Proceedings of the Special Senate Committee on the
Charitable Sector

Issue No. 14 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 8, 2019

OTTAWA, Monday, April 8, 2019
(25)

The Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector met this day at 11:08 a.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington Street, the chair, the Honourable Terry M. Mercer, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Black (Ontario), Doyle, Duffy, Mercer and Omidvar (5).

In attendance: Havi Echenberg and Nicole Sweeney, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament, and Ben Silverman, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, the committee continued its study on the impact of federal and provincial laws and policies governing charities, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and other similar groups; and to examine the impact of the voluntary sector in Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

WITNESSES:

Board Voice Society of BC:

Terry Anne Boyles, Co-Chair.

Réseau de l'action bénévole du Québec:

Marilyne Fournier, Director General;

Irène Langlais, Volunteer, Canadian Red Cross.

Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing - National Capital Division:

Jeff Boucher, Coordinator, Canadian Adaptive Snowsports, CADS-NCD Edelweiss.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada:

W. Matthew Chater, National President and Chief Executive Officer;

Karine Pomilia Gauthier, National Youth Mentoring Advisory Council Member.

Ottawa Food Bank:

Michael Maidment, Chief Executive Officer.

Héma-Québec:

Sylvie Allard, Vice-President, Customer Experience;

Miville Mercier, President of the Provincial Association of Blood Donation Volunteers.

Drache Aptowitzer LLP:

Adam Aptowitzer, Lawyer, Charities and Not-for-Profits;

Karen Cooper, Legal Counsel.

Oyler Consulting:

David Oyler.

As individuals:

Susan Manwaring, Partner and Leader, Social Impact Group, Miller Thomson LLP;

Adam Parachin, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University;

Kayla Smith, Student, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor.

Muttart Foundation:

Bob Wyatt, Executive Director.

Philanthropic Foundations Canada:

Hilary Pearson, President.

Volunteer Canada:

Paula Speevak, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Community Foundations of Canada:

Andrew Chunilall, Chief Executive Officer.

Association of Fundraising Professionals:

Andrea McManus.

Imagine Canada:

Bruce MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer.

United Way Canada:

Dan Clement, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Boyles, Ms. Fournier, Ms. Langlais, Mr. Boucher, Mr. Chater, Ms. Gauthier, Mr. Maidment, Ms. Allard and Mr. Mercier answered questions.

At 12:27 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:37 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Aptowitzer, Mr. Oyler, Ms. Cooper, Ms. Manwaring and Mr. Parachin answered questions.

At 3:29 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:38 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Wyatt, Ms. Pearson, Ms. Speevak, Mr. Chunilall, Ms. McManus, Ms. Smith, Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Clement answered questions.

At 5:27 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman
Clerk of the Committee