Over the past decade, the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, formerly the Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada, has had its federal government funding grants cut by 99 per cent.

The CFSH has charitable status and 'promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada and abroad'.  And as it is a charity, it is allowed to spend up to 10 per cent of its annual budget on political advocacy.  And acting as an advocate, it is acting as a national voice to protect and improve sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada.  CFSH does not state that it spends any time on lobbying.

In 2005, the federation received $1.14  million dollars or about 48 per cent of their budget.  Starting in 2007, the grants began to decrease.  In 2007, it was $743,745 dollars.  In 2008, the grant has gone down to $482,498.  By 2009, the grant has dwindled to $9,381.

Gwen Landolt, national vice-president of REAL Women, said that she was elated the government was “taking a reasonable approach to non-government organizations.”

REAL Women has made it one of their demands when they make presentations to finance committee pre-budget hearings.  They say that CFSH is not representative of the Canadian public and therefore should not receive federal funds.  Despite being a federaly regulated charity, REAL Women say that they are not accountable on how they spend it.  Diane Watts, a researcher with REAL Women said of the current Conservative government that they are "more inclined to take responsibility for taxpayers' money than recent Liberal governments".

Gwen Landolt, national vice-president of REAL Women said special interest groups that lobby the government should not receive money from the government. She noted Planned Parenthood received millions of dollars from the Chretien and Martin governments and then turned around and lobbied those same governments for more money to promote its radical agenda at home and internationally, including through the United Nations.

In contrast, Landolt, who worked with Toronto Right to Life and Campaign Life in the 1970s and 1980s, said the pro-life movement does not receive funding for its operations. “We didn’t get a penny,” she said.

Landolt said the 99 per cent cut in funding over five years is long overdue: “Finally, a recognition of the abuse of taxpayer money.”

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