The Conservative government has quietly begun looking into the charitable status of environmental groups in the Senate.

A Canadian charitable foundation at the centre of Conservative Party accusations of foreign influence in the nation's economic affairs defended itself before a Senate Committee in Ottawa today.

The Conservative government cancelled an agreement with a charity that supports environmental causes eight months after energy firm Enbridge Inc. lobbied against the deal, The Canadian Press has learned.

Conservative MPs used their majority to limit debate on the government's 400-page budget implementation bill, which includes changes to everything from old age security to environmental regulations to immigration.