On Parliament Hill

Statistics Canada has released data from the 2015 tax year and once again, residents of southeastern Manitoba continue to make charitable donations at record levels.

In 2015, the median donation across Canada was $300, while in Manitoba that number rose to $420. But, when we dig deeper into those numbers, we see how residents of Provencher have really lived up to their reputation as being among the most generous in the country.

When it comes to charitable donations, Blumenort holds the title once again for being the most generous community in southeastern Manitoba with a staggering median donation of $3,740 – twelve times the national average! Following Blumenort was Landmark at $2,490, Kleefeld $2,260, Steinbach $1,900, New Bothwell $1,500, Grunthal $1,400, Niverville $1,320, Ste.Anne $590, St-Pierre-Jolys $550, La Broquerie $500, St.Malo $390 and Lorette at $350.

However, the news is not all good for charities. The latest numbers confirm what many in the charitable sector already know – the number of charitable donors across Canada continues on a long term decline.

Only 21% of Canadians claimed charitable donations on their tax return in 2015. This number is down from a high of 29.5% in 1990. What does that mean? Simply put, while overall charitable giving is slowly increasing in total dollars donated, it is coming from an ever-shrinking donor base.

This is the reason why last year I introduced my Private Members bill – The Fairness in Charitable Gifts Act.

Every single day and night across Canada, charities provide food for the hungry, beds for the homeless and hope to the sick. Charities advance scientific and medical research, promote education and care for our environment.

Many people don’t realize that federal tax credits for political contributions far exceed the federal tax credits for donations to registered charities in Canada. My Private Members bill would have allowed registered charities to provide their donors with the same generous donation receipts that politicians can now issue.

I believe these changes would have provided a very powerful incentive for Canadians to increase their charitable giving. It would have encouraged donations from the largest segments of the population – those who currently donate under $400 per year as well as those who currently do not donate at all. Charities across Canada would have benefited greatly as more dollars would have been freed up for donations.

Conservative Members of Parliament overwhelmingly supported my bill. Unfortunately, the large number of Liberal, NDP and Bloc MPs who voted against the bill ensured its demise.

But these new numbers from Statistics Canada once again confirm that charitable giving is alive and well in southeastern Manitoba. As the Member of Parliament for Provencher, I am so very proud to see the generosity of my constituents once again shine through. It is such an incredible honour to represent you in Ottawa.