Overview
A leader in Canada in promoting the role and value of volunteering in creating a civil society, Volunteer Canada is committed to continued dialogue on the issues that affect volunteers and the agencies they support.
As issues arise, we will begin by posting a brief summary of the topic and its relevance to volunteerism and citizen engagement. We welcome you to contribute to the development of these discussions by providing your analysis and feedback on any issue of interest to you.
The Standing Committee on Finance
Ruth MacKenzie, President of Volunteer Canada was invited to appear a witness on June 9th, 2008 to the Standing Committee on Finance as they examined Bill C-219, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act (deduction for volunteer emergency service). |
The Special Senate Committe on Aging
Ottawa - The Special Senate Committee on Aging met Monday, April 28th to examine and report upon the implications of an aging society in Canada. Ruth MacKenzie, President of Volunteer Canada appeared as a witness before Committee to discuss volunteerism and its impact on healthy aging. |
Statements from Members of Parliamant on National Volunteer Week
The federal budget provided some relief for the sector in what wasn't included. Last summer the members of the non-profit sector were advised that Statistics Canada had been chosen as one of 17 agencies and departments required to execute expenditure reviews in order to find savings within their overall budgets. The Canada Survey of Giving Volunteering and Participating was included in that review and, therefore, at risk of being eliminated. |
International Volunteer Day
Ottawa - To commemorate International Volunteer DAY (IVD), Volunteer Canada joined other members of the voluntary sector in supporting the following Motion tabled by Paul Dewar (MP for Ottawa Centre) |
Volunteer Canada reponds to the Speech from the Throne
Ottawa - Volunteer Canada recognizes the contribution that millions of volunteers, who offer their time and expertise across the country, make to our lives; however, the government's second Speech from the Throne failed to mention the essential role that volunteers play in our country and our communities. |
It is predicted that by 2016 there will no longer be sufficient numbers of new workers to replace retirees. Canadian companies will need to redefine their retirement policies if they want to stay on top of this impending labour shortage. This trend in population age will also affect the workplace in the areas of labour law, employee relations, as well as volunteer recruitment and retention. |
The Economic Value of Volunteering
Increasingly, voluntary organizations are being asked to express the contribution of their volunteers in dollars-and-cents. For the voluntary sector to respond to this growing demand and begin to evaluate the involvement of individuals who engage in volunteer work through a monetary lens, some serious questions must be addressed. |
