Canadian CED Network

For the past few months, CCEDNet has been engaged in an initiative to identify Canadian evaluators, consultants, and trainers who can promote and support the Common Approach to Impact Measurement, currently housed at Carleton University. The Common Approach is a community-owned, flexible impact measurement standard that can be used by social purpose organizations to more effectively tell their impact story. It was built on cutting-edge, globally-recognized impact measurement research and the collaborative efforts of non-profits, social purpose organizations, grant makers, investors, and academics. 

As a body that brings together and advocates for the social purpose sector, CCEDNet knows how important it is for organizations to be able to tell their impact story effectively. CCEDNet has been collaborating on the project to ensure that information about the Common Approach reaches not only social purpose organizations but also the evaluators, consultants and trainers who support them in measuring their impact.

Aligned impact evaluators, consultants, and trainers are able to use the Common Approach logo and the Common Foundations icons on their website and promotional materials, which would signal to others in the field that they are leading the growing Common Approach community of practice across the country. 

Want to meet some of the evaluators, consultants, and trainers beginning to work with the Common Foundations? Check out our Common Foundations Champions page.
 

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Emergency Community Support Fund Header ImageThe Government of Canada’s $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund is now open. The Emergency Community Support Fund supports community organizations helping vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis. Community organizations may seek funds to undertake a wide range of activities and to serve a wide range of vulnerable groups.

Community organizations may apply for funds through either the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada or the United Way Centraide network. The right place to apply depends on the community organization’s type:

Community organizations of both types can apply to the Canadian Red Cross for training and equipment to help their staff and volunteers prevent disease transmission.

You can find more information on the Emergency Community Support Fund’s website. If you would like to learn still more, you can register here to join one of three webinars. We will hold the webinars at:

In addition to the Emergency Community Support Fund, be sure to verify the federal business support programs for which you may be eligible, including the Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Business Account.

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Logos of recommendation signatoriesThe federal government has taken — and continues to take — swift and bold actions in response to COVID-19. However, important budgetary and policy decisions will need to be made in the near future about how to emerge from this crisis in a way that strengthens our resilience and prosperity.

Leaders from the co-operative, social economy, social enterprise, non-profit and community economic development sectors have submitted a joint letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The letter provides concrete recommendations for moving toward a post-COVID economy in which the most vulnerable are protected and everyone can thrive.


Read the joint letter and recommendations

Many of the co-signatories to the shared recommendations in this letter also have more detailed proposals for their sector.  Read more:

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Every year, CCEDNet members are invited to submit nominations for CCEDNet’s Board of Directors. This year, there were four vacancies to be filled.

Four eligible nominations were received by the deadline, leading our Elections Officer to declare the following candidates elected by acclamation:

The results will be ratified at CCEDNet’s Annual General Meeting of the members on June 11.

Congratulations to these amazing CED leaders from across Canada, who will be part of CCEDNet’s dedicated Board of Directors.

Victor Beausoleil

At the age of 25 Victor Beausoleil Co-Founded Redemption Reintegration Services one of the largest youth-led, youth justice agencies in Canada. As the founding Executive Director, Victor managed a $3.5 million dollar budget and through research and advocacy built RRS into a leader in youth justice. In 2013 Victor Beausoleil received his first public service appointment by the Premiere of Ontario Kathleen Wynne as a member of the PCYO (Premiere’s Council on Youth Opportunities). Victor has worked diligently in the broader equity seeking communities across Canada for the past fifteen years. As a lecturer Victor Beausoleil has travelled extensively throughout Canada, the United States and Africa for speaking engagements for community organizations, institutions and philanthropic foundations. Victor Beausoleil has been a board member of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, The Harriet Tubman Community Organization, as well as a member of the grant review committee’s of the Laidlaw Foundation, the Toronto Community Housing Social Investment Fund and Victor is currently on the board of the Toronto Community Benefits Network. The Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, National Post, Share Newspaper and The Caribbean Camera, have all highlighted Victor Beausoleil’s work in communities across Canada. Victor Beausoleil is currently the President + CEO of Intuit Consulting and the founder of SETSI – The Social Economy Through Social Inclusion Coalition. Victor has written eleven books and currently resides in Toronto with his wife and four children.

Michelle Colussi

Michelle has over 30 years of experience working with local and First Nation governments and NGO’s in Canada to strengthen their strategic impact and capacity, working for many years with the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal. Her experience across all roles in community work givers her a solid understanding of the diversity of perspectives and resources communities need to get stuff done. Michelle was the community research lead in the design of the Community Resilience Manual and worked with the Government of Botswana to train facilitators there.  She facilitated a diverse multi-sector Advisory group for Western Forest Products resulting in successful forest certification, was Canada’s first Transition Town Trainer and is co-founder of Building Resilient Neighbourhoods. Currently Michelle works with SHIFT Collaborative to strengthen systems change practice and adaptive learning in action with a focus on multi-stakeholder initiatives and regional food systems. Her current work includes coaching three Collective Impact initiatives, supporting deepening inclusive practices within IPCC Working Group I, coaching NGOs to strengthen financial acumen through Thriving Non-Profits and delivery of CMHC Housing Solutions Labs.

Kaye Grant

Kaye has worked for over 25 years within the non-profit/social enterprise sector in a number of roles. Kaye’s experience in working with the non-profit sector and local community groups enables her to maintain working relationships within the community. Kaye’s work with Manitoba League for Person’s with Disabilities has enabled her to become more engaged in the community of people with disabilities both locally and nationally. Kaye currently sits on the board of the Manitoba Co-op Association as the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) representative and she served on the board of Bike Winnipeg a co-chair for six years. Kaye has been an active member of CCEDNet in Manitoba for 12 years and has been on the board for the past three years. Kaye has been active in the Manitoba region; participating in many local CCEDNet events and activities. Kaye has a passion towards poverty alleviation and equality and has focused her work with organizations that contribute to these mandates. 

Gail HendersonGail Henderson

Dr Gail Henderson is an associate professor with Queen’s University Faculty of Law. In addition to community economic development, her research interests include corporate law, corporate governance, financial consumer protection and securities regulation.

Professor Henderson graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School as Gold Medalist in 2005, and served as law clerk to The Honourable Louise Charron of the Supreme Court of Canada. Prior to pursuing graduate studies at the University of Toronto, she practiced commercial litigation and environmental and municipal law at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto. Dr. Henderson is a member of the Asset Builders Learning Exchange (ABLE) Policy and Research Action Group.

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The CCEDNet team thanks our members for your commitment to the community over the last few weeks as we collectively face this unprecedented health crisis. Whether it’s continuing to provide essential food, health, and social services, finding creative ways to continue enterprising operations, naming and challenging deeply rooted structural inequities that are being laid bare, or just taking care of one another – community is our strength and we are all playing an important part.

To help you find information about various government responses and how communities are advocating and responding at a policy level, we created this COVID-19 Government Response document. 

Over the last few weeks, policy advocacy and change has been happening at an incredibly rapid pace. The CCEDNet team has been advocating alongside you and on your behalf to governments to respond to COVID-19 and consider what comes after.

Federal Advocacy

CCEDNet has:

Provincial Advocacy

CCEDNet has:

We will continue to work with our members, other networks and coalitions to advocate for the needs of our members and our communities during this challenging time.

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This is a test.  And like any good test, it lays bare both our strengths and our weaknesses.  Here’s how we’re measuring up so far…

This crisis had revealed some real, critical problems with our society.  Collapse of the global economic system seems possible, if not likely.  Those living with poverty and homelessness are more vulnerable to both the virus itself and the social and economic upheaval that will follow.  Employers’ inadequate sick leave and family leave policies mean that some people have choose between going to work sick, potentially infecting others, and putting food on their tables.  Furthermore, the recent shift towards precarious work and household debt levels threaten families’ economic stability in a COVID-19 world.  School closures have brought to light food insecurity faced by many children and families, which is also threatened by tighter borders and shortages, whether real or perceived.  To make matters worse, those in domestic violence or abusive situations could be at greater risk because of close confinement with their abusers.    

BUT, before you go bury yourself in a despair-filled hole, there’s some good news.  We are doing well, in a lot of ways.  We care about our neighbours.  We are showing that the strength and resiliency of our communities comes from the people in them.  Care-mongering is now a thing, thanks to some ordinary Torontonians.  Social media feeds are full of memes and pleas urging everyone to stay home to protect the elderly, the vulnerable, the doctors and nurses, and the health care system.  And people are doing it.  Our public health officials, doctors, and nurses are going above and beyond to help keep us all safe and healthy.  Not just them but workers of all kinds – grocery store clerks, truckers, postal worker, cleaners, delivery drivers.  These are the people going out into the suddenly scary world every day to make sure that we have provisions to meet our daily needs.  Our dedicated public servants have adapted to a new reality, and are ready to be redeployed to areas of greatest need.  Manufacturers, too, are pivoting their operations quickly to meet the demand for supplies such as hand sanitizers and ventilators.  Small local businesses are doing their best to protect their employees, keep their businesses afloat, and meet community needs.  Technology is helping many of us work and study from home and connect with loved ones near and far.  Our leaders (in Canada anyway) are showing that they have our backs, by putting partisanship aside and working together for the common good.  And through it all, sheer human ingenuity is carrying the day – from parents entertaining small children in enclosed spaces to doctors rigging up ventilators for use by more than one patient at a time.

So, there is reason to hope.  We will get through this.  When all is said and done, and we start down the road to economic and social recovery, let’s build on our strengths: neighbours & communities, workers, committed public servants, local businesses, and human ingenuity.  And let’s use those strengths as a springboard to shore up our weaknesses – poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and domestic violence.  These problems can all be solved, if we work together.  

When all is said and done, let’s rebuild our economy in a way that puts people and communities first.  And let’s do it together.  
When all is said and done, just imagine how resilient we’ll be.

*The opinions expressed in blog posts are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of CCEDNet

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Thank you.

In the face of crises, communities are always first responders. We see you working tirelessly from the grassroots — both organizing to provide for urgent needs at the local level while also naming and challenging deeply rooted structural inequities that are being laid bare.

Community is our strength in navigating the uncertainties of these emergent times. We know that every one of us has something to offer. And everyone has needs that require fulfillment. 

These days call for our courage and creativity in equal measure. We can help each other get through what was previously unimaginable. We have radically re-imagined our communities before and we will do so again, this time, with dignity for all and future economies that serve communities and the planet.

The community economic development (CED) world has been doing this work for a long time, and as today’s pressing needs and urgencies subside, the sector’s brilliant models will be ripe examples for societal rebuilding. 

We’d love to hear your stories right now. How are you pulling together? What does mutual aid and community economic development look like for you right now? Where are you experiencing systems gaps and failings, which can guide CCEDNet’s policy work?

Share your stories with us! Send us an email or post to social media using the hashtag #CEDStrongerTogether. We will collect and share back what we hear.

CCEDNet’s staff continues to work from our respective homes during this stretch, and welcomes you to reach us by email and to stay connected. 

When we advocate for those most vulnerable and marginalized, collectively we can challenge the systems that perpetuate greed and create inequities. When we come together at the most human level, tiny gestures of great love can transform lives.

Thank you for the important part you play and the gifts you bring to our shared work of creating vibrant, resilient and sustainable local economies. We are always stronger together.

In solidarity and love,
CCEDNet Team

P.S. We have collected a CCEDNet Care Package here for you, full of resources for strengthening connections.

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“Our budget capitalizes on advantages such as publicly-owned Manitoba Hydro and Efficiency Manitoba, our strong social economy sector, local business acumen, and dynamic economic development strategies emerging in First Nations like Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, to show how a Green New Deal could roll out in Manitoba. We have all the elements we need; all that’s required is government leadership to put them together. …. 

“The strength of our budget is the way the recommendations in one area complement those in others. Training and investment for the North are rooted in community economic development and environmental principles that support our Green New Deal strategy and agriculture section. Our food security recommendations support the universal meal program in our K-12 education section.”

–Lynne Fernandez, editor – Change Starts Here: Manitoba Alternative Provincial Budget 2020

“CED is a community-led approach rooted in the Neechi Principles that creates economic opportunities while enhancing social and environmental conditions. … 

“Economic development in Manitoba would be stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive with an alternative CED approach that builds local economies, strengthens local community ownership, distributes profits equitably, and is focused on an inclusive approach to growth and employment, particularly for marginalized communities that face disproportionate poverty and unemployment rates.”  

–Michael Barkman – from the Community Economic Development chapter in Change Starts Here: Manitoba Alternative Provincial Budget 2020

Budgeting for alternatives rooted in CED

Last week, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Manitoba office released Change Starts Here: Manitoba Alternative Provincial Budget 2020 – an exciting presentation of ideas & proposals authored by numerous volunteer contributors that address some of the big issues facing our province, like poverty, the climate crisis, and improving the well-being of all Manitobans. 

Read a quick summary here!

Many of the big ideas and solutions that members of the Canadian CED Network Manitoba (CCEDNet Manitoba) are already practicing in our communities are at the heart of the Alternative Provincial Budget 2020 (APB). In Change Starts Here, Community Economic Development is articulated as an approach to strengthen Manitoba’s economy in urban, rural, and northern communities, to reduce inequality & poverty, and to support a Green New Deal strategy. The role of social economy enterprises such as cooperatives, credit unions, and social enterprises as well as community-based organizations and nonprofits in this approach is essential. 

In Change Starts Here, many CCEDNet Manitoba policy resolutions are articulated within a broader presentation of how Manitoba could budget for people, planet, and prosperity. CCEDNet Manitoba’s public policy mandate is the result of a democratic process. Every year, members work together to create a pragmatic, wide-ranging and solutions-focused set of public policy resolutions. 

Current Context

On March 11, 2020, the Manitoba government will announce Budget 2020. To aid this process, CCEDNet Manitoba contributed ideas to the public consultation process for Budget 2020. Read our entire budget submission here. The ideas submitted to the province align with the chapters submitted by CCEDNet Manitoba to Change Starts Here.

The links below include a quick summary of the ideas and policy solutions articulated by the Network in both Change Starts Here and in our 2020 provincial budget submission. It is our community vision for Manitoba’s Budget 2020. 

Last week, the province publicized the mandate letters to Manitoba cabinet ministers penned by the Premier. These letters indicate the direction and priorities of the government, and many intersect with what’s going on in the Manitoba Community Economic Development sector. Stay tuned for a deeper analysis of these letters, how Manitoba’s Budget 2020 will interact with these categories, and any important next steps.

Watch for a CCEDNet budget analysis later this week. 

Community Economic Development & A Stronger Economy

Given the possibilities of CED to strengthen local economies, government should play a crucial role in setting the conditions for CED. Considering its strong outcomes and results, the infrastructure to support CED is under-resourced. Strengthening the sector would lead to positive results for the entire economy.

CCEDNet Manitoba’s chapter in Change Starts Here as well as our submission to the provincial budget consultation focuses on supporting CED enterprises and economic growth. Our recommendations boost Manitoba’s economic potential, create jobs, reduce poverty through key economic activities, address climate change through a CED approach, and strengthen local, fair economies.

Recommendations:

  • Adopt a provincial CED Policy Framework & Lens, including its use as a framework for a Green New Deal
  • Develop a Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy
  • Strengthen the co-op community and co-op development
  • Bolster business & enterprise support services for low-income and rural Manitobans
  • Explore innovative social finance options in partnership with the CED sector, including enhancing the CED Tax Credit

Economic Inclusion

Change Starts Here has a strong emphasis on addressing poverty through key investments and programs to strengthen social inclusion and equity. It increases the supply of social and affordable housing, reverses changes to Rent Assist, invests in childcare and food security, and converts Employment & Income Assistance to a Livable Basic Needs Benefit, in line with CCEDNet policy resolutions, as well as the work of Make Poverty History Manitoba and the Right to Hous

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Following the appointment of the federal Cabinet in December, CCEDNet has sent letters to key Ministers with recommendations based on our Policy Priorities. 

Read the letters sent to:

Supporting effective public policies that strengthen community economies is one of CCEDNet’s core roles.  Find out more about CCEDNet’s National Policy Council or our policy work in Manitoba. 

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CCEDNet’s 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on…

June 11
10am – 11:30am Pacific, 11am – 12:30pm Mountain, 12pm – 1:30pm Central, 1pm – 2:30pm Eastern, 2pm – 3:30pm Atlantic, 2:30pm – 4pm Newfoundland

This year’s AGM repeats the success of the last five years by being entirely virtual and bilingual. Members are able to make motions, vote and comment in English or French, all from the comfort of their computer. This year, the AGM will be 90 minutes long.

For additional background information, you can consult CCEDNet’s by-laws.

AGM Documents

Meeting documents will be posted here as they become available.

AGM Resolutions

We are no longer accepting resolutions.

This year we received a resolution entitled Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) from members Yvon Poirier of the Corporation de développement économique communautaire de Québec and Ryan Gibson.

Board Nominations

Nominations are now closed. This year, there were four vacancies to be filled. Four eligible nominations were received, leading our Elections Officer to declare the candidates elected by acclamation. Meet the new board members.

 

Registation is now closed

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Exciting policy progress at the City of Winnipeg 

Last week, the City announced a Request for Proposals for a food service provider at City Hall, including 20% of the evaluation criteria on Community and Environment Benefits – possible considerations include advancing reconciliation, training & jobs for people with barriers to employment, addressing poverty & homelessness, using local & sustainable food sourcing, a zero waste strategy, and more. Read all the possibilities here.

A positive step for Social Procurement

Social Procurement is a policy tool to leverage positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes from government purchasing. This is a sign of progress on this innovative approach at the City of Winnipeg. While not only fulfilling the procurement need of having a food provider at City Hall, the RFP incentivizes bidders to include social and environmental outcomes in their proposals. The language included in this contract is an example of policy that could get greater value and community impact through municipal procurement dollars.

This RFP comes during the same time when a group of CCEDNet Manitoba social enterprise members and allied organizations – calling ourselves the We Want to Work coalition – have been collaborating to encourage the city to adopt social procurement policies throughout its projects. So, this news is encouraging!

Currently, Mother Earth Recycling, an Indigenous-owned social enterprise, has a contract with the city to recycle mattresses from Brady Landfill, while providing training and employment for people with multiple barriers to employment. 

Our goal is to boost the use of social procurement at the city level through direct purchasing from social enterprises and Community Benefits Agreements for large projects – so that economic, social, and environmental outcomes can be achieved simultaneously and local communities benefit. 

Want to get involved or show your support? Contact Michael Barkman (CCEDNet Manitoba Public Policy Coordinator): m.barkman [at] ccednet-rcdec.ca or call 204.943.0547.

Interested in the proposal?

For interested proponents, there will be an Open House at the site on March 5, 2020 between 2pm and 4pm
The RFP closes Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 12pm

View bid documents

Learn more about Social Procurement Recommendations at the City of Winnipeg

Learn about the power of community benefits

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February 18, 2020 – The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) stands in solidarity with the Hereditary Chiefs, community members, and land defenders of Wet’suwet’en.

We recognize the sovereignty of the Wet’suwet’en Nation over these unceded lands and that all of the Hereditary Chiefs of the five Wet’suwet’en Clans have rejected the proposed TC Energy Coastal GasLink pipeline. We call on the RCMP to immediately stand down from Wet’suwet’en Territories.

The Canadian Government has committed to restoring relationships with Indigenous peoples. Indigenous title is protected by the Canadian Constitution and has been upheld by decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada.  Both the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP – endorsed by Canada in 2016 and by BC in 2019) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission affirm the fundamental principle of “Free, Prior and Informed Consent” not just of the elected band councils, but also of the clans and the Hereditary Chiefs. We call on federal and provincial governments to uphold UNDRIP in honouring the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s right to Free, Prior and Informed consent and negotiate with the Wet’suwet’en Nation on a true nation-to-nation basis.

With deep respect for Indigenous traditional knowledge, CCEDNet recognizes the inextricable links between extractive capitalism and colonialism, and advocates for economic levers for change that contribute to community and environmental well-being.

Wet’suwet’en people are standing up to protect the lands and waters and showing the world what it means to defend the future through democratic, participatory, and community-owned approaches. In doing so, they are also affirming sovereignty over the care and keeping of our common home – the original definition of ‘economy.’

Construction costs alone for the Coastal GasLink pipeline are estimated at $6.6 billion. This figure does not account for the expense of RCMP deployment; neither does it include the billions of dollars in subsidies that the Canadian government pays to the oil and gas industry every year.

A number of Wet’suwet’en First Nations have signed Impact Benefit Agreements and would derive economic opportunities important to their communities.  But imagine if an equivalent investment was instead made in a just transition toward an ecological economy built through co-operation and decolonization. We would be able to address the climate crisis with the resources and urgency it demands, while ensuring access to vital community services and decent work.

In this era of climate crisis, it’s more important than ever for the decisions that impact communities to be rooted in local knowledge and led by communities. Wet’suwet’en land defenders are teaching us all how to stand up for an economic reality that honours the earth and all beings – prioritizing community well-being over corporate profits.

We call for investments to build a society where all people and communities, now and into the future, may experience a good quality of life. We call on our members, collaborators, friends, and allies to join in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Nation by condemning ongoing colonial violence against Indigenous people and communities, including forced removal, and by uplifting the voices and actions of land defenders and allies.

In solidarity,

The Canadian Community Economic Development Network

Want to understand the situation more deeply?

We encourage people to keep learning and doing their own research, and offer a few resources below:

Want to find a way to offer support?

Donate:

Explore the supporter toolkit: Unist’ot’en Camp has published the Wet’suwet’en Supporter Toolkit 2020 

Follow Unist’ot’en: on Facebook and Twitter

Sign the pledge: Join thousands of organizations and individuals in signing the pledge in support of Unist’ot’en.

Contact Representatives:

This page has been set up so you can send an email directly to relevant Federal cabinet ministers and BC Provincial cabinet ministers calling on the RCMP and Coastal Gas Link to respect Unist’ot’en/Giltseyu-Dark House on their unceded lands.

Call provincial and federal ministers:

  • BC Premier John Horgan (250) 387-1715
  • Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth (250) 356-2178
  • Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Scott Fraser (250) 953-4844
  • Attorney General David Eby (250) 387-1866
  • MLA for Stikine (Wet’suwet’en Territory) and Forests Minister Doug Donaldson (250) 387-6240
  • Energy Minister Michelle Mungall (250) 953-0900
  • Prime Minister Trudeau (613) 992-4211
  • Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett (613) 995-9666
  • Find contact information for your provincial MLA and federal MP

With thanks to Unis’tot’en and the Sierra Club of BC, from which the additional resources above have been adapted.

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