The Christmas season marks the height of annual charitable giving in Canada. About a third of yearly donations occur in December alone. This expression of charity and generosity is powerful evidence of Canadians’ commitment to civil society and civic engagement.

Yet the role of civil society is too often taken for granted or ignored in public policy circles.  As a study published by Cardus has put it: “… the capacity and contribution of charitable organizations are not as understood or as utilized as they could be.” One reason is the inclination of government to “crowd out” civil society. The hyper-individualist ethos of modern life is another. Either way, the result is that Canadian public policy is frequently crafted without considering how it affects civil society or whether civil society ought to be part of any solution.