Date

 

The Honourable Jim Prentice, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Industry

C.D. Howe Building

235 Queen Street

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5

 

 

Re: Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participation (CSGVP) and the Satellite Account

Dear Minister Prentice,

[Introduce your Centre]

 

The reason we write to you today is to urge you to consider the vital importance of maintaining the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) and the associated Satellite account within Statistics Canada.

 

Volunteerism is at the heart of our Canadian communities and the active engagement of individual citizens is essential in accomplishing the goals of your Government. Canada continues to be a nation of compassionate, caring and generous people - virtually every Canadian (96%) engages in at least one form of social support (i.e., giving, volunteering, direct helping, participating as a member in an organization).

 

However, we are witnessing a shift in volunteering in Canada. The alarming fact is that a relatively small number of Canadians (11%) is responsible for the vast majority of all volunteer work (77%). The ‘civic core’ of volunteers who are deeply committed to the volunteer work that they perform and who contribute the vast majority of volunteer hours is shrinking in numbers. As they age, they are replaced by a new set of volunteers who, although larger in numbers, are not willing to volunteer in a similar capacity. They are much less likely to commit to volunteering long-term with one organization. Volunteer Centres are positioned in the communities they serve and are able to respond to these changes in our demographics.

 

It is critical that the voluntary sector continue to have access to the research and data collected by Statistics Canada through the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. The 2004 CSGVP was the largest study ever undertaken that provides information on how Canadians support each other and their communities by donating money and in-kind gifts to charitable and non-profit organizations; volunteering their time and providing direct help to others; and participating in organizations through membership. This information provides the non-profit sector the tools and information necessary to respond to changes in how Canadians volunteer in order to ensure volunteerism remains healthy and strong well into the future. 

 

Industry Canada has accountability for the CSGVP carried out by Statistics Canada. Volunteer Centres across the country believe that it is imperative that the federal government continue to fund a permanent survey program on charitable giving, volunteering and participating within Statistics Canada.  

 

Industry Canada's mandate includes three strategic objectives — a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace; an innovative economy; and competitive industry and sustainable communities. Since virtually every aspect of Canadian society is dependent on volunteerism - over 12 million Canadians contribute the equivalent of $14 billion in services and programs to our society and economy; and Canada boasts over 161,000 charitable and non-profit organizations - one would be hard pressed to identify an activity that more accurately represents a core Canadian value and more directly promotes sustainable communities than volunteering.

 

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to provide you with further rationale for why the Survey should continue to be supported and carried out through Statistics Canada. A meeting can be arranged at your convenience. I look forward to your response to this urgent matter.

 

Sincerely,

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Organization

c.c.: Local Members of Parliament