(Oct. 9, 2006) The recently proposed Canadian federal budget would cut funding for several programs directly related to philanthropy.

Under the budget presented on Sept. 25, 2006, funding for the Canada Volunteerism Initiative would be eliminated ($9.7 million over the next two years). The initiative was created in 2002 to encourage Canadians to volunteer and increase the capacity of charitable organizations to engage volunteers.

The budget also would cut $3 million in funding from the Canadian Policy Research Network (CPRN), which develops nonpartisan research and knowledge to encourage public dialogue and policy. AFP worked with CPRN in the development of a comprehensive survey of Canadian fundraisers.

According to the government, cuts were determined by the following criteria:

• Programs that are not delivering value for money
• Programs with unused funds (those that did not spend all the money allocated)
• Work that could be done with more efficiency outside the government
• Noncore programs that do not meet the needs of Canadians

More information about the budget can be found on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s website.