Without the work of charities and nonprofits, Canada may well lack many laws we take for granted — such as drunk driving legislation, smoke-free workplaces and the measures that eliminated acid rain.
With an estimated 170,000 non-profits and charities in Canada, relatively speaking our country’s charitable and non-profit sector is the second largest in the world. The sector generates $176 billion in income, employs two million people and accounts for more than eight per cent of Canada’s GDP.
Yet many Canadians are unaware of the way the sector impacts their daily lives. This series will examine the role of Canada’s civil society, from the important expertise these groups bring to public policy debates to the gaps they are filling to help re-invigorate democracy.
With audits of environmental charities grabbing headlines, we will also look at how the law under which charities and nonprofits operate has evolved over time and how Canada’s charitable regulation compares to other jurisdictions.
This series was made possible through the generous support of Leonard Schein, the founder of the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Image Credit: Jim Trodel via Flickr
