Charities and Nonprofits Concerned About Surge in Demand for Services in the Wake of Current Trade War
Toronto, September 10, 2026 - With Canadian counter-tariffs taking effect this week and the US government escalating trade measures to include import bans, the fallout from this ongoing trade war is affecting every Canadian family. Imagine Canada, the umbrella organization for Canada's charitable and nonprofit sector, is raising concerns about the nonprofit sector’s ability to manage dramatically higher requests for services as the negative consequences of disruptions to the Canadian economy make their way to the community level.
"While the nonprofit sector will not be directly targeted by tariffs or import bans, the ripple effect will be felt in both a surge in demand for services and weakening revenues." said Bruce MacDonald, Imagine Canada's President & CEO. “At a time when people and communities will turn to charities and nonprofit organizations for support, it is critical that this sector is working in partnership with governments and the business community to support Canadian families.”
“Economic disruption quickly becomes community disruption. When families are facing rising costs, job uncertainty and growing financial anxiety, they turn to local charities and nonprofits for food, housing, mental health, employment and other essential supports,” said Dan Clement, United Way Centraide Canada’s President & CEO. “United Way Centraide is seeing firsthand how these pressures are stretching community services that were already under strain. As governments respond to the trade dispute, support must reach people on the ground and the organizations they rely on.”
The strain on the nonprofit sector is showing. A report released this week by United Way/Centraide Canada indicated that more than 70% of charities reported service demand exceeding capacity. That report also showed that labour shortages are intensifying in care-related occupations: vacancies in core community-care roles rose 140% since 2015 and health-related vacancies rose 173%, while vacancies in the rest of the labour market increased by only 4%. At the same time, people need and want access to nonprofit services. Polling by Imagine Canada showed that 8 in 10 Canadians view the services provided by charities as being essential.
Imagine Canada and UWCC are calling on the federal government to ensure that charities and nonprofits have a ‘seat at the table' as the government studies the impact of the trade war, considers responses and seeks to fully understand the impact on communities.
About Imagine Canada
Imagine Canada is a national, bilingual charitable organization whose cause is Canada’s charities and nonprofits. Through our advocacy efforts, research and social enterprises, we help strengthen charities, nonprofits and social entrepreneurs so they can better fulfill their missions. Our vision is of a strong Canada where charities work together alongside business and government to build resilient and vibrant communities.
To learn more, visit imaginecanada.ca, or follow us on LinkedIn.
About United Way Centraide Canada
United Way Centraide Canada is the national office that represents and supports a network of United Way Centraides serving 5,000 communities across Canada. United Way Centraide is Canada's largest non-government funder of human and community services, mobilizing over $600 million annually to support basic needs to over 8 million people. United Way Centraides exist locally to serve those experiencing vulnerability in our communities and to create an equitable future for all. They work in partnership with more than 3,800 unique community service organizations delivering essential services so that everyone in every community can have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
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