously “parked” are now being made active. The following are now active: [apparently snipped -ed]
We have reason to believe that additional sites will be active very soon. I’ve attached a partial list of other MP names that Canada Christian College has registered.
Although Charles McVety is an active member of the Conservative Party, and was a delegate at the Conservative Convention in Montreal, you will note that some of the MPs who have been targetted are Conservatives. Gerald Keddy, who supports C-38, has been a particular target for harassment by associates of McVety, who have also been trying to nominate their people as Conservative candidates.
The name listed on the websites is DefendMarriage, but the actual registration is by Charles McVety using contact information of the Canada Christian College. You can verify this by doing a WHOIS search on the domain name.
Canada Christian College is a registered charity, which claims on its 2003 return filed with Canada Revenue Agency that it doesn’t engage in political activities. You can find its information on this website.
Mark Holland raised this matter in caucus today. We have previously discussed this with House of Commons legal counsel, but as of yet no legal action has been taken.
We do think that some kind of a public statement is necessary, and we would be happy to discuss issuing a joint statement with MPs of any party who feel this is improper behaviour for a charitable organization. Please contact me if you have further questions or concerns, or if you would like to participate in a joint statement. Thanks.
Regards,
Richard McGuire, Executive Assistant
to Mark Holland, M.P., Ajax-Pickering
(613) 995-8614
Fax: (613) 996-1289
holland.m@parl.gc.ca
The press release is below. I’ve done a Google news search on this, and the only references I can find to the college in the media are the Christian smear articles that appeared last week.
For Immediate Release
Liberals Abuse Power to Attack Canada Christian College
In Response to Leaked Liberal Memo
Religious leaders call on PM to reign in anti-religious MPs
June 2, 2005
Toronto – A prominent religious leader is calling on Prime Minster Paul Martin to reign in anti-religious MPs after he and the college was singled out in a leaked internal Liberal party memo as targets to be attacked.
“After reading this memo, we are appalled with the Prime Minister’s strategy to use Revenue Canada to silence those who don’t agree with him ,” said Dr. Charles McVety, President of Canada Christian College and a senior director of the Defend Marriage Coalition, and alliance of pro-marriage groups that have campaigned against bill C-38.
“This is a abuse of power and violation of human rights in Canada. We do not understand how a human rights activist such as Justice Minister Irwin Cotler can tolerate the attacks on the academic freedom of Universities and Colleges and a policy of harassment against people of faith. ”
“Canadians have much to fear from the militant tactics used against anyone who dares to voice an opinion that does not support the Liberal position. Is the Prime Minister going to remove the charitable status of the Catholic Church, or Muslim, Hindu or Jewish places of worship for educating their people to participate in democracy and protect marriage? ”
Dr. McVety was also dismayed by the accusation made in the memo that he “believes in removing the boundaries between church and state. It is ironic that no claim of separation was made when Liberal MP Joe Volpe came to our religious service soliciting support for the Liberals by promising to defend marriage. However when we expose his deception on www.josephvolpe.com we are
attacked.”
“It is amazing that a government, currently accused of squandering hundreds of millions of dollars of tax payer’s money on a corrupt propaganda program could think that the public would let it get away with using the powers of State to suppress ordinary Canadians attempting to preserve a tradition they care about.”
“In our view, this memo is libelous and is intended to inflict maximum damage on our reputation in an attempt to intimidate us into remaining silent in the face of this naked abuse of power. We have consulted with our legal counsel and are now preparing an appropriate response,” said McVety.
Again, if anyone can spot a mainstream news outlet that has followed up on this, let me know.
I think it was CBC who did an interview a few days ago and branded the gentleman from the Christian College as a loony more or less.
Apparently a VP of the Christian College is the nominated CPC candidate running against Holland in Ajax-Pickering. So it would appear that this is typical Liberal tactics to defame and belittle their opponents.
This pressure on the college only happened after the nomination.
I don’t know if there is a record on CBC or maybe it was CTV of that interview.
Toss him in the water, and if he floats, he’s a witch- then we can burn him at the stake! Haw!
This is nothing new for the Libs. Check with the Calgary Sun for the story of what Revenue Canada did to Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary during the last Federal election.
Mr Richard McGuire is an expierenced Politico.
He has encountered something and someone annoying.
His first reflex is to extend an invitation to others of like mind. [Build power]
Something we in the hamlet of bloggsville may consider doing. Say, in the interest of getting something done like motivating the Governor General to do her duty and dissolve parliament. Treason?…naw, just cooperation. TonyGuitar
Despite the fact that the Separation of Chruch and State is strictly an American principle, this is an example of the government violating the principle by threatening and muzzling the voice of some churches and not others.
To attain its goals, the government should try establishing a real state church with clergy as government employees and appointing bishop. For example, the government could establish the United Chruch of Canada as the “State Church” and eliminate the charitable status of every other organization. It works in Europe, why not here?
Then the so-called Christian activists who are not part of the state church could be jailed for hate crimes.
The downside for the government is that it mught be pressured to actually eliminate poverty instead hiring their buddies to study the issues.
Kate – check this out (I mentioned it in comments here, I think, that day). THIS is where it is coming from. Scroll down to the Don Boudria piece on “blocking of phone lines.”
http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/105_2005-05-31/han105_1510-E.htm
What’s happening is a number of websites, including marriagematters.ca and fotf.ca (focus on the family) have buttons front & centre on their websites allowing you to click and have a fax supporting traditional marriage to your MP.
Boudria and others supporting SSM are getting inundated with faxes. Interestingly enough, those supporting traditional marriage are also being faxed, although these faxes are encouraging the support of traditional marriage.
Those supporting SSM are trying to get these websites shut down. The CPC are arguing that everyone on their side is also being inundated with faxes and emails, but they have simply hired more staff. Kenney suggested it is an infrastructure issue (i.e. get more fax lines, doofus).
I guess the Liberals decided that sic’ing RevCan on them instead was a better plan.
I hope a Jewish or Sikh site starts doing this – that would hopefully stop the nonsense, or at the very least, show the Liberals up for what they are trying to do here, which would be the beginning of the end of freedom of speech and freedom of religion and freedom to contact your MP.
scary stuff
Wow!
Things are worse than we think in government! I guess it would be totally pointless to point out to the Liberal party that Separation of Church and State is supposed to work both ways…
I sent Holland an email. Wonder how many of his constituents know how anti-christian he is?
Using the Revenue Branch as a Liberal enforcing baton is interesting.
Using the House of commons legal branch to protect Liberal party interests seems out of line.
Can the Liberals not afford their own counsel? Are they just being frugal? [choke!]
I know there is an Ethics Commissioner. I’m right now looking at his large 6 by 8 inch photo in the Friday June 3rd Nat. Post. PA6.
Does he look as though he’s been napping to you?
My mistake. No wonder, he was not aware. I apologize. It’s just too easy to fling barbs. How embarrassing. TG
Hm… Andre Oullette must not be a Christian then if he doesn’t warrant attention:
http://www.citizenscentre.com/news04-09-02-oc.html
It’s okay to pocket a cool $2 million in expenses that you can’t provide receipts for, but Heaven Forbid (quite literally) that the accounting of Bishop Fred Henry’s collection trays should be out by so much as $5.
(Not that I’m a big fan of Bishop Fred, but it would be nice to see RevCan spending their time on the larger fraud cases.)
There is a free newspaper distributed to all homes/apartments in the Pickering/Ajax area (Mark Holland’s riding).
A letter to the editor can be submitted by going to http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/network/letter.     If a number of people were to submit a letter, perhaps some of them would get printed.     As I receive the paper, I can scan & post any that get printed.
Mike
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Revocations make the point – take care how you promote policy
Three revocations of charitable licences in the past decade warn charities, especially faith-based charities, that it behoves them to be familiar with the law and Canada Revenue Agency policy statements on permissible political activities, says Terrance Carter of Carter & Associates.
Speaking to the recent Church Leadership and the Law seminar sponsored by the Christian Legal Fellowship, Carter told the group that Action des Chretiens pour L�abolition de la torture lost its charitable status in 2002 because the Federal Court of Appeal found that its mail campaigns to heads of state concerning torture were permissible as such, but had exceeded the statutory limit and had become an unwritten purpose of the organization.
Human Life International in Canada Ltd. was found to have a political purpose � to sway public opinion on social issues such as protecting the rights of the unborn, promoting Christian family values and encouraging chastity � and so was deregistered in 1998.
http://www.canadianfundraiser.com
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The Librano$ at work.
“Human Life International in Canada Ltd. was found to have a political purpose � to sway public opinion on social issues such as protecting the rights of the unborn, promoting Christian family values and encouraging chastity � and so was deregistered in 1998.”
Hmm. Wonder if that means we can get Sinc Stevens charities unlisted? >:-)
Maybe Mark Holland doesn’t want to face his opponent
Mark Holland is not just going after Charles McVety on principle. He’s going after him because the Conservative candidate in Ajax-Pickering is Rondo Thomas, one of McVety’s “associates”.
Today Its Kate
The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Strikes Again
OK here goes: WTF is Cybersquating? From her post: ‘Using Revenue Canada To Silence Christians’ If you want the answer, you have to go read it.
Around the Blogosphere
Greg ran into a story that left me saying Excuse me, WTF? and I have to agree. Seems that the
Freedom International is the registrant of bloc-harper.com, and this
organization is indeed connected with Sinclair Stevens. It is not,
however, a registered charity. Sinclair Steven is also a director of
Royal Commonwealth Society of Toronto, but he has not registered the
website in connection with this group. Mark Holland doesn’t condone and
is not connected with the actions of Freedom International.
Canada Christian College, however, is a registered charity, and in its
most recent declaration to Canada Revenue Agency, it claims it does not
engage in political activity. You can review the list of charitable
organizations as well as their statements at the following website to
verify this information:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/charities/online_listings/canreg_interim-e.
html
Dr. McVety acknowledges that CCC has cybersquatted the names of federal
MPs, but says this is part of CCC’s education mandate.
I hope this clarifies this matter.
Best wishes,
Richard McGuire, Executive Assistant
to Mark Holland, M.P., Ajax-Pickering
(613) 995-8614
Fax: (613) 996-1289
holland.m@parl.gc.ca