Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, witnesses.
I have some questions in relation to Gift Aid. I'm using that in context out of the U.K. I know that originally when that was started in 1990, they required it to be a gift in cash of more than £600. My understanding is that in essence it adds approximately 25% to the value of the gift to the charity and gives a refund of 25% to the giver. They've changed that policy dramatically since its introduction in relation to the minimums, etc.
I do agree with you. My understanding is that there was a report by the National Post or The Globe and Mail four months ago to the effect that conservative Protestants give more. I was quite surprised by that report. The people who do give are usually making substantial incomes of over $1 million, and they give tremendous amounts of money. I know some people who do that kind of thing; they usually give about 10% of their income because of religious and other views, but they usually give it to non-religious organizations in developing worlds.
I'm wondering if you would recommend an encouragement to give more through an escalating percentage based on a certain amount given, such as $10,000 per year, but escalating over time. Most of the people I know who give these amounts.... I'm from Fort McMurray, and I know that the United Way gets more per capita from Fort McMurray than from anywhere else across the country. Many charities tell me that we give more than anywhere else.
It would be an escalating value over time, and it would identify blue-ribbon charities, which are charities that specifically have low delivery and administration costs. That's what I hear most from people: that they want those kinds of things and that they want more money getting to the end people in need. Would you encourage something like that through an escalating value? Would you encourage a particular set of charities receiving a designation by the government based on certain criteria?