Canada Revenue Agency

The Trudeau government has decided to appeal the Ontario Superior Court ruling that would have allowed charities to do their work on behalf of Canadians, free from political harassment.

The power of the tax system reaches deep into the conduct of politics. Not only do taxes fund government spending, tax rules empower some groups while disempowering others.

The Ontario Superior Court's decision this week was a huge relief to those many charities that suffered through Stephen Harper's politically motivated Canada Revenue Agency audits.

Increasingly, charities are looking at using their funds and other resources to contribute to positive social change, as well as to obtain a financial return. But does the law permit them to do so?