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OTTAWA – Next week’s federal budget will contain changes that could affect the charitable status of certain organizations, as some environmental groups now being audited by the federal government worry they’re being deliberately targeted.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty suggested Friday that the budget will zero in on some groups with questionable activities, including those with links to terrorist organizations and organized crime.

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The government has already announced it is reviewing the political activities of many charitable groups – including some environmental organizations critical of the government – and whether they complied with tax rules to maintain their charitable status.

Flaherty said he’s not concerned about suggestions that changing rules for charities could be seen as a way to silence critics of the government.

“If the critics of the government are terrorist organizations and organized crime, I don’t care,” he said.