Canadians continued their generosity to charities in 2002, opening their pocketbooks even wider than usual.

Statistics Canada says taxfilers donated more than $5.8 million to charity in 2002, a 6.% increase from 2001. The number of donors remained stable in 2002 at around 5.5 million, in spite of a marginal 0.4% increase in the number of taxfilers.

In 2002, the median donation was $210, up from $200 in 2001. (In other words, half the donations exceeded $210, and half were below.) The median donation has been increasing each year since 1999.

Among the provinces and territories, the $400 median donation of those living in Nunavut was by far the highest. The jump in their median donation from $360 last year was also the largest increase.

Nunavut has led the provinces and territories since 2000. It was followed by Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, with median donations of $330 and $310, respectively.

The median donation increased in 10 provinces and territories. Only in New Brunswick was there a small decline.

As in 2001, 25% of all Canadian taxfilers claimed charitable donations. At the provincial and territorial level, Manitoba once again led the way with 29% of taxfilers declaring donations. Ontario and Saskatchewan each had 27%, while PEI followed close behind with 26%.