Special Senate Committee Update

July 18, 2018

By Jacqueline M. Demczur B.A., LL.B.

In June 2018, the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector (“Committee”) continued its study of the impact of federal and provincial laws and policies on the charitable and nonprofit sector through two meetings with witnesses held on June 4 and 11. The Committee also held an additional in-camera meeting on June 18 to consider a draft agenda for future business.

At the June 4 meeting, witnesses from Service Canada, Statistics Canada, Volunteer Canada, and various academics discussed issues related to volunteering. The witnesses presented findings from several studies and discussed topics including the demographics of volunteers, the development of a youth service program, the evolution of volunteering, and reasons people do or do not volunteer.

At the June 11 meeting, witnesses from various government departments and agencies, such as Global Affairs Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, discussed the contribution of charities and nonprofit organizations to government service delivery and policy consultation. The witnesses provided an overview of various government volunteer programs and other initiatives that engaged the volunteer sector, and discussed methods and issues in funding nonprofits and alignment with the government’s priorities.

(Editor’s Note: AFP is working to appear at a future hearing or meeting of the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector.)

Mrs. Demczur was called to the Ontario Bar in 1999, joined Carters in 2001 and became a partner in 2007.  Her practice is exclusively focused in the areas of charity and not-for-profit law and she has been recognized as a leading expert in charity and not-for-profit law in Canada by Lexpert and "The Best Lawyers in Canada."