Britain is far ahead of Canada in recognizing the vital importance of the non-profit sector, and in setting out a mature partnership between the national government and the third sector. Earlier today, the UK government released its ‘refreshed’ Compact for the Third Sector – which sets out shared commitments and guidelines for effective partnership between government and the non-profit sector. In Canada, the more than 161,000 non-profits contribute about $80 billion to our national GDP – many times bigger than the auto manufacturing sector, for instance. Canada’s non-profit sector is the second largest in the world, and strengthens our communities, helps people and builds our national economy with vital health, social, housing, education, arts, recreation, culture, faith and other services. The new UK Compact sets out new principles and commitments in three key areas: Involvement of non-profits in policy development, allocating resoruces, and advancing equality. There are 95 specific commitments: 62 for government and 33 for the third sector.