Policy priority: Home in Government

Charities and nonprofits have no federal entity responsible for the sector’s wellbeing or addressing systemic issues that impact it, despite being one of the three pillars of the Canadian economy.

• The charitable and nonprofit sector contributes 8.4% to GDP - more than the fisheries sector (1.65%) or agriculture (6.7%). However, our sector is the only one of the three that does not have a home in government. 
• Due to the lack of a home in government, nonprofits may be excluded from Government programs that could benefit them, such as programs that encourage innovation or environmentally-friendly business practices.
• In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of a home in government for our sector means that there is no unified policy response. Instead, we have to fight for inclusion in each individual relief measure or program. 

We recommend that the federal government strengthen its relationship with the nonprofit sector by: 

1. Ensuring nonprofit sector representation on relevant federal advisory bodies, including those focused on economic growth, workforce development, digital transformation, and regulatory modernization.

2. Meaningfully engaging with the nonprofit sector and relevant actors on the consultation to modernize the framework for the charitable sector

3. Engaging the nonprofit sector in the renewal of the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector to ensure it can continue to provide effective, ongoing advice.

• In Quebec, the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity has a mandate to foster community action and volunteerism, guided by a government policy on community action. The policy aims to promote and foster community action; to promote and foster the work of community organizations; to consolidate policies related to community action across the government to ensure consistency; and to recognize and support volunteerism in community organizations. 
• The provincial government in British Columbia includes a Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits. The Parliamentary Secretary is tasked with “work[ing] to support and engage charitable organizations and the nonprofit sector by acting as their advocate and key point of contact within government.”
• The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is the country’s regulator of charities, but also has a role in promoting the sector. The ACNC was established to maintain, protect and enhance public trust and confidence in the Australian not-for-profit sector; support and sustain a robust, vibrant, independent and innovative not-for-profit sector; and promote the reduction of unnecessary regulatory obligations on the sector. Australia’s Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury is responsible for the ACNC.

(Imagine Canada, 2026)

(Imagine Canada, 2025)

(Imagine Canada, 2023)

(Imagine Canada, 2023)

(Imagine Canada, 2023)

(Imagine Canada, 2022)

Chronicle Herald, 2021

(Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, 2021) recommendation 3.

(Imagine Canada, 2019)

(Imagine Canada, 2019)

(Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector, 2019) - recommendations 20, 21 and 22.