The Honourable William Francis Morneau
Department of Finance Canada
90 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5
Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2020

Subject: Make the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Immediately Available to All Charities and Community Not-for-Profits

I am writing this on behalf of Vantage Point, a BC-based charity which works to support other not-for-profits throughout the province. We request the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy be made immediately available to all charities and not-for-profits, rather than requiring not-for-profits prove a 30% revenue loss to be eligible.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) put forward an open call with this ask and over 300 organizations have endorsed it. There has been an article by Ms. Daub and myself in the recent Hill Times article articulating the unique position of the Canadian not-for-profit sector in this crisis.

While a flexible approach to the test announced this week is a welcome amendment to the original proposal, we want to take the time to encourage you to consider pushing this further. Not-for-profits and charities have multiple revenue streams coming in at different times during the year with very tight margins in our effort to ensure a balanced budget. Not-for-profits may see a financial impact through canceled annual events and campaigns, reduced donations, reduced business sponsorships over time, and reduced funding capacity from funders amongst others.

Charities and not-for-profits form a vital part of our social fabric and are seeing an unprecedented increase in demand for their services in this time of crisis. After years of dwindling funding sources and limited alternatives for revenue generation, few sector organizations have cash reserves on which they can draw during a crisis of this magnitude. Please ensure not-for-profits can continue serving communities across Canada by guaranteeing this wage subsidy.

At this time, Canada cannot afford to see the charitable and not-for-profit sector thrown into further crisis. Please show your support for this essential sector and ensure not-for-profits and charitable organizations are immediately eligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Sincerely,

Alison Brewin
Executive Director
Vantage Point