Good work

Joshua Reichert, Washington, D.C. Joshua Reichert 
is managing director of the Pew Environment Group.

A few days ago, we posted two articles related to the recent Federal Budget and its impact on NGOs, environmental NGOs in particular.

One of the was "NGOs should reveal funding sources” by Deborah Yedlin.

In response, the following letter to the editor appeared today.

Good work

By Joshua Reichert,

Calgary Herald

April 13, 2012

Re: "NGOs should reveal funding sources," Deborah Yedlin, Opinion, April 7.

Deborah Yedlin calls the Pew Environment Group's work in Canada "obstructive." Our track record - including our work with partners across Canada - tells a very different story.

Pew focuses on globally significant environmental issues, including conservation of the North American boreal, the world's largest remaining intact forest, and protection of the fragile Arctic Ocean ecosystem. In Canada, we work closely with local citizens, businesses and governments, and do so with a commitment to transparency and utmost respect for the rule of law.

Americans and Canadians have collaborated for more than a century to safe-guard our shared natural re-sources. Together, we have invested billions of dollars and countless hours to re-store the Great Lakes and Pacific salmon, conserve wetlands and forests for waterfowl and songbirds, and stop acid rain. Most recently, Pew has partnered with the Canadian timber industry to protect caribou and market Canada's boreal forest products in the United States.

We are proud of our work in Canada. We believe the public is best served by a thoughtful, constructive dialogue on how both countries can, working together, best manage the continent we all share.

Joshua Reichert, Washington, D.C. Joshua Reichert is managing director of the Pew Environment Group.

Readers may be interested in this interview with Joshua Reichert from Sport Fishing Magazine on May 14, 2009.

Pew's Reichert Talks to Anglers

Environmental NGOs – Funding Issues

Sun News Network pundit Ezra Levant (left) and Tides Canada director Ross McMillan (right)

The recent Federal budget included provisions that targeted Environmental NGOs. Here are a couple articles that explore that topic.

NGOs should reveal funding sources

By Deborah Yedlin,

Calgary Herald

April 9, 2012

Despite cries of an impending witch hunt, last week's move by the federal government to push for more transparency in the funding of not-for-profit environmental organizations is a move in the right direction.

The budget outlined that not-for-profits will have to provide more information in the context of their political involvement as well as disclose how much of their dollars come from foreign sources.

It's about time.

Read more here

Tides Canada's Ross McMillan shoots back at Ezra Levant's "money launderers" slur

David P. Ball

Vancouver Observer

Posted: Apr 4th, 2012

Tides Canada chief executive Ross McMillan shot back yesterday at oil sands proponent Ezra Levant – a talk show host on Sun News Network and newspaper columnist – who has accused the charitable group of illegal fiscal activities over its support for environmental groups.

“People like Mr. Levant and critics of the environmental and charitable sector are confusing allowable political activity – as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency – with advocacy,” he said. “In the press, people tend to use those terms interchangeably, when they're clearly not the same.

Tides Canada's director reiterated that Tides Canada operates within Canadian law in disbursing donations to other registered charitable organizations, and is legally distinct from its U.S. counterpart – facts he added have been grossly distorted by Sun News Network.

Read more here