In the social purpose sector, August is a time of out-of-office notifications… and federal pre-budget submissions.

In its recently released 2025 federal budget wish list, Imagine Canada, the country’s largest charity sector advocacy group, has reiterated longstanding demands. 

At the top of the list, the non-profit wants the government to improve the effectiveness and equity of federal funding. 

To accomplish this goal, the government is proposing developing a new appendix to the federal transfer payment directive that would require bureaucrats to lessen their focus on risk when supporting non-profits. 

As is the case in Quebec, B.C. and Australia, Imagine Canada also reiterated its request for a dedicated unit within the government for the charitable sector. 

While the federal government said in 2019 it supported the sector’s call for a home in government for charities, it has not yet made any progress on this demand.

Imagine Canada also asked the government to co-develop a federal labour force strategy for the non-profit sector in response to high burnout and charities’ struggles to recruit and retain skilled workers. 

In 2023, just five per cent of Alberta non-profits described staff recruitment as easy or very easy, according to a survey of about 1,500 people conducted by the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations.

Among the top reasons cited for the difficulty? Adequate pay.

According to a 2022 Imagine Canada report, the average salary of a community non-profit worker in 2019 was $38,716—about $18,000 less than the average made by peers working in the overall economy. 

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