OTTAWA – A national spy watchdog has found “a lack of rigour” in the way the Canada Revenue Agency selects charities for audits over terrorism concerns, saying the process introduces risks of bias and discrimination.
In a newly released report, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency says the Review and Analysis Division of the CRA’s charities directorate lacks an evidence-based method of validating the risk indicators it uses to justify scrutiny of a charity.
The security and intelligence review agency recommends the CRA division ensure that the decision to launch an audit is supported by current and credible information or intelligence.
The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the intelligence watchdog’s report through the Access to Information Act.
The report’s release today follows concerns in recent years that Muslim charities have been unfairly singled out for scrutiny by the federal revenue agency.
Four years ago, a report by the Ottawa-based International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group said the revenue agency’s Review and Analysis Division was carrying out audits with little accountability or independent scrutiny.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2025.
