Evidence of meeting #18 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was industry.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you.
Just quickly, Mr. Peacock, I would support further reforms to donation legislation with respect to capital gains exemptions and so forth. One of the things I'd be concerned with if we were to move in this direction--and I think it would also encourage greater donations, aside from tax laws--is if we were to be a little bit clearer as to how money is used by charities: how much for salaries, how much for administration.
Would you support this type of reform in your industry?
12:55 p.m.
President, Association of Fundraising Professionals
In fact, right now the Association of Fundraising Professionals is working on a white paper to create the benchmarking and accountability necessary. I would advocate that you are so on with that comment and floating it, and I would suggest that you continue to clamour, because it's going to be increasingly necessary. There are no problems right now, but if I also may suggest, sir, the complexity of benchmarking and measuring and accountability within the not-for-profit sector is more difficult than in any other sector.
Five million dollars was spent--and I'll be just one second, Mr. Chairman--at the University of Indiana's international centre for philanthropy on this subject over the course of the last four years, and inconclusively--it came to no type of recommendation. It is very complex. That's a whole other story.
1 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
On behalf of our committee members, I want to thank all of you for your presentations today and your participation in the process. You've given us much food for thought, and we appreciate the job you're doing for those of your associates you represent.
There are a couple of things, and then we'll let you go. First of all, with one week of consultations down and five more to go, I hope very much that you like the format we're using this year. It is a little bit different from previous years. With the diversity of witnesses, I think it allows for more interaction and a little more stimulation for all of us.
Secondly, we have slightly increased the number of people on the panel to allow for fewer meetings. Recognizing that all of us have other things we must be doing as well as this committee, we are going to be going with that format of approximately six meetings per week. As you've probably observed, I'm trying to keep them tight to our schedule, beginning on time and ending on time. I know you have other activities you must engage in. If you have any comments or suggestions on other approaches you think we might take, I would gladly take those at an individual time after this meeting.
I also know you appreciate the work our staff does in coordinating this. For example, when we had the vote yesterday, our staff immediately notified each of the witnesses who were scheduled to come later, and coordinated it so you would be able to participate in the panel without having to take a break and then come back, as has happened too often in the past. I know you join with me in thanking our staff very much for the work they do.
1 p.m.
Voices
Hear, hear!
1 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
Finally, I also want to congratulate your staff members. I know they have numerous responsibilities as well.
We have had a full complement of people on this committee at each of these sessions. That is commendable. Many of these people have come great distances, and they have all put tremendous work into their presentations, as we know. It is important that we continue with that solid appearance and participation in our meetings. I thank you for that.
Part two of this is to tell you that the draft is ready for the travel itinerary. I appreciate the fact that 10 of us will be involved. This is strictly the western Canada travel that I'm referring to now. You will have a chance to review it.
I want to point out that I've endeavoured to make sure we land at our venue for the following day early enough in the day that we are able to have dinner and get comfortable in the community. You'll notice on the schedule that the latest we will arrive—and this is of necessity, because we have to take a regularly scheduled flight out of Whitehorse to Vancouver—is approximately 9:30. That is for the Vancouver arrival. However, each subsequent day we will arrive earlier at our venue. So we will arrive before 8 o'clock in Fort McMurray, around 6 o'clock in Saskatoon, and at 5 o'clock in Portage la Prairie. I think this will take into account the natural fatigue that comes with an intense schedule such as we're undertaking.
I would also comment finally on Portage la Prairie. I've asked that the meetings conclude at noon so you are able to connect out and return home for your Thanksgiving weekend. At Portage la Prairie you will be able to get out at noon. There is a small reception planned for you in Portage la Prairie, and half the town will be there. I want to make sure you're aware of that. I welcome you to enjoy the hospitality of my home town.
Mr. Pacetti.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
For Saskatoon, since we have only two groups, why don't we just go from 9 to 12 and have the afternoon off, or go from 10 until 1, instead of breaking for an hour and a half for lunch?
1 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
We will take that under advisement. That's a good suggestion, and it certainly resonates well with us at that stage of the week.
1 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
I also want to mention that your per diem cheques are in the mail. They'll be in your offices on Monday.
If there any other questions, direct them to the clerk's office. If there are any suggestions, I would sincerely appreciate them. Congratulations on the great work you're doing.
We're adjourned.