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House of Commons Debates VOLUME 146 Ï NUMBER 176 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, November 5, 2012 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 11885 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, November 5, 2012 The House met at 11 a.m. They cannot fill out paperwork year after year and then, every third year, worry about whether or not they will receive the grant or amount of money they need to keep going. They are forced to plan for the very short term. They often implement projects that meet the Prayers real needs of their community, but then have to abandon these vital projects within a few years, after investing a great deal of time and energy into them, because grants provide very short-term funding PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS and must be renewed, or depend on the government of the day. That is a real need, something that the government could do if it were Ï (1105) serious about acknowledging philanthropy. [Translation] I would like to speak briefly about what a national philanthropy NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY ACT day could achieve, in real terms or otherwise. I have been a member The House resumed from October 30 consideration of the motion of this House for more than one and a half hears and, unfortunately, I that Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, be am coming to the realization that all too often, bills are introduced to read the third time and passed. show Canadians that an issue is being taken seriously, or that the parliamentary system is useful. Unfortunately, when we dig a little Ms. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds—Dollard, deeper, we often realize that it is a smokescreen, that a big show is NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to continue the speech I began being put on that does not really do anything about an issue, but that last week on Bill S-201. lets us sit back and say that the issue was taken seriously and that As I said last week, I will be supporting Bill S-201 in its present action was taken. form. However, I cannot stress enough that this bill to create National Philanthropy Day is not nearly enough and does not come There are many things we could do to truly support philanthropy close to meeting the needs in terms of what we can do to support in our country, but a national philanthropy day seems to be one of philanthropy. I will not repeat everything I already said in that the least effective means of taking a stand. What will this initiative regard. I will get directly to the point. really do for our communities? As my party's critic for seniors, I have met with several associations and groups—intervention, support, political and As a member of Parliament, I can see that cities and communities advocacy groups—working on the ground that must rely on are struggling with unbelievable tax loads, with road networks that volunteers and the commitment of their members day in and day out. are in need of work and repairs, and with other significant burdens During each of my consultations with groups, associations and and tasks. These communities are waiting for support from the organizations over the past year and a half, when it came to provincial and federal governments, but too often this support identifying the issues and challenges they face, the creation of unfortunately never comes. These municipalities and regions are National Philanthropy Day was never at the top of their list. already struggling with many burdens, tasks and expenses. This does not necessarily mean that they opposed the creation of National Philanthropy Day, but it was definitely not the most The federal government is unexpectedly downloading more and pressing need facing the people working on the ground who provide more costs onto the provinces. such valuable services to the public. The vast majority of the time, the most urgent need identified by volunteers, groups and Ï (1110) associations was financial support. Volunteer work represents a large portion of the work done in this The expected health transfers are decreasing, and the age for old country. This work is unpaid, but it is no less important than the age security eligibility is changing from 65 to 67. Once again, the services offered by the public and private sectors. Unfortunately, provinces will end up footing the bill. The provinces have had these organizations need stable financial support. enough; they cannot take any more. 11886 COMMONS DEBATES November 5, 2012 Private Members' Business I agree with having a philanthropy day, but how will it be led to what I have accomplished also leads me to believe that the celebrated? Who will pay for the celebrations and awards given to government should act in a certain way. philanthropists? Choosing a date on the calendar is not enough. What will this give us in a practical sense? Who will be able to organize activities to celebrate this new national day? People are Here in the Liberal Party, as with many other people, we believe in wondering. The municipalities and provinces do not need another hard work. We believe in standing on one's own two feet. We believe expense or another burden. in paying one's way and reaping what one sows. We believe in individual responsibility. Liberals also believe in nurturing strong Will the federal government provide funding to those who want to families and in the self-reliance of strong, extended families. celebrate this national day? I am not sure. I have not seen any specific details on this in the bill. We also see that in society we do not all have equality of Everyone in this House recognizes the importance of philanthropy opportunity. We do not have the same starting points in life, the same for our country, but we do not agree on how to support it. What nurturing families or neighbourhoods. We do not have the same measures need to be put in place? Beyond passing a bill and health. We do not have access to the same education. The Liberals choosing a date on the calendar, how can we encourage and have recognized all of that in their own lives, and how plain, dumb recognize philanthropy in tangible ways? This is something that is luck was important in contributing to the success or failure of certain worth thinking about. parts of our lives. In this regard, my NDP colleague introduced or will introduce a bill that includes very tangible measures to support philanthropy. I Liberals also believe in the power of a market economy where hope that members of all parties will move beyond lip service and goods and services have prices that carry information and that should support this bill at second reading, even if it is just to seriously reflect reality, and where resources are thereby allocated efficiently examine how we can provide tangible support for philanthropy. This to maximize the growth of the economic pie. We believe we should is not a partisan issue. All members of the House agree that not always be focused on cutting the pie into exactly equal slices. philanthropy must be encouraged, but the issue is how to do so. Everyone agrees that a national day is not nearly enough and is not a We know that three things in a market can cause economic very tangible measure. distortions and be a net detriment to the world. We believe we get There are exceptional people in my riding and across the country what we pay for. We also know that markets are never perfect. There who are very active and who give of their time and talent to their are externalities. A big one, for example, is the ability to pollute for community and their country on an ongoing basis. I am thinking of free, which has distorted many economies including our own. There George Nydam, an extremely active retiree who advocates for is also asymmetric information in economies where big companies quality public transit in his riding; of Paulette Siag, the president of have the advantage of knowing exactly what is going on in the the Dollard-des-Ormeaux seniors' club, which has over 500 world. They have the resources to do that. People shopping on the members; and of Colette Zielinski, another retiree and activist who retail level do not have the same information and markets often do heads up a group that provides services to people with arthritis. not work very well in those cases. These are just a few examples, but I could go on naming people for hours. I will not do so because my time is up, but I would like to There are often different risk tolerances in the market. When end my speech by sincerely congratulating all those who get people are in danger of not having shelter or not having food or involved in order to support their communities and their country. facing their own mortality, decisions can be made, which are bad over the long term. That is another case where markets cannot work. [English] People often do not have the time or the resources to be informed Mr. Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is and participate in the market. a pleasure today to rise to speak in support of Bill S-201 to establish a national day of philanthropy on November 15. Certain things cannot participate in the market. Wildlife or the I want to talk about why philanthropy is important and what natural environment does not participate in the market, so it does not philanthropy is.