Press Release: Senate Bill Will Address the Governance Data Gap in the Charitable Sector
Senator Ratna Omidvar, spoke to her groundbreaking bill, S-279, which is aimed at enhancing transparency and inclusivity within the charitable sector. The proposed legislation will ensure the annual collection and public dissemination of disaggregated diversity data on the governance of charities. It would provide tangible evidence for evaluating progress in diversity governance, therefore allowing both the nation and the sector to assess and address any disparities.
“The charitable sector, which contributes 8.2% to Canada’s GDP and employs nearly 2.5 million people, plays a vital role in addressing diverse aspects of Canadian life, ranging from culture, the environment, health, poverty and religion,” said Senator Omidvar. “However, the sector faces a challenge – a dearth of consistent data collection on their governance, hindering the ability to make informed decisions and shape effective policies.”
Bill S-279 seeks to provide legislative authority within the Income Tax Act to collect diversity data by offering a systematic and sustainable solution to the governance data deficiency. It originates from the eighth recommendation outlined in the report of the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector, titled “Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector.” It also draws on the success of similar reporting requirements in the corporate sector.
“We don’t really know who makes up the various board rooms of charities across the country,” said Senator Omidvar. “In 2020, Statistics Canada undertook a voluntary crowd sourced survey which revealed good representation of women on boards, but indicated underrepresentation of individuals from racialized backgrounds, immigrants, Indigenous people, and those with disabilities. However, that survey was a one off and completely voluntary. We need regular data to track progress over time. Furthermore, taking a lesson from employment equity policies, I believe it is time for governance equity. We already have the fundamentals in place for federally regulated businesses and it is time to set these fundamentals in place for federally regulated charities.”
In urging support for the bill, Senator Omidvar underscored the importance of listening to the voices of Indigenous peoples, marginalized communities, and racialized groups within the decision-making rooms of charitable organizations. The time is now for governance equity within the sector and this bill offers a straightforward yet comprehensive approach to addressing such shortcomings.
Bill S-279, visit: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-279/first-reading
Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector – Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector, visit: https://sencanada.ca/en/info-page/parl-42-1/cssb-catalyst-for-change/
Statistics Canada survey, visit: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210211/dq210211a-eng.htm
For more information visit or contact:
Paul Faucette
Director of Parliamentary Affairs, The Honourable Ratna Omidvar
paul.faucette (@) sen.parl.gc.ca or 613-762-2887