A new special Senate committee plans to examine the growing importance the charitable sector plays in Canadian society and recommend ways to tailor government policies to help them do their valuable work.
The Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector will study how to improve the regulation of charities and non-profit organizations to help them overcome challenges such as funding, staff and volunteer retention and changing demographics and technologies, through innovation and other best practices, the Senate announced on Wednesday.
Since its founding in January, the committee has heard from officials with the Canada Revenue Agency and Department of Finance Canada, along with sector experts, who have helped detail the current challenges facing the charitable sector. Following its study, the committee plans to release a report with recommendations.
“Millions of Canadians rely on the countless services charities provide across the country. The more that governments can do to help the charitable sector overcome challenges, the more effective these important organizations can be,” says Senator Terry Mercer, chairman of the committee.