Honourable senators, I rise today to mark National Philanthropy Day.

We set aside November 15 to celebrate this day that seeks to recognize the spirit of giving without expectation of reward, something that is an integral part of who Canadians are.

Thanks to the determination of Senator Mercer and his Bill S-201, we have been celebrating this day since 2012.

In his second-reading speech, Senator Mercer invited everyone to come together to support his bill and said:

In doing so, we will be saying thank you to our neighbours, our friends and the thousands of strangers who work hard every day to make life better for someone they have not even met.

That, in essence, is the epitome of philanthropy: people helping strangers without any expectation of reward or recognition, people being good. And there is a lot of goodness in Canada, but more troubling still is that there are a lot of people in need of goodness, empathy and support.

According to Imagine Canada, the charitable sector contributes $192 billion in economic activity to Canada annually. The sector employs 2.4 million people, but even more impressive is that 13 million Canadians volunteer nearly 2 billion hours per year to worthy causes.

Honourable colleagues, charities are increasingly relied upon in doing some of the work governments are simply unable to fulfill. They need our support, but I am worried the government may soon be legislating changes to the alternative minimum tax that could hinder the sector. The changes may have unintended consequences and may discourage Canadians from donating, which could result in a drop in charitable revenues.

In 2022, for example, 30% of donations to the charitable sector came from higher-income households. This could have a huge impact on the sector and negatively affect those who benefit from philanthropic donations. These facts should be carefully considered.

Honourable senators, philanthropy helps build strong communities and active civic participation by bringing people together to serve a common goal. Canadians deserve a fair shot at living a life of dignity and quality, which is why it is important to celebrate National Philanthropy Day and honour Canada’s spirit of giving.

Thank you.