Here are some statistics from the CRA dealing with the 83,000 registered charities in Canada as of the end of 2007.

Numbers do not tell the whole story of how important the charitable sector is to Canada.  However, they are a start. 

$10.6 billion in tax receipted gifts
$89.5 billion in government revenues
$1.6 billion in fundraising revenues
$136.9 billion in total revenues
$131.8 billion in total expenditures
$3.1 billion in gifts to qualified donees
$170.7 billion in assets
1.2 million full-time employees
1.2 million part-time employees

CRA has posted the information at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/sssns/rrcc-eng.html

Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg Segal LLP in Toronto, Ontario.  He can be contacted at mark@blumbergs.ca or at 416-361-1982 x. 237. To find out more about legal services that Blumbergs provides to Canadian charities and non-profits please visit the Blumbergs’ Non-Profit and Charities page at www.blumbergs.ca/non_profit.php or www.globalphilanthropy.ca