The Government of Canada plays a central role in funding important programs and services for Canadians through direct grants and contributions, and through tax measures that have an important stimulative effect on giving. Both are critical forms of financial support, especially during difficult economic times. Imagine Canada is working on behalf of Canada's charities and nonprofits to ensure that the important role of these organizations is brought to the attention of federal government decision makers.

Federal Budget 2010

March 4, 2010. Imagine Canada Responds to Budget 2010

December 9, 2009. We received some great news! The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance released their report (pgs 74 & 78 of PDF) recommending the implementation of the proposed Stretch Tax Credit. In the weeks to come, it is critical to maintain the momentum and visibility of the stretch tax credit proposal to increase the likelihood of its inclusion in the next federal budget.

November 13, 2009. Read about Imagine Canada’s proposed Stretch Tax Credit for Charitable Giving in the Philanthropy in Action insert in today’s Globe and Mail. See our opinion editorial and advertisement made possible in part with the generous support of The Muttart Foundation. The purpose of the Stretch Tax Credit for Charitable Giving is to encourage more Canadians to give and to support those who do give to give more. The Stretch Tax Credit for Charitable Giving would increase the federal charitable tax credit from 29% to 39% on all NEW giving that is over $200. This incentive will allow Canadians to “stretch” their giving even more. Read more about the Stretch Tax Credit

October 8, 2009. Marcel Lauzière, President and CEO for Imagine Canada, appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. In his presentation to the committee, Mr. Lauzière, reiterated Imagine Canada's three key recommendations for Budget 2010 as per the written brief submitted in mid-August.

July 23, 2009. Letter to the Hon. James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance, requesting that the government eliminate the current disbursement quota regime that governs the work of charitable organizations under the Income Tax Act in Canada. Submission included:

• Letter to the Hon. James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance
• Appendix to the Letter
• Concept Paper on Reform of the Disbursement Quota Regime by The Canadian Bar Association

August 8, 2009. Imagine Canada submits its pre-budget brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. The brief was developed in consultation with Imagine Canada’s Public Policy Committee, chaired by Hilary Pearson and was informed by the efforts of both the Disbursement Quota Working Group chaired by Susan Manwaring and the Tax Measures Working Group chaired by Malcolm Burrows. Read more.

Federal Budget 2009

January 27, 2009. Impact of Federal Budget on Canada’s Charities & Nonprofits: Canada’s Charities and Nonprofits are extremely disappointed that the Budget fails to acknowledge the role they play in helping vulnerable Canadians. more...(PDF)

Brief Submitted to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

January 16, 2009. The 2009 Federal Budget and Canada’s Charities & Nonprofits. Short-Term Stimulus Measures for Assisting Canadians and Communities during the Economic Downturn. Imagine Canada submitted a Brief to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance on Short-Term Stimulus Measures for Assisting Canadians and Communities during the Economic Downturn. The Brief is an outcome of consultations with a Task Force struck by Imagine Canada to provide further detail to the measures called for in an Open Letter to Stephen Harper published in newspapers on November 21, 2008. more...(PDF)

List of Organizations Endorsing the Brief

Caring Company Members Support of Open Letter to the Prime Minister

January 15, 2009. Imagine Canada’s Caring Company members — a broad representation of Canadian companies that formally commit to donating 1% of their earnings to community causes and organizations — added their voice to a call for stimulative measures to assist Canada’s vulnerable populations and the organizations that support them in a full-page statement published in the Globe & Mail on January 15, 2009.

List of Open Letter Supporting Caring Company Members

Open Letter to the Prime Minister

November 20, 2008. Charities & Nonprofits Propose Measures to Prime Minister to help Canadians and Communities during Economic Downturn. Urge Federal Government to maintain existing levels of funding and provide special giving incentives. Canada's charities and nonprofits will publish an open letter to Stephen Harper in select newspapers across the country on Friday urging the Prime Minister to consider the important role of charities and nonprofits in assisting Canadians and communities, particularly during periods of economic hardship. more...(PDF)

List of Open Letter Endorsing Charities

List of Organizations Endorsing the Brief (as of 3:45pm EST, January 22, 2009)

Association des fondations d'établissements de santé du Québec
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
CanadaHelps
Canadian Association of Gift Planners
Canadian Dance Assembly
Canadian Hearing Society
CARFAC National
Children's Mental Health Ontario
Kidney Foundation of Canada
Muttart Foundation
Opera Canada
PKD Foundation of Canada
Polycystic Kidney Research Society (PKRS) of Canada
Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT)
Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda Territory
Sport Matters Group
Toronto Community Foundation
United Way/Centraide Canada
United Way/Centraide Lower Mainland
YMCA Canada

List of Open Letter to the Prime Minister Supporting Caring Company Members

2H2M Services
Arlett van Rotterdam Partnership
Charitel Inc.
Dexterity Consulting
Empire Life
ENMAX Corporation
Epicure Selections
Fairmount Books Inc.
Friedmann Strategic Consulting
Froggy Fundraising Inc.
GrantStream
Harvey McKinnon Associates
Henderson Partners LLP
Jantzi Research
KCI - Ketchum Canada Inc.
Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Nyman Ink
Partnership Group - Sponsorship Specialists
Phoenix Group
Prosperity ONE Credit Union
Sandstone Asset Management
Stikeman Elliott LLP
TELUS
Touchworks Communications Inc.
TransAlta
Trico Homes Inc.
Westminster Savings Credit Union

List of Open Letter to the Prime Minister Endorsing Charities

Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg
Alzheimer Society of Canada
ALS Society of Canada
Arthritis Society
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations
Canadian AIDS Society
Canadian Association of Gift Planners
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Conference of the Arts
Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Canadian Diabetes Association
Canadian Environment Network
Canadian Federation of Voluntary Sector Networks
Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
Canadian Lung Association
Canadian Liver Foundation
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
Canadian Women's Foundation
Centraide Quebec
Children’s Miracle Network
Community Foundations of Canada
Community Services Council Newfoundland and Labrador
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada
Easter Seals Canada
Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations
Federation des centres d’action bénévole du Québec
Federation of Community Organizations of the Halifax Regional Municipality
Foundation Fighting Blindness (Canada)
Gordon Foundation
Habitat for Humanity Canada
Hearing Foundation of Canada
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Health Charities Coalition of Canada
Hope Air
Huntington Society of Canada
Kidney Foundation of Canada
Kids Help Phone
Maytree Foundation
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Muttart Foundation
Ontario Nonprofit Network
Opera.ca
Osteoporosis Canada
Ottawa Chamber of Voluntary Organizations
Ottawa Community Foundation
Ovarian Cancer Canada
Parkinson Society of Canada
Philanthropic Foundations Canada
Pillar Nonprofit Network (London)
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg
Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Canada
Sport Matters Group
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation Hamilton
The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory
United Way/Centraide Calgary and Area
United Way/Centraide Canada
United Way/Centraide Lower Mainland
United Way/Centraide Ottawa
United Way/Centraide Winnipeg
University of Western Ontario
Vancouver Foundation
Voluntary Organizations Consortium of British Columbia
Volunteer Alberta
Volunteer Calgary
Volunteer Canada
Volunteer British Columbia
WaterCan/Eau Vive
YMCA Canada
YWCA Canada