'This whole situation is very murky': complaint launched against Anglican Parish of Shediac

The Canada Revenue Agency is being asked to investigate whether the Anglican Parish of Shediac is complying with the laws of a charitable organization.

A complaint was filed Monday by a group ofconcerned residents who have taken issuewith the church's involvement in a proposed mega-campsite project in Pointe-du-Chne.

The parish owns the land where the campground big enough for 600 to 700 trailersthe largest in the Maritimes is set to be built, and it would lease the land to a group of investors that included Health Minister Victor Boudreau before he gave up his stake in the project after months of controversy.

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But some Pointe-du-Chne residents, including Arthur Melanson, grew worried when the church recently became the campsite's proponent.

According to federal tax law, a charity is forbidden from running a business, unless it is directlylinked to its mission.

Melanson feels the church has become a little too involved with the day-to-day business of the proposal, and is even wondering if it isone of the project's secret investors.

"This whole situation is very murky right now," said Melanson."We could say it's as murky as the little lagoon is at Parlee Beach."

Major real estate owner

Residents have raised questions before about the propertyleasefor a controversial commercial development in an area that is environmentally sensitive, and whether the enterprisefits with the Anglican church's mission of "striving to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustaining and renewing the life of the earth" and "loving thy neighbour."

Nevertheless, Canadian tax law allows a charity to rent out its assets as an investment, as long as its involvement is considered passive.

The Anglican Parish is a major real estate owner in Shediac.

In 2015, the charity registered as the Corporation of the Anglican Parish of Shediac declared roughly $5 million in total assets, as well as $350,000 in annual income from the rental of land or real estate.

It also declared $400,000 in "other revenue," which residents are asking the federal tax agency to investigate.

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Residents like Melanson said they are puzzled that the church has appliedfirst-hand for permits andsurveys,taking on some of the costs to develop the land in question.

"What's the motive of every player in this, and what's at stake for everybody? And why the involvement, and why keeping those investors confidential," said Melanson.

The church also paid to build a new walking trail edging the campsite.

And though the church administrator has stated the trail is unrelated to the campsite project, opponents disagree, pointing to correspondence from Boudreau, before he put his project in a blind trust, indicating his desire to relocate the walking trail to the edge of the site, which opponents presume is to make room for more trailer sites.

The church also settled a dispute out of court with another tenant allowing this development to proceed.

''I worry that the Parish is drifting away from its charitable mission and instead focussing on profits and risking failure,'' said Dr. ScottMawdsley, anotherPointe-du-Chnecottage owner.

Residents argue that in taking an active role, the church a registered charityexempt from paying income tax is carrying on a business, rather than passively deriving investment income.

Once the complaint reaches Canada's Revenue Agency,it isup to officials there to decide whether to investigate.

If any wrongdoing is found, the church could have its charitable registration revoked.

But residents hope it does not get to that.

''It is my hope that the bishop and Primate will intervene before the CRA decides it ought to,'' said Mawdsley.