Charities worry about loss of trust, donations in wake of WE deal controversy

Aug 3, 2020 | 9:50 AM

OTTAWA — The head of a group promoting charities says the sector is worried about long-term negative impacts of the ongoing WE controversy on Parliament Hill.

Imagine Canada’s Bruce McDonald says the concerns are that donors will pull back on giving money, or volunteering their time, due to a lack of trust in how it’s used.

Imagine Canada, a charity itself, has calculated the COVID-19 pandemic will cut donations by up to $6 billion this year, and that was before the controversy hit.

McDonald says another worry is that governments will become hesitant to partner with charities over political concerns.