Canadian CED Network

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Social Entrepreneurship

tiessSocial entrepreneurship is increasingly popular among Canadian youth. Its popularity stems from a variety of reasons, including changes in youth’s values and career aspirations, as well as an increase in the availability of infrastructure supporting this trend. Perhaps the best example of this last point is the McConnell Foundation’s multimillion dollar strategy, under the RECODE program, to fund dozens of universities and colleges across Canada (including Carleton University) in an attempt to “redesign public institutions from the inside out; to disrupt business as usual; to found and grow new social enterprises […] in order to achieve a more just, sustainable and beautiful world.” [1]

Social entrepreneurship has multiple, sometimes conflicting, definitions, but at its core is the idea of ‘doing business for good.’ Hence, a social enterprise is different from a regular business because it does not only seek profit. Yet, it is also different from the non-profit, charity and voluntary sectors because it needs to achieve its social mission through economic activities that do generate profit. In short, as Social Enterprise Canada puts it, the goal of the social enterprise “is the simultaneous achievement of both economic and social values.” [2]

Social Economy

However, this idea of doing good through economic activities is quite similar to another concept that has been around for a while, namely social economy. Although the concept has a rich history deeply linked to the cooperative and mutual movement, it arose more prominently in Canada and especially in Quebec in the mid-1990s with the creation of the Chantier de l’économie sociale. A Quebec law passed in 2013 outlines the characteristics that social economy organizations must possess in order to qualify as such:

  • Blended value graph“They are businesses with the legal status of cooperative, non-profit organization or mutual;
  • Their main activity is the sale or trade of goods or services;
  • They pursue a social mission benefiting their members and/or the community;
  • They are autonomous form the state or another private business;
  • Their governance is democratic.” [3]

Does it Make a Difference?

With shared missions and seemingly similar economic models, it would be easy for the inattentive reader to conclude that both concepts—social entrepreneurship and social economy—describe the same reality. Yet, there is at least one obvious difference: social economy requires collective democratic governance while social entrepreneurship appears somewhat agnostic on the issue.

French sociologist Jean-Louis Laville argues that the difference is even more fundamental, because the two movements would be linked to different ideal types of solidarity. [4]

On one side, “democratic solidarity,” rooted in the values of quality and mutual assistance, would be concerned with a holistic transformation of economic models through public deliberation. This vision corresponds to the social economy movement.

On the other side, “philanthropic solidarity” would be motivated by the idea of benevolence. More individualistic, it is less reluctant to embrace market mechanisms as long as they make the achievement of social good possible. This perspective is linked to social entrepreneurship.

Finally, both visions differ on the role of a third key concept: social innovation. Although social innovation also has multiple and contested definitions, it basically refers to any “new solution to social issues.” [5] While social economy believes these solutions can only be brought about through collective action and institutional changes, social entrepreneurship usually supports the idea that great individuals—the entrepreneurs—act as the spark that can provide solutions to social issues. This perspective reminds us of the American myth of the self-made man, with legendary philantrocapitalists such as Ford and Rockefeller. Nowadays too, semi-gods from the tech industry, such as Gates or Zuckerberg, are seen as the individuals who have the required resources, willpower and ingenuity to finally find solutions and to get things done.

But neither of these perspectives is perfect. The following table, although a caricature, helps us understand how the two movements differ and attract different types of supporters, by outlining some of the possible criticisms of the other:

Social entrepreneurship on social economy Social economy on social entrepreneurship
Collective decision-making is burdensome Sacrifices democratic governance for the benefit of an enlightened elite and risks the social mission being hijacked by individual interest
Incapable of scaling up impact Solidarity is reduced to markets and social inclusion is reduced to accessing markets
Too reliant on the state Proposed solutions stems from the same ideas that caused the problems
Too much importance is given to the legal framework while the real purpose, the social mission, risks being forgotten Does not bring about a new development model
Legal status does not guarantee a positive social impact Social entrepreneurship pretends to put forward new ideas but doesn’t

Source: Matthieu Roy et al. 2016. Synthèse de connaissance: L’entrepreneuriat social et l’entreprise sociale, p. 38.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the momentum that the social entrepreneurship movement is currently gaining raises many questions, especially for the social economy sector in Quebec, but also for anyone who cares about tackling social issues. To mention only a few of these issues:

  • Who should be addressing social issues: the state, private foundations, civil society, businesses, entrepreneurs?
  • What is the desired social transformation? Is it at the level of the whole economic system or the margin? Is it more about how wealth is created, or distributed?
  • Is the involvement of workers and users in these transformations truly central? Does ownership in itself matter or is the service received at the end of the line the real priority?

References

Main reference: Roy, M. et al. 2016. Synthèse de connaissance: L’entrepreneuriat social et l’entreprise sociale. TIESS. http://www.tiess.ca/entrepreneuriat-social-et-lentreprise-sociale-une-nouvelle-publication/

[1] RECODE. 2016. About Recode. http://re-code.ca/about/

[2] Social Enterprise Canada. 2016. What is Social Enterprise?http://www.socialenterprisecanada.ca/en/learn/nav/whatisasocialenterprise.html

[3] Gouvernement du Québec. 2013. Loi sur l’économie sociale. http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/E_1_1_1/E1_1_1.html

[4] Laville, J.-L. 2014. Innovation sociale, économie sociale et solidaire, entrepreneuriat social. Une mise en perspective historique. In J.-L. Klein, J.-L. Laville, & F. Moulaert (Eds.), L’innovation sociale (pp. 45-80). Toulouse: ÉRÈS.

[5] Cloutier, Julie. 2003. Qu’est-ce que l’innovation sociale ? CRISES.
 

Originally published on September 14, 2016 by Carleton Perspectives on Public Policy

Gabriel Salathé-BeaulieuGabriel Salathé-Beaulieu is currently working as a project manager with Territoires innovants en économie sociale et solidaire (TIESS). Before that, he studied economics, politics and public policy in Quebec, London, Ottawa and Paris. He kept an interest for social economy all along and currently focuses on the topic of social impact measurement. 

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CCEDNet-Manitoba Member PosterCCEDNet-Manitoba has, in response to the Manitoba government’s invitation for pre-budget submissions, provided recommendations that bring a CED perspective to the 2017/2018 budget. Our submission, which was sent to the Hon. Cameron Friesen, M.L.A., Minister of Finance, includes 10 budget recommendations based on policy resolutions that have been developed, debated and endorsed by the members of CCEDNet-Manitoba.

Our recommendations are as follows:

  • Invest in the recommendations presented in written submissions by the Manitoba Child Care Association, Make Poverty History Manitoba, and the Right to Housing Coalition.
  • Allocate sufficient resources to honour the multi-year funding agreements with organizations in the NPO Strategy.
  • Maintain funding for Neighbourhoods Alive!.
  • Invest significantly increased human and related resources to ensure the timely and effective implementation of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.
  • Allocate funding for training and wrap-around supports (e.g. housing, addictions treatment, and cultural reclamation) to social enterprises that employ people at high risk of offending or re-offending.
  • Allocate $10M annually for social purchasing from social enterprise through Housing.
  • Invest in staffing to enable other departments (i.e. Infrastructure) to generate the value that Manitoba Housing has achieved through social purchasing.
  • Invest $250,000 to implement Year 3 of the Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy.
  • Invest $250,000 to implement Year 4 of the Manitoba Co-operative Community Strategic Plan.
  • Maintain the existing NHFI budget and consider increases to scale up existing initiatives, expand into other Northern communities, and achieve new revenues through reductions in health costs and job creation.

Read CCEDNet-Manitoba’s full 2017-2018 pre-budget submission

To learn more, or to find out how you can use this document to draft your own pre-budget submissions, contact Kirsten Bernas at kbernas at ccednet-rcdec.ca

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On October 4, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, presented his discussion paper entitled Towards a Poverty Reduction Strategy to the members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA). This paper is designed to open a dialogue on the subject of poverty reduction in Canada and provides context and background information on this important issue.

Early sharing of this document allows time for consideration and review by interested individuals and organizations in advance of the broader consultation activities planned for 2017. Further details on this consultation will follow. Questions on this process can be sent to povertyreduction at canada.gc.ca.

A technical backgrounder on poverty in Canada will be posted on this page in the coming weeks. A copy can be obtained immediately by contacting povertyreduction at canada.gc.ca.

As part of the development of the Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Government of Canada will be launching the Tackling Poverty Together Project in 2017. This project will include case studies in six communities to provide a regional perspective as well as a broader understanding of poverty in communities across the country. This will enable the Government to hear directly from Canadians living in poverty and learn from organizations that deliver poverty reduction programs.

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada

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Homelessness Partnering StrategyOn September 26, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced two calls for proposals under the Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). The two calls for proposals are seeking projects with innovative approaches and ideas that aim to prevent and reduce homelessness, particularly among Indigenous Canadians, youth, women fleeing violence and veterans.

The call for proposals for Microgrants is open until November 14, 2016. Stakeholders and organizations are invited to apply for small-scale project funding of up to $25,000. Projects will focus on exploring effective and innovative practices, tools or initiatives that prevent or reduce homelessness in Canada.

The call for proposals for Contribution Projects is open until November 14, 2016. Stakeholders and organizations are invited to apply for funding of between $25,000 and $500,000 for large-scale pilot projects that aim to test innovative and promising interventions and practices to prevent or reduce homelessness in Canada.

Once your application is completed, please submit all required documents by email to hkd-dci at hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

Who can apply?

The following organizations and individuals are eligible:

  • not-for-profit organizations;
  • municipal governments;
  • individuals;
  • research organizations and research institutes;
  • public health and educational institutions;
  • band/tribal councils and other Aboriginal organizations; and
  • in Quebec, Integrated Health and Social Services Centres and Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres are eligible for funding, consistent with the formal Canada-Quebec agreement.

Note: for-profit enterprises are eligible for funding, provided that the nature and intent of the project is non-commercial, does not generate profit, and has the support of the local community.

Eligible projects

Projects must meet the terms and conditions of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy.

Projects should not duplicate activities and costs funded under regional funding streams (Designated communities, Rural and Remote Homelessness, and Aboriginal Homelessness).

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada

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Ontario's Social Enterprise Strategy will help social enterprises grow their businesses, enter new markets & create jobs.

The Government of Ontario is launching a second $2-million round of the Social Enterprise Demonstration Fund (SEDF) to support job creation and economic growth by providing opportunities for social enterprises to get funding as part of Ontario’s Social Enterprise Strategy 2016 – 2021. This round will support the development of financially sustainable and scalable social enterprises by addressing key challenges faced by social enterprises, such as access to capital.

The Social Enterprise Demonstration Fund provides funding to not-for-profit organizations with expertise in supporting social enterprises.  These not-for-profit organizations use the funding to support social enterprises. They do this in 2 ways:

  1. providing mentorship, coaching, and supports to the social enterprise
  2. providing funding to the social enterprise in the form of a grant, a loan, etc.

The not-for-profit organization must find funding from other sources to match the ministry’s funding.

How to apply

Timeline

  • November 4, 2016: deadline for proposals
  • November 8, 2016: applicants notified that their applications were received
  • January 4, 2017: applicants notified of decisions regarding successful applications

Source: The Government of Ontario

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shelterforceIn theory, the recession has been over since 2009. But that theory means little for most workers in this country, who have only seen only 5 percent of economic growth since then accrue to them. We still have a jobs gap of 7.7 million jobs in order to return to pre-recession employment levels and absorb new workers, and the jobs that exist are often low-paying and unreliable as well—wages have stagnated even while productivity explodes.

And of course, the overall unemployment rate masks much higher jobless rates among younger workers, workers of color (unemployment rates are twice as high for African Americans as for white workers), and residents of weaker economies and neighborhoods without good access to job centers.

Rising income inequality and poverty levels make the goals of stabilizing distressed neighborhoods, increasing equal opportunity, and making a healthy home and neighborhood accessible to all many, many times harder. Community developers know this.

In fact, the community development field began as the community economic development field. Alexander von Hoffman wrote in our Winter ‘12/‘13 issue about how early CDCs tried to lure factories to distressed neighborhoods and invest in small businesses. It wasn’t easy, he noted: “Community development groups that invested directly in local supermarkets and restaurants often lived to rue the day, if they survived the ordeal. These kinds of early business failures were valuable, if painful, learning experiences for the new grassroots practitioners of community development.”

But at least some persevered. Despite the challenges, there are practitioners who have been supporting economic development in communities in need all along, whether it’s the community development financial institution field financing small businesses, community land trusts developing commercial space, or CDCs focusing on who builds their housing as well as who lives in it (one estimate is 150 jobs for every 100 units rehabbed).

Community economic development is not just a matter of helping some households to get jobs and pay their bills. Done thoughtfully, it’s about shifting the location of economic power. As Gar Alperovitz writes in our opening article, “One part of linking project-based work to systemic change efforts must involve creating institutions of democratized ownership of wealth (rather than elite individual ownership)—institutions that can generate revenue, provide jobs, and build up an independent economic base for the community over time.”

Among the kinds of institutions of community ownership that Alperovitz is talking about are worker-owned cooperatives (and here) and nonprofit-owned social enterprises (and here). These businesses are mission-oriented, concerned with creating good jobs for those who are in the most need of them, and are also likely to stay put in their communities.

Community economic development also means thinking not just about raw numbers of jobs. It means thinking about what kinds of jobs are created: Are they permanent, dignified, living wage jobs? Could they be union jobs? It means thinking about who has access to those jobs: Are there targets for hiring and contracting locally? Are there unnecessary barriers to getting those jobs? Is the job training and job retention support effective? It means thinking about the demand side: Who is spending money in your communities and could that spending power be turned toward local businesses that have a positive economic multiplier?

Who Owns It? – Click Here to Read the rest!

Originally published by shelterforce.org on October 2, 2014

Miriam Axel-LuteMiriam Axel-Lute is editor of Shelterforce and associate director of the National Housing Institute. Her email is miriam at nhi.org. She has been a journalist, newspaper editor, freelance editor, parenting blogger, urban planning student, and community development consultant. Based in Albany, N.Y., she is a board member of the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region and the Community Development Alliance of the Capital District, and writes Looking Up, an award-winning column for Albany’s alt-weekly, Metroland.​ Find more of Miriam’s articles here

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The Canadian CED Network
Social Enterprise Council of Canada
Women's Economic Council
Canadian Centre for Community Renewal
Chantier de l'économie sociale

In a letter sent to Hon. Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, CCEDNet and partners highlight the remarkable leadership by Canadians in the global movement for the social and solidarity economy and urge the government to build on this leadership.

The Government of Canada has signalled its intention to pursue strategies for inclusive growth. Ministers Duclos and Mihychuk have been mandated to create a national strategy on social innovation and social finance. Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s proposed Innovation Agenda seeks to make Canada a leader in promoting social enterprise and social innovation.

Simultaneously, the government is renewing Canada’s profile internationally. The message that inclusive growth can be a force for prosperity and stability is resonating around the world, with growing evidence from the OECD, the IMF and other bodies.

Canadian community-based leadership in social innovation and the social and solidarity economy globally represents an asset for inclusive growth that could reinforce Canada’s leadership on the international stage.

Read the letter to Hon. Stéphane Dion

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Conseil de la coopération de l'OntarioUp to twenty-five Francophone and bilingual collective businesses in Ontario will be eligible to receive a grant to improve their services thanks to a partnership between the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario (CCO), a member of the Canadian CED Network, and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) under the Ontario Social Impact Vouchers’ program (OSIV).

The OSIV will allow collective entrepreneurs, both social enterprises and cooperatives to create jobs and achieve more social, cultural or environmental impacts on their activities, while adding value to Ontario’s Francophone and bilingual communities.

“With this investment, collective enterprises from all regions in Ontario will be able to reinforce their development by using CCO’s specialized services,” says Julien Geremie, Director of Development at CCO. “As the funds are available as of today, we are ready to work with project developers of interested groups.”

The 25 collective enterprises chosen for the program will also receive specialized support from CCO. Depending on the stage of development of the business during an initial evaluation, CCO’s team may suggest a personalized work plan including a market study, a feasibility study, a business plan or an operation budget.

“The Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario plays a really important role in the collective enterprises sector,” said Tom Corr, OCE President and CEO. “We had tremendous success during the first year of the OSIV program and we are thrilled to be able to offer support to more collective enterprises with the help of CCO.”

Launched recently by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) in collaboration with Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG), the OSIV program will provide services and resources through the distribution of up to 200 Social Impact Vouchers with a value of up to $3,000 per voucher to social entrepreneurs and enterprises. The vouchers will be distributed through delivery organizations selected by OCE after an open call and assessment process.

CCO is situated in the heart of a network of more than 300 partners with its three locations in Ottawa, Toronto and Sudbury. CCO is the only organization in Ontario which provides quality services to Francophone and bilingual social enterprises and cooperatives.

Those interested in the program should contact Julien Geremie for further details, julien.geremie at cco.coop

About the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario:

The Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario is the only organization to support the sustainable and economic development of francophone and bilingual cooperatives and social enterprises in Ontario through education, promotion, consultation and services.

For more information, please contact:

Julien Geremie
Director of development
416-364-4545
julien.geremie at cco.coop

Nadine Olivier
Communication Coordinator
705-560-1121 ext. 101
nadine.olivier at cco.coop

SOURCE: The Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario

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République française et les Rencontres du Mont-BlancOn September 20, 2016 the International Leading Group on Social and Solidarity Economy (ILGSSE) held a high-level event organized by France and coordinated by the association The Mont-Blanc Meetings (MBM) – International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy Entrepreneurs as permanent secretariat.

Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos
Yvon Poirier

In view of the Habitat III Conference, this event gathered high profile actors, including Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada, Jean-Yves Duclos and Yvon Poirier, Secretary of the Canadian CED Network’s Board of Directors, to promote an economy that reconciles environmental, social and economic efficiency, providing multiple solutions coherent with an overall goal of sustainable development.

Follow on Twitter (#ESS #LeadingGroupSSE)

Watch Yvon Poirier’s presentation

Watch the full event recording on WEBTV.UN.ORG

PROGRAMME AND SPEAKERS

SSE as a vector of sustainable urban development

  • François Hollande, President of the French Republic
  • Head of States who will attend the event
  • Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada
  • André Vallini, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie of France
  • José Graziano Da Silva, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Chair of the UN inter-agencies Task-Force on SSE (UNTFSSE)
  • Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, General Secretary of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Public policies for the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE)

How can local public policies support SSE’s development?

  • Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal and President of Metropolis
  • Christian Yaccarini, President and CEO of Société de développement Angus (SDA)
  • Yvon Poirier, Vice-coordinator of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) *Secretary of CCEDNet’s Board of Directors*
  • Carlos de Freitas, Director of Programs of the Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV)

Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) for social and economic inclusion, social and environmental justice of cities and human settlements

How does SSE make it possible to build sustainable cities and human settlements and to provide a framework of urban inclusion?

  • Mercedes Peñas, First Lady of Costa Rica
  • Gilbert Houngbo, Deputy-Director General for Partnerships and Field Operations of the International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • Video “The housing cooperatives to access housing in Mali and Senegal”, ADER RIED project, co-financed by the European Union and the French Development Agency (AFD)
  • Rodrigo Gouveia, Director of Policy of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
  • Elisa Carolina Torrenegra, Latin America Vice-president of the International association of mutual benefit societies (AIM) and Executive Director of Gestarsalud

Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) to finance cities and territories

How does SSE mobilize and generate resources revealing the territorial development potentials?

  • Maria-Elena Querejazu, Vice-president of the International association of investors in the social economy (INAISE)
  • Chantal-Line Carpentier, Head of United Nations Conference on Trade And Development’s New York Office (UNCTAD)

Progress on implementing the International Leading Group on Social and Solidarity Economy (ILGSSE) joint declaration: one year later

  • Abdou Salam Fall, President of the Scientific Committee of the Mont-Blanc Meetings (MBM) – International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy Entrepreneurs

Announcement of a declaration from the International Leading Group on Social and Solidarity Economy (ILGSSE)

“SSE: key sector for a sustainable urban development”

  • Thierry Jeantet, President of the Mont-Blanc Meetings (MBM) – International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy Entrepreneurs

Discussion with the audience

Conclusion and acknowledgements

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A National Engagement ProjectCCEDNet member, the Women’s Economic Council (WEC), is looking for a few good women and men to participate in a virtual, national Technical Working Group.  Volunteers will help WEC develop some of the technical specifications for WEC’s new online portal.  

Ideal candidates are:

  • tech-savvy women and men throughout Canada
  • interested in the social and sustainable economy
  • able to give approximately 90 minutes a month via a virtual meeting
  • eager to see economic security for the women who need it most 

More details available on request. Please contact:  

Janet Kranz, M.A.
janet.kranz at gmail.com
Co-Manager, Women’s Economic Council Collective
www.womenseconomiccouncil.ca

Download the National Portal Project Info Card

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Young Social Entrepreneur ContestBe a part of Canada’s largest community of fair trade and social businesses

Network with like-minded entrepreneurs

Introduce you startup to the conscious consumers of Toronto

The Fair Trade Show has launched their Young Social Entrepreneur Contest for 2017! Each year The Fair Trade Show provides one emerging, youth-led business with the opportunity to exhibit for free. This year they are including the local community in their quest to find the winning business! The contest includes a voting round that invites the public to vote for their favourite social business.

Enter the Young Social Entrepreneur Contest

Contest Details

To enter the contest fill out the entry form and create a 1 to 3 minute video explaining your business and how it promotes social justice, environmental well-being or economic empowerment in communities at home or abroad! Get creative! If your entry is accepted to the voting round, the videos will be shared publicly.

Eligibility

  • Between the ages of 16 – 29
  • Running a fair trade or social business for less than two years
  • Have products or services ready for sale at the show
  • Available for the entire show on the weekend of May 12-14, 2017
  • Have not previously exhibited at The Fair Trade Show

Nominations

Fill out the online application and share a link to your video (available September 1, 2016).
Five entrepreneurs will be chosen by our panel to move on to a public voting round.

Nominations open September 1, 2016 and close November 15, 2016.

Voting Round

Your videos will be uploaded on to our website and shared on social media.
Then the the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite social enterprise!

The winner will be announced February 20, 2017.

For more details visit thefairtradeshow.com/YSE/

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The Ville de Montréal and the Chantier de l’économie sociale, co-organizers of the Global Social Economy Forum – GSEF2016, ­are proud of this third meeting, which brought together more than 1,400 participants from about 60 countries. In total, some 200 social and solidarity economy (SSE) initiatives from Québec and elsewhere were presented in and around the GSEF2016. Montréal is the first North American host city of the forum since the founding of the GSEF in Seoul in 2013.

C.I.T.I.E.S.At the closing plenary session of the GSEF2016, the mayor of Montréal, Mr. Denis Coderre, unveiled the creation of a new international organization based in Montréal in partnership with Seoul, Mondragón, and Barcelona: the International Centre for Innovation and Knowledge Transfer on the Social and Solidarity Economy (C.I.T.I.E.S.). As a support to the GSEF association and its mission to foster collaboration between local governments and civil society, C.I.T.I.E.S.’ mission will be to facilitate the international dissemination and transmission of practices and knowledge of the social and solidarity economy.

“This centre is, in many regards, an important legacy of this Global Social Economy Forum – GSEF2016. It’s also wonderful news for all cities of the world and for Montréal, which will be able to see its many initiatives spread throughout the world. We are very proud to host this new organization. We believe that cities are always on the cutting edge of the future and that the social economy, by mobilizing collective entrepreneurship, is a key tool for the development of urban centres,” said Mr. Coderre.

GSEF2016 Declaration in Montreal: 6 Resolutions for the Sustainable Development of Cities

“All participants reaffirmed the importance of making the social economy’s collective knowledge accessible to help face the growing challenges of the 21st century with the dissemination of information, the exchange of best practices, and the mutual support that can extend to financial assistance. To this end, four resolutions were drafted that express the international solidarity of SSE organizations,” said Mr. Jean-Martin Aussant, executive director of the Chantier de l’économie sociale.

The participants of the GSEF2016 Forum in Montréal are committed to working on the sustainable development of cities and to:

  1. Recognize the central role of SSE organizations to overcome the current challenges and to promote a renewed participatory democracy
  2. Multiply participatory governance spaces
  3. Build an inclusive movement for all men and women of all ages and origins.
  4. Build public-private-community partnerships to meet the needs and aspirations of our communities
  5. Share our visions, experiences and achievements to promote social innovation, including through CITIES, a strategic partner of GSEF
  6. Recognize and support youth as important actors for the future of the SSE movement.

Toward the GSEF2018

The GSEF Association met today in its General Assembly where they, among other items, agreed on the location of the next Forum. The SSE community will meet again in two years to take stock of the situation and discuss the best practices to adopt to ensure that the SSE takes its place alongside the private and public sectors.

“I hope that the commitment to the SSE mentioned in the Montréal Declaration makes a significant contribution that allows us to find solutions to the challenges that we all face,” said Mr. Park Won Soon, mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Seoul and GSEF co-chair. I am pleased to announce that the city of Bilbao, Spain, has been chosen to host the GSEF2018. Bilbao, the economic capital of the Basque Country, is a model that will certainly inspire many other large cities by encouraging them to join the movement and make the social and solidarity economy a priority,” he added.

Ms. Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister Responsible for the Digital Strategy for Quebec stated : “The Government of Québec is very active in the development of the social economy. The Government Social Economy Action Plan 2015–2020 will direct our actions in this area over the next few years. This plan contains concrete measures to help collective enterprises at all steps of their growth so that they can fully contribute to Québec’s socioeconomic development,” stated.

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development for Canada, Mr. Jean-Yves Duclos concluded with, “I would like to congratulate all participants and the organizers of this forum. It was a tremendous success. Clearly, the discussions that took place here have been productive and fruitful. What is important now is that these ideas develop and gain traction in contemporary thought.”

The global social economy forum – GSEF2016 has been made possible thanks to the financial participation of the Government ofCanada, the Government of Québec, and affiliated partners. 

About the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF)

The Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF) is an international association bringing together local governments and civil society stakeholders committed to supporting the development of the social and solidarity economy (SSE). Its mission is to promote cooperation among social and solidarity economy organizations and local governments to stimulate the creation of quality jobs, equitable growth, and the advancement of participatory democracy and sustainable development. During the association’s founding meeting in 2013, its members issued a declaration laying out their intentions and objectives. In 2014, members adopted a charter establishing its principles and operations, including the holding of a forum every two years.

The first two editions of the GSEF took place in Seoul in 2013 and 2014 respectively and each brought more than 1,000 people together.

Social Media: #GSEF2016 
Facebook: Gsef2016 
Twitter: @gsef2016

*** GSEF2016 photos are available here: http://bit.ly/2cpntKm

For further information: Amély Tremblay/Mélodie Ménard/Isabelle Paquette, Morin Relations Publiques, amely at morinrp.com / melodie at morinrp.com / isabelle at morinrp.com, 514 774-8522 / 514 561-1966 / 514 581-8981

SOURCE: CNW Newswire

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