I think in a number of crucial measures we have a more generous regime, contribution limits being one. Their contribution limits are a maximum of gifts equal to up to 20% of their annual income, and up to 50%, depending on which charity it goes to. We have up to 100%. So that's significantly more generous. But it speaks to the issue that it's not just a tax expenditure.
If we treat charitable donations as just tax expenditures and don't look at underlying issues of faith, values, social connections--who asks whom.... There's a whole social dynamic around the support of charities that's immensely important, and that's a strong part of the American culture. Strong government influence in the post-war period in Canada has perhaps dampened that a bit here.