With the breakdown of talks between Canada and the US, the resulting imposition of tariffs by the Trump administration and the coming reciprocal tariffs levied by Canada, there has been significant analysis and speculation about the impact to the Canadian economy.
The gaping hole in every analytical article has been the immediate and downstream consequences of a weakened economy and what the means for the services delivered by charities and nonprofits.
This is an enormous oversight. Nonprofits benefit everyone even when we don’t see it. Millions of Canadians benefit from the services of nonprofit organizations everyday. To ensure no one is left behind and receive the services they need as the tariffs impact businesses and their workers, our sector needs to be included in the government’s response strategy.
The life of every Canadian is affected by nonprofit services.
Yet, they are largely absent from the national dialogue about the punishing effect of US tariffs. Often unseen (or taken for granted), Canada’s charities and nonprofits are part of the very fabric of what makes this country great – people coming together to support each other. These organizations depend on a Canadian economy that creates a broad tax base for governments to invest in charitable services, prosperity for fellow citizens to make charitable donations, long-term growth in investments for foundations to use in supporting community causes and profit that can be reinvested in communities by corporations.
Polling from Imagine Canada shows that 8 in 10 Canadians view the services delivered by nonprofits as ‘essential’. Not nice. Not good. Essential.
The impact of the nation’s nonprofit sector goes well beyond the delivery services. Canada’s nonprofit sector is a $244-billion economic force, representing 8.4% of GDP and employing 2.9 million Canadians.
As we contemplate our national response and experience another wave of patriotism and unity, let’s ensure that our sector is ‘at the table’ when decisions are made. In the short term, costs through sector procurement are going to rise. In the longer term, contributions are likely to weaken as the economy comes under duress. Contact your local MP, join a coalition, tag government officials on social media. Let’s amplify our voices as part of this national discussion. Imagine Canada.
Bruce MacDonald is the President & CEO of Imagine Canada. When carnivals and social good combined, it pointed to a path and for 30 years Bruce has been walking that route. From working for organizations that provide services to young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, community service clubs and sports and recreation groups, Bruce’s experiences have led him to Imagine Canada. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada where he participated in a collective effort to bring mentoring programs to kids. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, a Masters in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University and a former record in the Guinness Book of World Records. From 2019-2023, Bruce served as Co-Chair of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector working with the federal government. In 2025, Bruce received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his distinguished achievements and leadership.
