Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to have a few minutes to discuss Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day.
I want to congratulate my colleague, the hon. member for Halifax West, the Liberal sponsor of the bill in this House, and himself a supporter of non-profits. He does a lot of work to raise the profile and effectiveness of the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, among other non-profits and charitable organizations.
Also, I would like to mention that Bill S-201 was sponsored in the other place by Liberal Senator Terry Mercer, who throughout his esteemed career has been a tireless advocate for philanthropy and fundraising. He has made a number of attempts to bring this initiative forward in legislation since 2004. I am honoured to assist in the bill's passage through the House. I am optimistic all parties and all members will be showing their support.
This bill designates November 15 in each and every year as National Philanthropy Day. The purpose of the bill is to increase public awareness of National Philanthropy Day as a time to thank those who give throughout the year and to focus public attention on major accomplishments made possible through philanthropic contributions. Key local individuals and corporations would be honoured for their philanthropic endeavours. Local fundraisers and volunteers would be recognized and thanked for their time, talent and dedication.
We are talking about almost half of Canadians, because many people volunteer in their communities. However, over the past 20 years, the percentage of Canadians who make charitable donations has been steadily decreasing and the average donor age has been rising. This is why it is important to raise awareness of this issue. By having a National Philanthropy Day, we shine a light on the importance of giving to charitable organizations, volunteering for them and acting in the public interest. It also reminds people that every dollar and every hour of volunteer time counts.
National Philanthropy Day is about encouraging schools, community groups and individuals to become more aware of the impact of philanthropy and to get involved. It is about encouraging young people to get involved, too. As I said, the average age of donors and volunteers is rising. It celebrates the endless daily contributions that individuals and organizations make to countless causes and missions in Canada and beyond.
This year there were more than 100 National Philanthropy Day events and activities across North America. Over 50,000 people participated. Sixteen Canadian events honoured philanthropists and volunteers in most major Canadian cities. This initiative would add strength to the recognition that is already happening.
On the worrisome side, Canadian giving has dropped for the last three years to about $7.8 billion, which is down from a high of $8.5 billion in 2006, according to Statistics Canada. Even more significant, the percentage of Canadians claiming a charitable deduction dropped from 24% to 23%. We are seeing an erosion of philanthropy, which is worrisome.
I was pleased to hear the hon. member for Peace River speak about his pride in philanthropists and support for the volunteer sector.
I must say that I believe that the actions of the Conservative government, which is attacking non-governmental organizations, are contrary to the thrust of this bill. I would like to put a question to the Conservative member who is proud of the volunteers in his community.
Is the hon. member proud that Conservative ministers are calling philanthropic organizations names? Is he proud that organizations that contribute to sectors right across the spectrum of public interest are being falsely accused of illegal activities like money laundering? Is he proud of the intimidation of the non-profit and charitable sector that is happening through magnification—