Crohn’s and Colitis Canada has joined 170 of Canada’s leading charities to call on the Federal Government for emergency support to face the COVID-19 crisis. Here’s our letter to the Prime Minster:
Emergency Coalition of Canadian Charities
Tel: 416-971-7474 / 416-994-4426 (c/o War Child Canada)
March 25, 2020
DELIVERED BY EMAIL
Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, PC, MP Prime Minister of Canada
Hon. Chrystia Freeland, PC, MP Deputy Prime Minister
Hon. Navdeep Bains, PC, MP Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, PC, MP President of the Treasury Board
Hon. Diane Lebouthillier, PC, MP Minister of National Revenue
Hon. Bill Morneau, PC, MP Minister of Finance
Hon. Carla Qualtrough, PC, MP Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Dear Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Ministers:
As a coalition of over 150 leaders from Canadian charities, we are writing to request urgent financial aid and federal action to prevent our organizations from suffering irreparable damage amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when more and more Canadians and vulnerable families throughout the world will be in desperate need of our services.
Canada’s charities are a vital part of the Canadian economy, contributing more than eight percent of Canada’s GDP ($162 billion in 2017) and employing more than ten percent (1.4 million) of working Canadians. But our work is best evident in what we do in our communities and to support the most vulnerable at home and abroad. During the COVID-19 crisis, we will be on the frontlines providing shelter and food for the homeless, protecting seniors and youth, helping women fleeing violence, supporting healthcare and mental health, strengthening education and the environment, and helping vulnerable children and families at home and around the world. Our work will be critical to maintaining the social cohesion necessary for the fight against COVID-19 and the survival and recovery of Canadians and communities everywhere as we confront this enormous crisis together.
The COVID-19 crisis and the resulting economic fallout is threatening to quickly destroy Canada’s charitable sector. Without immediate support from the Government of Canada, most Canadian charities will be forced to lay off substantial numbers of employees, will no longer be able to support vulnerable people and communities, and many will face a significant likelihood of total and permanent closure.
Charities are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis because our organizations rely on a steady stream of donations, business support and government investments to survive. All of these revenue sources have been disrupted and are under threat. To appeal to donors, meet the demands of regulators and best serve our beneficiaries, our charities are low-overhead and operate on razor-thin margins. To sustain trust in our operations, we do not carry large financial savings, investments, or credit sources. We are defenseless against COVID-19’s disruption with very few tools to overcome its impact.
Without immediate intervention to save Canada’s charitable sector, Canadians will not only lose a major source of employment and economic activity, they will also lose their most active community partners - partners who are well positioned to respond to, manage, and help aid the recovery from this crisis at home and abroad. Without the presence of charities supporting Canada and the world’s recovery, more and more vulnerable members of our society and world will be at risk, which in turn will worsen and deepen the impact of COVID-19 for all Canadians.
We appreciate the extraordinary efforts of the Government of Canada so far to address this crisis. However, these measures are not focussed on Canada’s charities and are not enough to sustain our existence. Given the severity of the situation facing Canada’s charities, we are calling on the Government to take the following emergency actions, in line with proposals under consideration in the United States, Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom:
- The immediate establishment of an emergency stabilization fund that will allow charities to stay afloat, pay staff, cover critical expenses, and continue essential, frontline operations during the pandemic. Given our sector’s significant employment numbers and GDP contributions, we estimate that this fund will need to be at least $10 billion to be effective – a total that is proportional to the size and impact of the sector.
- Provide financial support through and guarantees to Canada’s banks to ensure that charitable organizations have easy access to urgent, substantial short term low or no-interest loans to support their operations. This partnership should encourage the rapid distribution of these funds.
- Enhance the Charitable Donation Tax Credit through to the end of 2021 from 50% to 75% (in line with the rate that is provided for political donations) to encourage Canadians to donate.
- Continue to flow already-contracted funds to charities and allow for maximum flexibility and re-budgeting as charities struggle to deliver and/or redesign their programs in the wake of COVID-19. In other words, do not delay or cancel payment on grants as charities work furiously to assess how they can and should program to keep their stakeholders safe.
- Ensure that charities have access to the same recovery programs that businesses do at every step.
We also support the ongoing efforts and recommendations put forward by Imagine Canada to the Government of Canada.
We believe that a virtual meeting with you or your designates would be essential to pushing forward a plan for Canada’s charities.
We understand that all sectors are struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are difficult, frightening and uncertain days for everyone. We thank you for all that you are doing. Nevertheless, the charitable sector is uniquely vulnerable and our collapse would threaten millions of children, women and families in Canada and around the world who rely on our ongoing operations.
Please help us be there for those who need us most, now more than ever.
With thanks,
The Undersigned Leaders of over 150 Canadian Charities
ABC Head Start Society
Walter Lidster, Executive Director
Action Against Hunger
Danny Glenwright, Executive Director
Acts for Water
Jeff Golby, CEO
ADRA Canada
Steve Matthews, Executive Director
AIDS-Free-World
Paula Donovan, Co-Founder and Co-Director
Alberta Council for Environmental Education
Gareth Thomson, Executive Director
Alzheimer Society of Canada
Stephen McCullough, Executive Director
Amnesty International Canada (English Branch)
Alex Neve, Secretary General
Amref Health Africa Canada
Onome Ako, Executive Director
Artbound
Amanda Alvaro, Co-Founder and President, Pomp & Circumstance
Arts on the Ave Edmonton
Christy Morin, Executive director
Asian Outreach International (Canada)
Noel Hutchinson, Executive Director
Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto
Caroline Riseboro, President
Big Brothers Big Sisters
W. Matthew Chater, National President and CEO
Breast Cancer Society of Canada
Kimberly Carson, CEO
Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium
Alex Robertson, CEO
Canadian Baptist Ministries
Rev. Dr. Terry Smith, Executive Director
Canadian Cancer Society
Andrea Seale, CEO
Canadian Christian Relief and Development Association
Laura Solberg, Executive Director
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Michael Bryant, Executive Director
Canadian Council for International Co-operation
Nicolas Moyer, President and CEO
Canadian Feed The Children
Jacquelyn Wright, President and CEO
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Jim Cornelius, Executive Director
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Richard Elliot, Executive Director
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Kathy Majowski, Board Chair
CARE Canada
Mara O'Brien, President and CEO
Catalyst Canada
Tanya van Biesen, Executive Director, Canada
CAUSE Canada
Wendy Fehr, Executive Director
Centre for International Studies and Cooperation
Claudia Black, Executive Director
CESO (Canadian Executive Service Organization)
Wendy Harris, President and CEO
ChildCare International
Jose Prem, Executive Director
Children Believe
Dave Wilson, Interim CEO
Christian Horizons
Mark Wallace, Executive Director
Christian Horizons Global
Mark Wallace, Executive Director
Citizens for Public Justice
Willard Metzger, Executive Director
Community Food Centres Canada
Nick Saul, CEO
Compassion Canada
Allison Alley, President and CEO
Covenant House Toronto
Mark Aston, Executive Director
Crohn's and Colitis Canada
Mina Mawani, President and CEO
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
David W Shelley, Director of Relief and Development
Crossroads International
Heather Shapter, Executive Director
David Suzuki Foundation
Stephen Cornish, CEO
Diabetes Canada
Russell Williams, Acting President
Easter Seals
Dave Starrett, President and CEO
Ecojustice
Devon Page, Executive Director
eMi Canada
Greg Young, Executive Director
Emmanuel International Canada
Richard McGowan, Executive Director
Engineers Without Borders
Boris Martin, PhD, CEO
ENvironnement JEUnesse
Catherine Gauthier, Directrice générale
Evergreen
Geoff Cape, Founder and CEO
Farm Radio International
Kevin Perkins, Executive Director
Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie
Marie-Pierre Nogarède, Directrice générale adjointe
Foundation for Environmental Stewardship
Steve Lee, Founder and President
Friends of the Earth
Beatrice Olivastri, CEO
Gastrointestinal Society
Gail Attara, President & CEO
Gather Women
Cathie Ostapchuk, Co-Founder and Lead Catalyst
Global Vision/Vision Internationale
Amy Giroux, Executive Director
Haiti ARISE Ministries Society.
Marc & Lisa Honorat, Co-founders & International Directors
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Geoff Craig, Chief Marketing & Development Officer
Hopethiopia
Dr. Ralph Dubienski, Co-founder and President
House of Compassion
Neil Hetherington, CEO
Humanity and Inclusion Canada (Handicap International)
Jérôme Bobin, Executive Director
Indspire
Roberta L. Jamieson, President and CEO
Institute for Canadian Citizenship
Yasir Naqvi, CEO
International Bureau for Children’s Rights
Guillaume Landry, Director General
International Development and Relief Foundation
Mahmood Qasim, CEO
International Justice Mission Canada
Anu George Canjanathoppil, Executive Director
Intriciti
Alana Walker Carpenter, CEO
Islamic Relief Canada
Zaid Al-Rawni, CEO
iTeams Canada
Neil Ostrander, CEO
JA Canada
Scott Hillier, President and CEO
JA Central Ontario
Jane Eisbrenner, President & CEO
JA Northern Alberta & NWT
Jennifer Martin, President and CEO
JA Nova Scotia
Kristin S. Williams, President and CEO
JA Peterborough Lakeland Muskoka
John McNutt, President and CEO
JA South Western Ontario
Denise Pelley, President and CEO
Jack.org
Eric Windeler, Founder & Executive Director
Journalists for Human Rights
Rachel Pulfer, Executive Director
KAIROS
Jennifer Henry, Executive Director
Kids Help Phone
Kathy Hay, President & CEO
Lady Ballers Camp
Toyo Ajibolade, Executive Director
Look Good Feel Better
Dee Diaz, President & Chief Executive Officer
Lymphoma Canada
Antonella Rizza, CEO
MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Andrew Murie, CEO
Make Music Matter
Darcy Ataman, Founder and CEO
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation
Suzette Strong, CEO
Meal Exchange
Farheen Khan, Interim Executive Director
Médecins du Monde Canada
Nadja Pollaert, Executive Director
Melanoma Network of Canada
Falyn Katz, Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee
Rick Cober Bauman, Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee British Columbia
Wayne Bremner, Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee Ontario
John L. Head, Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan
Eileen Klassen Hamm, Executive Director
Mission Inclusion
Richard Veenstra, Executive Director
Missionary Ventures Canada
Brad Wilson, President and Executive Director
MLSE LaunchPad
Tanya Mruck, Executive Director
MusiCounts
Kristy Fletcher, Executive Director
North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation
Tammy Morison, President and CEO
Norwest Co-op Community Food Centre
Lila Knox, Manager
ONE
Stuart Hickox, Canada Director
Opportunity International Canada
Dan Murray, CEO
Ottawa Network for Education
Heather Norris, President and CEO
Pamela Valentine
MS Society of Canada, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pancreatic Cancer Canada
Michelle Capobianco, CEO
Parachute
Pamela Fuselli, President and CEO
Partners In Health Canada
Mark Brender, National Director
Partners Relief & Development Canada
Greg Toews, National Director
Peacebuilders International (Canada)
Eva E. Marszewski, O.Ont., L.S.M., Founder and CEO
PLAN International Canada
Dr. Tanjina Mirza, Interim Co-CEO/Chief Programs Officer
Plateau Perspectives Canada
Peter M Foggin, Secretary
PLUS1
Marika Anthony-Shaw, Co-Founder and CEO
Primate's World Relief and Development Fund
Will Postma, Executive Director
Prison Fellowship Canada
Stacey Campbell, CEO
Right to Play
Kevin Frey, CEO
Save the Children
Bill Chambers, President and CEO
Scleroderma Association of B.C.
Rosanne Queen, President
SIM Canada
John Denbok, Executive Director
Small Change Fund
Burkhard Mausberg, CEO
Southlake Foundation
Susan Mullin, CEO
Stephen Lewis Foundation
Meg French, Executive Director
Swim Drink Fish CANADA
Mark Mattson, President
The Boundless School
Steven Gottlieb, Executive Director
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Cathy Ammendolea, CBCN's Board Chair
The Daily Bread Food Bank
Neil Hetherington, CEO
The International Development and Relief Foundation
Mahmood Qasim, CEO
The Learning Partnership
Debra D. Kerby, MSc MBA, President and CEO
The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative
Dr. Shelly Whitman, Executive Director
The Walrus Foundation
Shelley Ambrose, Executive Director
Toronto Humane Society
Jacques Messier, CEO
Trillium Health Partners
Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Adam Minsky, President and CEO
UNICEF Canada
David Morley, President and CEO
United Way Centraide Canada
Dan Clement, President and CEO
Up With Women
Lia Grimanis, CEO
Urban Promise
Shawn James, Executive Director
Veterinarians Without Borders
Monique Charron, Executive Director
War Child Canada
Dr. Samantha Nutt, Founder and President
We Charity
Dalal Al-Waheidi, Executive Director
Wellspring Foundation for Education
Andy Harrington, CEO
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
Beth Clarke, Executive Director
Women's Shelters Canada
Lise Martin, Executive Director
World Hope International (Canada) Inc.
Tanya Nace, Executive Director
World Renew
Ida Kaastra-Mutoigo, Executive Director
World University Service of Canada (WUSC)
Chris Eaton, Executive Director
World Vision
Michael Messenger, President and CEO
YMCA Canada
Peter Dinsdale, President ane CEO
YMCA Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford
Jim Commerford, President and CEO
YMCA of Greater Toronto
Medhat Mahdy, President and CEO
YMCA Ontario
Medhat Mahdy, President
Yonge Street Mission
Angie Peters, President and CEO
Young Adult Cancer Canada
Geoff Eaton, Founder and Executive Director
Youth Challenge International
Bryan Cox, Executive Director
cc:
Ian Shugart, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
Graham Flack, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development
Bob Hamilton, Commissioner of the CRA
Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Paul Rochon, Deputy Minister of Finance
Peter Wallace, Secretary of the Treasury Board