40 — Sunday, December 6, 1998 - North Shore News - Canada needs me dason Clemens and Johanna Francis Fraser Institute Columnists A recent report on Ca:iada’s non-profit sector, “Helping Canadians Help Canadians,” suggests Canadian charities need more regulation to make them accountable to the public. While the report initiates an open discussion — some- thing sorely needed in the largely unknown charitable sector — its premise that regulation is the best way to secure the public trust seems to be based on the political philosophy of the report's principal author, former fed- eral NDP leader Ed Broadbent. Broadbent's conclusion fails to consider the large burden already placed on charities by Revenue Canada regulations. If the goal is to promote the activities of charities with the greatest amount of trans- pareney and the least amount of interference, the notion that further rezulato- ry requirements somchow foster public trust is short- sighted at best. The report does raise important questions and offer viable solutions. tts lack of empirical data to support these recommen- dations, however, highlights one of the largest obstacles talle sector. ‘The scarcity of reliably, rigorously anaiveed pub: lished data, like that which evists for all other sectors of Canada’s ccanomry, isa s ous drawback. Revenue Canada is cur: ready the only collector of comprebensive data on char: ities through its charity tax returns. Yo correct this probleni, the report proposes several solutions, which advocate either setting up a parallel government institution to monitor and record charity data or expanding Revenue Canada’s mandate to collect statistics. There are two difficulties. First, in order for statistics to be scientifically reliable and unbiased, there needs to be a separation berween regula- tion or policing tasks and dara collection. This automatically removes Revenue Canada as an option. Second, in Canada we already have a highly regard- ed statistical agency, Statistics Canada, w hich col- of the ccononty, It would seem prudent to expand Scaustics Canada’s purview to collect data on the chari- table sector, Contrary to the impres- sion given by the repart, there are alternatives to fue: ther regulation. One option is the development Gf com: peting, self-accrediting orga nizations, similar to the United Wav. These intermediate bod- ies act as central agencies for collecting and distributing tunds to their member chari- tes, Ry setting internal accreditation standards and policing their member agen- cles, these intermediary bod- ies reduce information and search costs for consumers who wish to make informed choices for their donation dollars. This type of voluntary re char accreditation svsiem not only increases the level of accountably in the non prof: It sector as agencies vic for funding dollars but tt alse reduces the need tor sovern ment residation and inter vention, Comperition among intermediate organizations is present and thriving in the United States. in 1993, for example, there were approxi mately 1OS intermediate funding agencies competing dircetly with the United Wav . Organizations collect and distribute funds toa wide variety of causes — evervthing from environ: mental concerns to child- centred initiatives to specific ethnic and minority causes. Competition among intermediate bodies is vital for the proper fune this monitoring system as ia ning of ie Si cOMpeutive pressures ensure jccountability and efficigney in the aperation of member AENCICS, We applaud the instiga- tion of dialogue on the non protit sector. The significance of the Non-profit secter is often minnmized due to the insut: ficient understanding of its Impact on the economy and SOCITEV, However, althouuh it claims to be the opening of discussion, the report fas Already restricted the options it is willing to consider with the fait aceampli notion ot the necessity and benetits of government regulation, Openness is a good start- ing point. To speak to the concerns of Canadian donors, we need to be able to discuss all the options, nor just those that accord with the political phi- losophy of the panel miem- bers. Ir the objective is to increase the effectiveness of the sector and to allow for its future development thea a wide discussion including all interested parties must be fostered. -— Jason Cleniens is a polt- evanalyst aud Johanna Francis isa researcher at the Fraser Lastinute, a Vaucouver- besed coonamic think tauk. The North Shore New. ularly allocates space for vead- cv input ona wide range of community issues in the form of 4 columns. Uf vou have a column please send it e/a The Editor, North Share News, 1139 Lonsdale Avw., North Vancenver, V7M 2H or via e-mail to trenshaw@direct.ca. Sudbaiissions must be wypewrit- ten aud should be approxi- mately S00 wards, Seniors 65 and over who use this in making good policy decisions for Canada’s shari- fects dara on all other sectors And join in the Co-ed Hockey League ‘that staris in mid-January. The new-Co-ed Hockey: League is ‘intended as a fun, non-contact league. This league has been created due to great demand from the guys, girls; couples and spouses looking for the opportunity to play at the same time and seé how each other’ matches: up. Games are fun, yet competitive and take place Friday nights. A 12-week séason is followed by 3 or 4 playoff games. Ice Sports League rules apply. Come for action on the ice and then Spend a fun evening upstairs at the bar and grill where you can catch-all your favourite satellite e sports eveni. are new avallable. Drop by to pick-up schedules or ca 924-6828 for tin Use your Safeway Club Card to receive your 10% off* Seniors discount! This Tuesday Seniors will get 10% off* their grocery bill up to a maximum of $100.00* worth of groceries. dust show your Seniors ID and use your Safeway Club Card. It’s that easy. * Excluding Tobacco, Prescriptions, Postage Stamps, Transit Passes, Event Tickets, Gift Certificate Sales and Custom Ordered Specialty Department items. *Your Seniors Discount cannot be combined with any other offer. SAFEWAY as SPORTS oy FOOD & DRUG Sateen NORTH (py