Hon. Jane Cordy: Honourable senators, Canadians are very generous people. We are generous with our time, whether volunteering at a local food bank or a homeless shelter, baking cookies for our children’s or grandchildren’s local school or donating to the many charities and non-profits that do so many great things for our communities.

To recognize such acts of kindness, we honour those outstanding contributions of Canadians and people around the world today, as it is National Philanthropy Day. Philanthropy is the love of human kind, and that love can take many forms.

The charitable and non-profit sector in Canada is huge. According to Imagine Canada, the sector employs 2.4 million people, which is 1 in 10 Canadian workers; it contributes 8.3% of Canada’s GDP — an estimated $192 billion — and it sees 13 million volunteers give close to 2 billion hours a year.

Colleagues, as many of you know, Canada became the first country in the world to officially recognize National Philanthropy Day. Our former colleague the Honourable Senator Mercer successfully helped navigate legislation through Parliament to officially recognize the day in 2012. We are so very proud of that, because we should be proud of all of the efforts of the volunteers and sector employees who give of their hearts to help so many in need.

I am pleased to give my thanks today, and I encourage all honourable senators to join me in showing appreciation for those who give their time, their money and their care in support of others. Thank you.