Canadian wing of Falun Gong has charitable status revoked

 The Falun Dafa Association of Canada’s registration was revoked on Nov. 1, according to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The movement has been the subject of controversy in recent years.

Falun Dafa members in the U.S. founded the Epoch Times newspaper, a publication that’s been accused of spreading conspiracy theories about COVID-19, climate change and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Local Falun Dafa groups in Canada and the U.S. also organize shows by the Shen Yun Performing Arts, which has been the subject of a series of investigations by the New York Times. The newspaper reported that the dance group exploited young performers, subjecting them to gruelling schedules and then discouraging them from seeking medical care, and built its worldwide presence on the free labour and financial contributions of Falun Dafa members.

This summer, CBC News reported that the National Arts Centre in Ottawa would not host a Shen Yun performance in 2026 after two decades of shows at the centre, following concerns about treatment of disabled audience members and allegations of contract breaches. 

The Falun Dafa Association of Canada has reported little in the way of charitable work in the last few years.

Records in the IJF’s charity tax returns database show just $48 in revenue and $4 in expenditures in 2023. The year before, the association reported no revenue and $22 in expenditures.

In its 2023 entry in the CRA’s charity registry, the organization wrote, “Due to pandemic, there is no enormous charity event or program during the 2023 fiscal year.”