Canadian generosity has hit a new low, according to a study by the Fraser Institute.
The number of Canadians donating to charity, as indicated by their tax returns, is at the lowest point in the past 18 years. And, as the most recent data predates the COVID-19 pandemic, current figures are almost certainly lower with many Canadians out of work.
As a share of income, the study found Canadian giving lags far behind what Americans give.
“The data shows Canadians are consistently less charitable every year, which means charities face greater challenges to secure resources to help those in need,” says Jake Fuss, co-author of the 2020 Generosity Index.
The study found that fewer than one-in-five Canadian tax-filers (19.4 per cent) claimed charitable donations on their tax return in 2018, the most recent year of available data. That's a drop from 25.5 per cent in 2000.
Collectively, the total amount donated to registered charities by Canadians was just 0.54 per cent of their income.
By comparison, American tax-filers donated 1.97 per cent, nearly four times the Canadian amount.
The average dollar amount claimed in Canada in 2018 was $1,869, compared to $13,272 in the U.S.
Manitobans were most likely to give (22.4 per cent), but Albertans gave the most – $2,776 on average.
In British Columbia, 18.4 per cent claimed a charitable donation, and the average amount was $2,575.
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