A Short History of Charities Law
Every day countless people across the country benefit from the work of charities. Hospitals, libraries, schools, places of worship, food banks, and theatres are but a few of the myriad of charities operating in all parts of the country. There are nearly 85,000 active charities registered under the Income Tax Act. Including not-for-profit organizations, there are about 161,000 incorporated entities, receiving about 9 billion dollars a year in donations from 22.2 million donors. These organizations constitute some 11% of the economically active workforce with combined revenues exceeding 120 billion dollars, greater that the mining, auto manufacturing, and oil and gas industries combined. This amounts to 7.8% of the GDP (8.6% when volunteer hours are included) so that this sector of society has a GDP that is more than our four smallest provinces combined. Measured in any variety of ways, this group is a significant presence in the country.
Canadians take pride in these organizations and have a high degree of confidence in them. A Muttart Foundation study, Talking about Charities, found that 77% of Canadians say they trust charities a lot or somewhat. The scope and nature of these charities and our affiliation with them says much about what it means to be Canadian.Yet while charities are an essential part of the way we live and provide for one another, in countless ways they are invisible, with their stories untold.
W. Laird Hunter Q.C.
Reprinted with permission from LawNow
www.lawnow.org Volume 33, Issue 4, Page 6-10