The sector responded with a vigorous campaign to convince Industry Minister Jim Prentice of the Surveys’ importance to the 161,000 charities and non-profit organizations in Canada who depend on the critical economic data to support their core fundraising, volunteer engagement and community service activities. We asked that funding be maintained to support the Survey and that the data collection continue to be led by StatsCan.

 

In meeting with Minister Prentice’s office, Volunteer Canada also emphasized the importance of the Survey and its data to the sector. We stressed that Stats Can is recognized as a world leader in data collection and it is critical that the non-profit sector have access to data that is credible. The importance of having longitudinal data was also noted as crucial to ensuring that key trends and patterns which allow the sector to carry out and raise funds for its important work can continue to be identified.

 

The Minister’s office listened to us – to all of us, as the voice of the sector. There is no doubt that the intervention of individuals and organizations across the country had an impact for the defense of the Survey. It was noted by the Minister’s office that the attention on CSGVP brought to bear by the sector had given the Minster the necessary arguments for defending the status quo.

 

Thank you to all of you who took the time out of your busy schedules to write or contact the Minister to urge him to keep the Survey within Statistics Canada. And thank you to the Minster for standing up for the sector by protecting the Survey.