Back in February, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) pitched federal Minister Shelly Glover on the idea of the federal government proclaiming an annual, national “giveaway weekend.”

If the feds listen, the environmentally friendly idea could become one of the most cost effective, pro-environment ideas on the planet.

For those who aren’t familiar with “giveaway weekends,” they started in a few communities in the Ottawa-area a couple decades ago and were later adopted by the City of Ottawa as an official event in 2007.

It’s quite a simple initiative – the city designates a weekend (or two) each year as a “giveaway weekend.” On that weekend people put unwanted items (that still have value) near the curb with a “free” sign on them.

If you’ve got an old toaster that still works fine but doesn’t fit with the look of your new kitchen – slap a “free” sign on it and put it by the curb on a giveaway weekend. Got a chair that’s in good shape, but you don’t need anymore? Giveaway weekend. Have an unwanted picture of dogs playing poker? Why someone wouldn’t want to dispose of such fine art is odd, but if you find yourself in such a situation, put it out for giveaway weekend too!

Giveaway weekends are great for those who hate throwing things out that someone else could use. Not to mention, giveaway weekends are also great for deal seekers, low-income people and the environment.

In fact, a journalist in Ottawa wrote a column several years ago about how she cruised around during the city’s first giveaway weekend and was able to collect almost enough free goods to furnish a room in her apartment.

But perhaps the best thing about giveaway weekends is that they don’t require any tax dollars or bureaucracy to manage; they’re arguably one of the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly initiatives in the nation’s history. And of course, it’s a completely voluntary initiative.

It’s no surprise the idea is spreading. Back in early 2009, during a pre-budget meeting with the Mayor of Winnipeg, the CTF suggested Winnipeg could also start holding such a weekend; noting Ottawa’s success. Mayor Katz agreed and asked staff to start looking into it. That fall, Winnipeg held its first giveaway weekend and has held the weekends twice a year since; one in the spring and one in the fall. The idea has been a huge success.

Not long afterwards, Halifax decided to start holding annual giveaway weekends and so have Brandon, Winkler and Altona, Manitoba. Just imagine all the tonnes of useful products that residents in the aforementioned communities have kept out of landfills thanks to giveaway weekends!

Back in 2011, the CTF included the idea of province-wide giveaway weekends in a policy document given to major political parties in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but none of them decided to run with the idea.

While provincial politicians in both provinces took a pass on the idea, the initiative seemed to receive a warm reception with Minister Glover. She indicated she’s going to have staff look into the idea.

In the mean time, if you think it would be cool for Canada to be the first nation on the planet to hold national giveaway weekends, be sure to “give” some feedback on this idea to your Member of Parliament.

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