Finance committee  Over the past few years, we have done a lot to help philanthropists in Canada give more and this has had significant consequences.

Finance committee  We think it is an innovative measure. It's never been tried before and it's never been tried elsewhere. It is very much about trying to change behaviour. We feel, for example, that if you were simply to increase the tax credit, it would cost government more money and you wouldn't see any more given, most probably.

Finance committee  Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Imagine Canada is a national umbrella organization for Canadian charities and non-profits. These organizations work in every community across Canada, and in countries around the world, to help address some of today's most intractable social, economic, environmental and cultural challenges.

Finance committee  For our last two recommendations, there are no costs, which makes them easier. In terms of the stretch tax credit, it is experimental, so it's hard to give you a precise number. We need numbers from Finance. But even if we were to be very ambitious about it and were looking, for example, at an increase of $200 million in the first year, moving to half a million in terms of donations, that would be a $20 million cost to government in the first year, building to $50 million in the third year.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. McCallum. Certainly Don Johnson has been a huge champion for this sector. Of course, on the giving end, the capital gains work that he's done over the years has been extremely important. I also believe that what he's putting forward is important. I guess the position we're taking at this point is that if we step back and look at what has been done over the last years, quite a bit has been done to help Canadians give more through assets.

Finance committee  Sorry, in terms of...?

Finance committee  It's hard to compare those numbers. I think the difference on the ground would be that a lot of these dollars through the stretch tax credit would go to a lot of the smaller charities or a lot of the more rural charities that haven't necessarily benefited from the asset side of things.

Finance committee  Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Imagine Canada is a national umbrella organization that speaks in concert with more than 1,300 charities and non-profits working in every community across the country and around the globe. Our members provide social and community services through organizations such as local boys and girls clubs, United Ways, YMCAs, and YWCAs, as well as health charities such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Kidney Foundation.