Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his comments on the question of charitable organizations. I have heard the member make presentations in committee and elsewhere about his desire for accountability in charitable organizations. I know he would agree with me that the huge majority of charitable organizations run a clean ship with good operations, that they keep the books well and are accountable, sometimes within their own organizations, for the money they raise and how they spend it.
I agree with the member. He has brought forward a bill on charitable organizations that specifically asks for the salaries and benefits paid to the public officers of those companies to be made public and to be available to people who are perusing charitable organizations in order to ensure they are accountable. I support him in that and other measures that will allow charitable organizations to prove their worth.
If we are going to expect more from charitable organizations as far as filling the gap left by government services, then I think it only right that we expect accountability. In essence these are our tax dollars, deferred dollars that are given out in that manner. I do not think most charitable organizations are going to be too nervous. It is the ones that are sweating too heavily about not wanting to share what they get paid that need to be careful not to destroy the goodwill they are trying to build.
I would urge him to continue that fight. I hope we can find a way to make charitable organizations accountable while maintaining the privacy they deserve, making sure they will not be targeted in some way.
He has some good ideas and I support him in his efforts.