More than 5.8 million Canadians who file taxes contributed a record $7.9 billion to various charities in 2005, according to Statistics Canada.
Total donations were 13.8 per cent higher than in 2004, said Statscan, with the highest increases recorded in Alberta (more than 21.1 per cent), Nova Scotia (more than 18.5 per cent) and Manitoba (more than 17.7 per cent). Only two provinces – Saskatchewan and Newfound-land and Labrador – recorded decreases in the number of donors from 2004.
Statscan also said that for the second year in a row, Yukon had the fastest growth rate in the number of donors, at 8.8 per cent.
Median donations likewise increased, said Statscan. “In 2005, the median donation was $240, up from $230 in 2004. In other words, among those reporting charitable donations, half gave more than $240 and half gave less.” Of all provinces and territories, Nunavut had the highest median donation, at $400.
Among metropolitan areas, people in Abbotsford, B.C., reported the highest median donation at $560. Toronto was next at $350, slightly ahead of Saint John, Saskatoon and Vancouver at $310.