Thank you.
Canada's charities and not-for-profit corporations feel increasingly concerned that the federal government doesn't necessarily see the charitable sector as being within its scope or as necessarily federal jurisdiction or high on its policy agenda. I do want to remind the committee members that charities are creatures of the federal government. They are corporations that are given favourable tax benefits to carry out select activities in their communities that are deemed to be charities under the scope of the Income Tax Act.
We would ask that you designate a minister or perhaps a parliamentary secretary or a multi-party task force that would look at modernizing the fiscal framework to assist charities to secure the financing they need to meet the expectations of Canadians. We feel that Senator Marjory LeBreton has done an extraordinary job in developing a strategy around seniors; former Senator Michael Kirby played a similar role in developing a strategy in respect of mental health for Canadians. We would ask that this committee consider the merits of a strategy to improve the fiscal framework governing Canada's charities.
Thank you.