Toronto MP Ahmed Hussen has introduced a private member’s bill that would allow the federal government to require information on the community benefits generated by construction, maintenance or repair contracts for public works or federal properties.
The bill defines community benefits as ‘a social or economic benefit that a community derives from a construction, maintenance or repair project, and includes local job creation and training opportunities, improvement of public space within the community and any other specific benefit identified by the community.’
The inclusion of community benefit agreements in social infrastructure spending planned by the federal government was one of the recommendations made by Michael Toye, Executive Director of the Canadian CED Network, in pre-budget consultations last month.
See the text and follow the progress of the legislation
Additional Reading
- Before spending infrastructure billions, Liberals launch trial balloon, Adam Radwanski, The Globe and Mail, February 21, 2016
- CBTU and National Construction Labour Relations Alliance pleased with introduction of Bill C-227, Canada’s Building Trades Union, February 25, 2016
Further Resources
- Community Benefits Agreements, Andrew Galley, Mowat Centre and Atkinson Foundation, August 2015
- Ground-breaking legislation passed in Ontario encouraging community benefits in infrastructure projects, The Ontario Nonprofit Network, June 4, 2015
- IBA (Impact and Benefit Agreements) Community Toolkit, Ginger Gibson and Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh, The Gordon Foundation, Summer 2015
- Toward a Community Benefit Model of Procurement in Community Services, Sarah Amyot, The Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria, February 2013
- Community Benefits Agreements: The Power, Practice, and Promise of a Responsible Redevelopment Tool, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2007
- Community Benefits Agreements: Making Development Projects Accountable, Julian Gross, Good Jobs First & California Partnership for Working Families, 2005
- Toronto Community Benefits Network
