English – Page 21 – Canadian CED Network

Interested in exploring the development of an employment social enterprise idea? Biannually, TEF runs the ESE Idea Accelerator program, which supports individuals and organizations in developing early-stage employment social enterprise ideas. The accelerators provides four experiential workshops, which support participants to strengthen both business and social aspects of their ESE idea. The Accelerator program culminates in a pitch competition, during which participants will have the chance to pitch for $5,000 to $10,000 ‘Catalyzing Grant’ to conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for their ESE idea.

Spring Cohort

This spring, TEF will run an ESE Idea Accelerator, focused on catalyzing the development of new employment social enterprises that create inclusive employment opportunities for people facing barriers to the labour market. The program will offer participants the chance to strengthen their ESE ideas through four interactive workshops, peer support, and the opportunity to pitch for a ‘Catalyzing Grant’. Keen to participate?

Apply today ESE Idea Accelerator program

Workshop Schedule:

Workshop 1 – Employment Model: During this workshop you’ll explore the employment needs of your ‘target population’ and refine the various aspects of your employment model and employment intervention.
Workshop 2 – Business Idea: During this workshop you’ll refine your product or service idea, and develop a stronger understanding of your target markets.
Workshop 3 – Operational Plan: During this workshop, you’ll develop a high-level operational plan, and learn about key aspects of building a great team, advisory board, and operational plan.
Workshop 4 – Financial Projections: During this workshop, you’ll gain an introduction to financial planning, including developing an initial budget for your employment social enterprise idea.

Eligibility:

Individuals and organizations in Peel, Toronto and York Region with an interest in exploring the development of an employment social enterprise that will create employment opportunities for people facing barriers to the labour market are eligible to participate in the Accelerator program. Additionally, to be eligible to participate:

A member of your team must be able to attend all four workshops of the Accelerator, in-person. Each workshop will be hosted at United Way Greater Toronto, 26 Wellington St. E in Toronto.
You must be able to attend the ESE Idea Accelerator Pitch Night (Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.)
You must be applying to participate in the Accelerator to work on a new ESE idea

Key Dates:

Application deadline: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
Workshop 1: Tuesday, April 9, 2019, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Workshop 2: Tuesday, April 16, 2019, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Workshop 3: Thursday, April 25, 2019 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Workshop 4: Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Accelerator Pitch Competition: Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Information Session

Keen to learn more about employment social enterprises and our winter ESE Idea Accelerator? We encourage you to watch our pre-recorded Information Session webinar. To do so please click here, and enter this password: 34kCZpna. The webinar will launch in a new window. It may take a few seconds to load, please be patient. If you have any technical difficulties, please contact Courtney at .

Spring Cohort Application:

Apply today! Applications are due Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.

To prepare yourself to apply for the program, we encourage you to attend the webinar Information Session (see above) and participate in an Employment Social Enterprise 201 workshop. For ESE 201 dates, see here.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Bronwyn Oatley.

The World Social Forum of Transformative Economies will take place in Barcelona in 2020. The event – and especially the build-up towards it – intends to be a huge step forward in connecting and involving movements and transformative practices that are changing the economic system in their communities all over the planet. More than Another World is possible, we affirm that “another world already exists”, and is being made by different practical visions of alter-globalization movements and by the renewal of long historical traditions such as co-operativism and community economies.

The Forum is proposing to start with 4 streams of converging movements: Feminist Economies and gender perspective; Agroecological Movements and Food Sovereignty; Natural, urban, knowledge and digital Commons; and Social Solidarity Economies (including fair trade, co-operativism and ethical finance).

Step by step, the main goal is to recognize the complementarities and common objectives, in order to converge to provide the answers to global challenges we will have chosen to tackle together. Transversal dimensions of public policy and education and research have already begun to emerge and others will be defined in the process.

From the 5^th to the 7^th of April 2019, a large preparatory meeting will be held in Barcelona. The aim will be to discuss and validate the governance of the Forum and process, its working methodology, and the specific goals for the 2020 Forum. It will do so with representatives of the different movements, and from local and international networks and organizations. The operational team of the Forum is currently mapping organizations, to invite them to participate in this first phase. We count on you to continue making contributions from organizations / movements / networks from each continent and sectors that are key to joining this process of convergence.

What everyone is wondering is: how to participate? Participating in the forum is not only through being invited to the working meeting of April 2019 or attending the event in Spring 2020. The most important part is the process itself and there are many ways to contribute:

Participate in the convergence spaces of Transformative Economies: these have begun to organize and work, mainly from the Barcelona base for the moment. Their main objective is now focusing on mapping the actors (organizations, networks, movements) to be involved in the process, and start defining objectives for the 2019 and 2020 meetings. Each space will have a local facilitator and one (or more) international facilitators. Interaction will take place mainly through an online platform that will soon be launched.
Local convergences: these are territorial dynamics that bring together the different approaches to transformive economies and who decide to work together to foster their participation and contribution to the Forum process.
The International Promotion Committee: this is the meeting place for the large international networks that promote transformative economies. RIPESS is leading this space for this launching phase, establishing contacts with the different movements to jointly evaluate the best moment to get involved in the process and in which capacity.

In order to provide more detailed orientations for local processes (both for local territorial convergences, and the transformative economies spaces), an “infopack” is being drafted and will soon be published.

Local convergences in Barcelona are eager to exchange with similar processes in other territories and with international movements. The forum is calling for diversity of networks, movements and initiatives that identify themselves as transformative practices to join the process.

Visit: www.transformadora.org, follow the Facebook page and Twitter account, or subscribe to the newsletter.

Feel free to contact the working team at and they will suggest the best way for you to participate.

Source: RIPESS

In response to the call for engagement by Manitobans in the development the 2019/2020 Provincial Budget, CCEDNet-Manitoba prepared a brief with 15 recommendations in four themes, guided by our member created and endorsed policy resolutions. Our brief was sent to the Honourable Scott Fielding, Minister of Finance.

The Province has a website indicating ways you can participate in these important consultations. To learn more, or to find out how you can use this document to draft your own pre-budget submissions, contact Michael Barkman at m.barkman at ccednet-rcdec.ca or 204.943.0547.

Our public policy mandate is decided through a democratic, member-driven process. Members of the Canadian CED Network – Manitoba submit draft policy resolutions that are subject to a deliberative process and those adopted are the focus of outreach by the entire CCEDNet Manitoba membership. Read our full policy mandate here. The recommendations in this submission reflect solutions already working in communities and are the result of a democratic decision-making process.

Read CCEDNet Manitoba’s full 2019-2020 pre-budget submission

CCEDNet Manitoba Recommendations

Economic Inclusion: Skills, Jobs and Training

Reverse the trend towards increasing child apprehension and the number of children and youth in care, and focus on meaningful employment for people with barriers to employment. Partner with and support social enterprises that provide wrap-around supports for individuals and families involved with Child and Family Services, and re-invest the savings accrued through reductions in child apprehensions into community-led, poverty reduction priorities.
Support organizations and initiatives providing long-term supports to Indigenous job seekers facing multiple barriers to employment and employers committed to inclusive hiring.
Ensure that community employment benefits are reported on for projects where the provincial government is the ultimate recipient of federal government infrastructure funding.
Invest in childcare and early learning as a crucial part of economic inclusion and access to employment for Manitobans. Create 17,000 new, licensed, and funded not-for-profit early learning and childcare spaces, while also investing resources to ensure existing spaces are sufficiently funded.

Tackling Poverty

Release a comprehensive poverty reduction plan. This plan must be developed in consultation with community members and include targets and timelines for reducing poverty. We believe The View From Here provides a blueprint for this work.
Introduce a new livable basic needs benefit to lift all Manitobans up to or above the poverty line.
Establish a fee waiver system that enables low-income Manitobans to obtain or replace a birth certificate free of charge. The report Access to Identification for Low-Income Manitobans provides a blueprint for this work.
Partner with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to better administer the 55 PLUS Manitoba Income Supplement and the Manitoba Child Benefit, particularly focusing on automatic assessments through the CRA.
Invest in social and affordable housing, as well as committing to the Rent Assist program, through the recommendations of the Right to Housing Coalition.

Stronger Economy: Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan

Support social enterprise development in Manitoba by committing to co-creating and co-producing a second phase of the Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy beginning in 2019/20, with a mission of supporting social entrepreneurs focused on job creation and training for people facing barriers to employment.
Build upon commitments to strengthening the co-operative sector by mobilizing existing resources and developing new resources in full partnership with the co-op sector to best serve the co-op development needs of Manitoba.
Increase the grants provided to third party not-for-profit business and enterprises support services to 2016/17 levels so that low-income and rural Manitobans can receive robust and timely access to accessible business, cooperative, and enterprise development training and consulting services.
Explore innovative social finance options in partnership with the Winnipeg Social Finance Working Group, including reviewing existing social finance policy and programming, and maintaining the budget allocation to the CED Tax Credit.
Implement a Government of Manitoba Social Procurement strategy that generates additional value through enhanced economic, social, and environmental outcomes, while increasing purchasing from social enterprises, cooperatives, and nonprofits; local and sustainable food; and increasing job and training opportunities for people facing barriers to employment.

Stronger, Healthier Communities: Community-Led Development

Reduce red tape and increase value for money by investing in community-led development with multi-year, streamlined funding that includes the following characteristics:
- A targeted approach that identifies and invests in key neighbourhoods and communities in the greatest need of physical, social and economic revitalization. Renew Manitoba’s community development programs; both honouring long-term, core funding commitments to Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations and considering potential efficiencies and red tape reducing measures, in consultation with impacted organizations and communities.
- Multi-year agreements to a maximum of five years, including cost of living increases on an annual basis;
- Creating effective communication channels between the Province of Manitoba and community-based organizations, allowing agencies to provide feedback and make recommendations, as well as providing agencies with a year’s notice of renewal decisions, thereby ensuring agencies have sufficient time to plan.

Read CCEDNet Manitoba’s full 2019-2020 pre-budget submission

¹The Farmers’ Bank of Rustico existed from 1864 to 1894 (The Bank received its charter in 1864 but had been operating informally since 1861). Located in Prince Edward Island, one of the 10 provinces of present-day Canada, this financial institution, entirely managed by farmers in this part of the Island, was situated in this Acadian (Francophone) parish.

The Farmers’ Bank building in South Rustico

Acadian settlers settled on this island in 1720, which was the land of the Mi’kmaq (the region’s native people). They came in large numbers, especially between 1748 and 1756, to avoid the British deportation of Acadians from Nova Scotia. In 1758, the majority of the Island’s Acadian residents were deported to France by the British. Among those who avoided deportation by taking refuge on the mainland, many returned to the Island. All the land on the Island, which had become a British colony, had been allocated to British landlords by a lottery held in London. As a result, Acadian farmers became annuitants and had to pay annual rent. As many were too poor to pay this rent, they had to leave the land they had cleared and start again elsewhere.

This was the situation Father Georges-Antoine Belcourt discovered when he arrived as a Catholic priest in the Parish of Rustico in 1859. At the time, Rustico was the most important of the seven (7) Acadian parishes on the Island. It is worth noting that it was thanks to the English-speaking Bishop of the Island that Belcourt was recruited in the Archdiocese of Quebec. Previously, Father Belcourt had been a missionary in the West, in present-day Manitoba and North Dakota, to the Aboriginal and Métis populations. As he had prepared a petition, signed by 977 Métis, calling for an end to the Hudson’s Bay Company’s trade monopoly, a large capitalist company, he had been withdrawn from this territory. It is presumed that the political authorities of the time had put pressure on the Archdiocese of Quebec to withdraw him. After several years in North Dakota (United States territory) he was recruited to come to the Island.

Quite quickly, seeing the poverty of the farmers in Rustico, Belcourt proposed the creation of a Farmers’ Bank to meet their credit needs. At the time, farmers could hardly obtain loans from commercial banks, as the interest rate exceeded 20%, and the repayment period was a maximum of 3 months. This is impossible for farmers because the deadline came before the harvest.

The farmers adopted the project. From 1861 onwards, informal activities began. However, in order to make it an official institution, legislation was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in April 1863. As it was before Canada’s creation as a country (1867), it was necessary to obtain the government’s consent in London. The Charter was granted in 1864, despite strong scepticism about such a small project. Indeed, the initial capital planned was £1,200, equivalent to $3,600 dollars at the time. It thus began its operations, including the authorization to print its own banknotes.

Father Georges-Antoine Belcourt

The law established a Board of directors of 12 people, half of whom changed each year. In order to build up the initial capital, 1,200 shares were put up for sale. The law stipulated that no single person may hold more than 10% of the shares. In addition, the law favoured holders of a single share. Thus, at the annual meeting, the holder of a share had one vote. To obtain 2 votes, you had to have 10 shares, 3 votes required 20 shares, etc. As successive boards of directors have always been composed entirely of farmers, this was a sign that they had control. In fact, it seems that some outsiders were buying several shares to help the Bank build its capital for loans.

In order to understand the inherent philosophy of the bank’s governance, the excerpt from a letter from Father Belcourt is very significant:

“Do you want to know a lot about how poor people can become bankers? It is a secret that indeed contains enough interest to arouse curiosity; well, here is how we do it without asking how the gentlemen do it, (the capitalists.) The officers are 12 in number, including a President, Treasurer and Secretary, and the other advisors, eligible each year by the shareholders. The first 3 officers, those in office, are elected from the twelve by this council. Their office is honorary, and until their office gives them too much work, they act for honour and not for money, (it would not suit those who love it more).”

Thus, in this 1862 letter, written to a friend in France, it is obvious that the project was well prepared, and this before the adoption of the law in 1863.

During the 30 years of activity, the Bank printed its own banknotes (exchangeable with other currencies). Although most of the activities were conducted in French, the banknotes were bilingual. The main activity was to provide small loans for farmers, at rates varying between 6% and 8%. The repayment periods ranged from 6 to 12 months. In some years, the bank generated surpluses, part of which were paid in dividends. Over the years, the capital increased to $21,000. In the last years, there were also savings accounts.

The Charter of the Farmers’ Bank of Rustico was extended twice by the Canadian Parliament, in 1883 and 1891. Unfortunately, as a result of various pressures, the Charter was not extended beyond 1894. Among other things, the Canada Bank Act of 1871 stipulated that $500,000 in capital was required to operate as a bank in Canada. In doing so, the big capitalist banks ensured that all the small banks were eliminated, of which the Farmer’s Bank of Rustico was probably the smallest, having 25 times less than the minimum required. Despite all the efforts of the major banks to eliminate it, it nevertheless managed to maintain itself until 1894, partly because it had obtained its Charter before Canada was formed in 1867.

The concept of a cooperative was not yet well known, as the first cooperative was the one in Rochdale, Great Britain (1843). For the Francophones, the concept appeared a few years later in France. There was obviously no legislation on the subject yet. Nevertheless, according to the testimonies and writings of historians, it operated according to the major modern cooperative principles. The Bank was controlled by individuals and not by capital. Throughout its existence, the 12 directors were Rustico farmers. The manager was often a farmer and sometimes a teacher from the local school.

Some additional information

Although the bank did not use the word cooperative in its name, it can certainly be said that it was a pioneer of the first savings and credit unions, called caisses populaires in French-speaking Canada. Indeed, it was not until 1900 that Alphonse Desjardins founded his first Caisse populaire in Lévis. It is quite possible that Alphonse Desjardins became aware of the existence of the Rustico Bank because he was an official stenographer in the House of Commons in Ottawa from 1892, before the Bank closed. In the United States, the first Caisse populaire was established in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1909, in a Francophone community, with the help of Alphonse Desjardins. If not a formal credit union, we can certainly affirm that the Farmer’s Bank of Rustico was clearly a precursor of the credit unions created by Alphonse Desjardins.

Alphonse Desjardins

At the same time in Germany, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen founded the Heddesdorf Credit Union in 1864 to help German farmers buy livestock, equipment, seeds and other agricultural needs.

The coincidence is striking. In both cases, the activities started the same year, in 1864! This was to meet the needs of farmers, which is normal, because at the time, most of the population lived in rural areas.

Father Belcourt’s ideas, who gave lectures in other French-speaking parishes on the Island, would probably have inspired the creation of a cooperative-type association in 1862, two years before the Farmers’ Bank received its charter. A Grain Bank for seeds was created in the parish of Baie d’Egmont.

Any lessons for us in 2018?

It is very important to note that the creation of tools to resist the negative effects of capitalism has a long history. As can be seen from the letter of 1862, capitalism was a widespread notion.

The Bank law, dictated by the great capitalist bankers, made the disappearance of the Rustico Farmers’ Bank inevitable. It is also quite possible that some of Father Belcourt’s failure to convince other Acadian communities to create such an institution may not have helped.

Even though this Bank was forced to cease operations, cooperatives in the Acadian regions of the Island grew considerably, especially after the Second World War. In the fields of fishing, credit unions and cooperative stores. In recent times, an association of Rustico residents was formed and in 2007 succeeded in having the building where the Bank was housed recognized as one of the Historic Sites and Monuments of Canada.

We have a duty to remember these initiatives that have inspired future generations, including the author of this article who was born in another Acadian parish on the Island.

As in 1864, our societies are still dominated by this capitalist model, now globalized. It can even be said that this model has accentuated inequalities between countries, and within countries. This is an inevitable result of the capture of 50% of the world’s wealth by 1% of the population, mainly located in so-called developed countries. This situation creates fertile ground for wars, extremism and fundamentalism, not to mention the displacement of tens of millions of people, more than ever. A model that also produces global warming, which affects the world’s poorest people.

The awareness of this situation, as well as the need to provide the means to survive, everywhere on the planet, has led to a strong renewal of non-capitalist responses over the past thirty years or so, which are in line with the initiatives of these 19th century pioneers.

Today, recognizing itself mainly in the notion of the social solidarity economy (SSE), global networks are being created in order to help each other and promote an economy, and a world, organized by and for populations in order to meet their needs and not the needs of capital. It is solidarity and not competitiveness that prevails.

The vision of these 19th century pioneers is the same as that of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) in which the author has been involved since 2004. Capital must be at the service of humans and not the other way around!

1 Thanks to historian Georges Arsenault for his important contributions to the historical part of this article.

Yvon Poirier has a long history of involvement in the labour and social movements in Québec and Canada. He was founding President of the Corporation de développement économique communautaire de Québec in 1994, and member of the organizing committee of the Global Meetings on Community Economic Development in Sherbrooke, Québec in 1998. From November 2003 to July 2013, he co-edited a monthly international e-newsletter on sustainable local development published in four languages. He has been a CCEDNet member since 2003 at first as an individual and since 2012 he represents the CDÉC de Québec. He has been involved in tnternational representation for CCEDNet since 2004. His most significant international involvement has been in the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS). He has participated in many RIPESS conferences in different continents and since October 2o13 is a member of the RIPESS Board of directors. He has also participated in different World Social Forums and he represents RIPESS in the UN Inter-Agency Taskforce on SSE.

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

In September 2018, I attended for the first time the conference EconoUs. Besides the fact that I was impressed by the very inspiring exchanges and stories shared, one idea called my attention: IDEA. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility were at the heart of the opening plenary, The Big IDEA for Real Change. This concept aims to change how we think and act by ensuring diverse voices have the opportunity to only to be heard but to lead. In this perspective, the panel invited us to reflect on how we identify with others and how we make choices and take actions to model what we think the world should look like.

Back from the conference, I felt like I wanted to learn more about this concept, to see what was going on. I wanted to discover and share a few of the various initiatives for better Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility. I talked with representatives from three organizational members of CCEDNet to understand their work and the issues around IDEA. I met people from Working for Change and the Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF) from Toronto, and Spence Neighborhood Association (SNA) from Winnipeg. All three people were amazingly passionate and have been involved in their work for the past 10 years or more.

Responding to the needs of the community

In all cases, I noticed that the organizations were created for a specific need and then grew to answer new IDEA needs of the community. Working for Change was created in 1994 to respond to the need for employment opportunities for people with mental health issues. Today, the organization includes five social enterprises run by people overcoming addictions, poverty or homelessness.

The Learning Enrichment Foundation was formed 40 years ago in response to the need for youth programs in the local community. Since then, many programs have been developed. They now also offer childcare, employment and settlement services, language training, skills advancement programs and community enterprises serving, among others, newcomers and people who are unemployed or underemployed.

The Spence Neighbourhood Association was created in 1997 by five volunteers to improve the living conditions of the area, primarily by cleaning up one back lane. In a context of crime and poverty, the SNA quickly developed a set of new programs to respond to other needs. Today, they are offering each year more than 300 community activities, initiatives, events and meetings for youth & family, the environment, holistic housing and everyone’s safety.

From objectives to action, but first comes values

More than offering services, all three organizations want to fulfill a mission. At LEF, they want to provide integrated, holistic, and community responsive initiatives that enable individuals and families to become valued contributors to their community’s social and economic development. For Working for Change, the aim is to provide training and employment opportunities to people who have been marginalized, to speak out against marginalization, and to work to change policies that adversely affect their communities. The SNA’s mission is to work with the people of Spence to revitalize and renew their community in the areas of holistic housing, community connections, community economic development, environment & open spaces, and youth & families.

“There is so much work you can do
but without a set of values to guide the work,
housing work could be common development.”

We sometimes say ‘actions speak louder than words’. Each of the organizations I spoke to is engaged in work that clearly conveys their guiding principles, what is leading them to achieve their goals. Each organization has its own list of values and guiding principles and they are all crossing IDEA. They believe in an inclusive community, with diversity and respect for difference, and where everyone can have opportunities of empowerment.

Impact, results and influence

The work done by these three organizations has a real impact on the lives of people in their communities in terms of IDEA. Here are a few examples. With SNA, offering some teenagers their first opportunity to play sports has resulted in better high-school academic performances. At Working for Change, some people coming from ODSP (the Ontario Disability Support Program) are now working full-time in a union environment.

At LEF the story of a Cuban painter stands out. When he first arrived in Canada, he took advantage of the newcomer services at LEF. He was a very hard-worker, at the expense of his passion for painting. He came back a few years later as a volunteer, offering art classes to youth. On top of making an impact in these young people’s lives, he has developed more self-confidence and a passion that is becoming more powerful everyday.

“Nowadays it is very easy to lose hope
but I think we just have to all work together
and believe in everyone’s strengths”

In all these actions, organizations argue that it is less about helping people and more about empowerment. What also really strikes me is the fact that the influence does not stop at the doors of the organization, it is much bigger. All the families, friends of the beneficiaries are impacted too. All of this reminds us what community members can help build when they apply their shared values towards building programs that address the needs within the community.

Building a better future

More than responding to the community needs I also noticed that these organizations are trying to build a solid basis for a better future. They are having a real impact on the system to make it so that fewer people are left behind. LEF, which is now offering more than 30 child care centers, has contributed to reducing the length of time it takes for Child Care Assistants to go through training to become Child Care Educators. This evolution makes it more accessible for many more people and enables them to attain better-quality jobs. Thanks to the work of SNA, Spence neighborhood now benefits from better, safer, and more sustainable infrastructures. And Working for Change has contributed to establishing a Bill for domestic or sexual violence leave.

At the time of writing this article, I am finishing my internship at CCEDNet. I will be heading to Spain to support work on the development of the World Social Forum of Transformative Economies in 2020. I will keep in mind all these learnings about IDEA in my future work and studies. I want to do my best to help create a world where no one is left out, where everyone can see themselves as leaders, and we are all working to create the world we want. This is not a dream. From what I saw and learned, I know that this other world is possible; it already exists.

Marion Pouzoulet is the Communications Assistant at CCEDNet through her studies at the Institute of Political Science in Toulouse, France. She’s got a strong interest in economics, about the growing environmental and social issues we face in the world today.

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

The State of CED in Manitoba: Are We on the Edge of Change? Back in October 2018, community builders, advocates, and activists from across Manitoba joined together for the annual Manitoba Gathering of Community Builders, hosted by the Canadian CED Network at St John’s High School in the heart of Winnipeg’s North End. The theme of the Gathering this year was The Edge of Change. Plenary panelists Elder May Louise Campbell, Abdikheir Ahmed, and Uzoma Asagwara, along with moderator Molly Dunbar started our day exploring this concept.

The Gathering is a large event that brings together over 500 people from a range of sectors – focused on meaningfully strengthening our communities. Since my first time attending in 2012, I have heard many people refer to the Gathering as being like a family reunion. This is a sentiment I absolutely agree with. A diverse family, certainly, but one united with a vision that is hopeful and resolute, while tempered with understanding the interrelated crises of poverty, housing, addictions, employment, oppression, and more. After an hour of deep, critical, and crucial conversation, the panelists finished off by offering a single idea for this “family” to take with them. We heard “solidarity”, “vote”, “bolder” and while not one word: “We the people, we find our voices, and start speaking out … use our spirit to change the world”. The panelists helped bridge movements and reminded us of the solutions and wisdom that exists in our communities, effortlessly connecting the past, the present, and the edge of change where we find ourselves.

A few weeks later, I found myself at the State of the Province address with CCEDNet Regional Director Sarah Leeson-Klym. The State of the Province is also an important community event, hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, and attended by over 1000 community and business leaders. Here, we heard from Premier Brian Pallister about his vision for Manitoba. Economic development in key industries and work were top on his agenda. He reaffirmed his assertion that the resulting GDP growth and reduction in government deficits and spending will lead to a ‘better Manitoba tomorrow’. While the speech was certainly positive in tone, it felt distinctly different than the community vision I saw at the Gathering that works directly on some of the key economic and social challenges we see on the streets of Winnipeg and across Manitoba communities.

On November 28, members of the Canadian CED Network – dedicated community developers, advocates, and activists – came together to democratically decide the policy mandate of our Network. For me, the policy mandate emerges as a bridge between these two worlds – community members on the edge of change at the Gathering and a provincial government prioritizing economic development and work. Our Network’s policy mandate makes no bones about the challenges our province faces, while asserting proactive and innovative ideas for economic and social development that are sustainable and inclusive, all while resisting the idea that reduced government spending in key areas will lead to prosperity. Despite the juxtaposition of these community events, it is clear that in Manitoba, the power of communities working in solidarity, working boldly, working to change the world, with solutions at the ready is abundant.

With multiple strategies at both the federal and provincial level being developed or implemented and the release of several recent provincial statements that give us more information about the government’s priorities (not to mention this being my first fall with CCEDNet), this is an apt time to take stock of our mandate as we face the edge of change in our governments . The following thorough (but potentially not comprehensive) analysis will focus on the state of CED within the provincial government context, although there are of course many instances where intergovernmental relationships are essential. To do this, we’ve compared our mandate against the newly shuffled Cabinet Minister Mandate Letters, the November 20th Speech from the Throne, the recently released Economic Growth Action Plan, and the December 6th State of the Province address by Premier Brian Pallister.

Analysis

Foremost among the provincial government’s announcements this season has been a focus on economic development and employment. The Economic Growth Action Plan establishes regional and strategic partners to help deliver the economic development strategy. All Ministers in their mandate letters are tasked with “implementing our economic development strategy”. At the same time, the provincial throne speech set out a course to have “more employable Manitobans … transition from welfare into the workforce”. A general summary includes the primacy of economic growth, a need for fiscal restraint, and a belief that an improved Manitoba is one where more people are working overall.

This government also maintains its interest in measuring success using a variety of barometers, including Social Return on Investment, and showing particular interest in comparison against other provinces.The focus tends to be on improvement, regardless of the measure or the focus.

We know many members find alignment and common thinking with elements of these priorities. The community understands the value of meaningful work in local enterprises with wrap-around supports as a key way of ending poverty and spurring local economic development. Certainly government systems working effectively for community members is key. Measuring our progress to know that our interventions and enterprises are working is essential. But, overall, the development strategy for Manitoba feels like ‘growth for the sake of growth’, without taking into account social equity, the pressing need to address climate change, and sustainable economic growth for all Manitobans. Economic development in Manitoba should benefit all Manitobans, including those unable to participate in the mainstream labour market, and keep future generations in mind.

The economic development plan, as well as movement toward transitioning from “welfare into the workforce”, presents an opportunity for members to forward our Community Economic Development vision, detailed in the Network’s Manitoba policy mandate. When our mandate is taken together, it offers a cohesive vision of community-led, inclusive, and sustainable economic development that aligns with government priorities. It commits deeply to prosperity for all, taking care of all community members, valuing social equity and environmental sustainability, as well as community leadership and ownership. The sections following offer a deeper analysis of some thematic areas that are a key part of our Network’s holistic mandate.

With a throne speech, economic development strategy, and new mandate letters under our belts, indeed Manitoba is on ‘the edge of change’. How we stimulate economic growth to benefit all Manitobans, now and in the future, presents a key question for community developers, advocates, and the government itself. I believe the government will have an easier time measuring success and achieving positive outcomes in our province through enacting the community agenda found in the Canadian CED Network’s policy mandate, and in the ideas and vision of the community assembled at the Gathering.

Click on the links below to find more information about key Canadian CED Network member priorities. Watch in 2019 for a new annual report designed to more clearly articulate our Network’s vision for a Manitoba where there is inclusive, sustainable, and equitable prosperity for all. In the meantime, visit our Manitoba Policy Page to find all our current policy resolutions. Find the Provincial Throne Speech in full here. The Ministerial Mandate letters here. The Economic Growth Action plan here.

Accessibility

Community-Led Development

Cooperative Development

Climate Change & Energy

Housing

Poverty Reduction

Social Enterprise & Social Procurement

Social Finance

Accessibility

Accessibility and inclusion for Manitobans with disabilities are essential for full participation in the economy and to create thriving, strong communities. The Manitoba Legislature passed the landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act in December 2013 by an unanimous vote of all MLAs. The Act provides a comprehensive platform toward prevention and removal of barriers.

Throne Speech:

Enshrined in the legislation is a four-year review of the Act, which according to the Throne Speech, is nearing completion. The Network has supported community-led contributions to the government review. Only one of five promised accessibility standards, the Customer Service Standard, has been in force after almost five years of implementation. The pending Accessible Built Environment Standard will likely not consider buildings, but rather focus on areas outside the Building Code. Many of the date targets for progress on the accessibility standards set out by the province have been missed.

Mandate Letter (Minister of Families):

“Completing the review and implementation of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act to ensure its effectiveness in removing barriers to Manitobans with disabilities.”

Next Steps:

Barrier Free Manitoba will continue its advocacy for timely and effective implementation of the AMA, and members are encouraged to support and lend solidarity to the movement through BFM. CCEDNet staff will also be examining our own practices of accessibility in 2019, hoping to create inclusive programming and welcoming space for all Manitobans, and encourage our members and partners to do the same.

Community-Led Development

Community-led social and economic development is a pillar of CED and stronger communities. Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations are found across Manitoba in urban and rural communities, characterized by high levels of poverty, and a number of other factors associated with older neighbourhoods and municipalities in need of revitalization. NRCs have collectively engaged 560,000 community members – nearly half the population of Manitoba, while achieving a high economic impact through employment, housing, and community safety.

Throne Speech:

The province acknowledged the contributions of the non-profit and community-led development sector in the throne speech. The government is “determined to sustain and strengthen [the non-profit] sector”. Details are not yet clear save for the streamlining of provincial financing to “better address community needs, reduce red tape, and leverage matching funds”. CCEDNet’s Policy Resolution 2018-4 is a framework for community-led development and strengthening the non-profit sector, while 2019-2 on NRCs provides a more detailed framework for funding of Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations.

The Throne Speech acknowledged that “regional approaches to development help reduce duplication and make better use of municipal and provincial resources”. Members agree that responses to complex community challenges are most effective and sustainable when community-led. The provincial government ought to further consult the non-profit and community-led development sector on implementing their vision going forward.

Mandate Letter (Minister of Municipal Relations):

“Renewing the delivery of our community development programs to ensure to promote community capacity and sustainability, focus on outcomes, and enhanced community partnerships that best serve the needs of neighbourhoods, communities, and vulnerable Manitobans.”

“Establishing a single point of access for grant applications across government, which will reduce red tape for the non-profit sector.”

Next Steps:

CCEDNet and relevant members will be following up to understand the scope of program renewal and advocate for strongly community-led development, funded with stable, long-term, and flexible investments.

Cooperative Development

There are more than 400 cooperatives, credit unions, and caisses populaires in Manitoba, comprising of over 900,000 memberships and more than $22 billion in assets. Cooperatives create economic democracy, root ownership locally, distribute profit equitably, and contribute to sustainable economic development and job growth across the province. Supporting and strengthening the cooperative sector should be a key element of any economic development or jobs plan.

Throne Speech:

There was no mention of cooperatives in the Throne Speech this fall, meaning no response to the clear call from the sector for partnership on mobilizing existing and developing new resources. At a minimum, our Network urges the province to fill the vacant co-op developer position within the Cooperative Development Services branch of Growth, Enterprise & Trade and return grants provided to third party not-for-profit business and enterprise support services to 2016/17 levels.

Mandate Letter (Minister of Growth, Enterprise & Trade):

“Completing and delivering our economic development strategy, including Look North”

“Working with the Premier’s Enterprise Team to create new jobs and economic growth in the province”

Next Steps:

Members are encouraged to support the collaborative efforts of the Manitoba Cooperative Association in strengthening the co-op sector across the province.

Climate Change & Energy

Climate Change is a defining issue of our time, imposing high and escalating costs on society over the coming decades. Manitoba is not yet reducing emissions, with greenhouse gas emission approximately 15% higher today than they were in 1990. Addressing climate change through community-owned green energy projects presents an alternative that also meets social and economic development goals. This should be an essential part of Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan, and offer the path toward transitioning to a sustainable, green, and just economy.

Throne Speech:

The Throne Speech had little mention of the issue of climate change. The Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan is “an important part of our province’s economic strategy”. While some programs and projects to reduce emissions have commenced, little investment in transitioning to a green economy has started, and the province did not mention investing in community-owned renewable energy projects.

Mandate Letter (Minister of Sustainable Development):

“Work with the federal government and other jurisdictions as we develop a made-in-Manitoba climate action plan containing the following elements:

-Carbon pricing that fosters emissions reduction, keeps investment capital here and stimulates new innovation in clean energy, businesses and jobs.

-Land-use and conservation measures that sequester carbon and foster adaptation to climate change.

-Reduce emissions from commercial buildings through building codes and other measures putting government operations and infrastructure on a path to carbon-neutrality.

-Encourage the adoption of fuel saving technologies and measures within the transportation sector.”

Next Steps:

The Network will work toward addressing negative impacts of hydro development through Wa Ni Ska Tan: An Alliance of Hydro-Impacted Communities, as well as transitioning to a more sustainable future through environmental and socially-focused non-profits, social enterprises, and cooperatives. A key point of advocacy is how action towards more energy efficient homes and buildings, as well as major reductions in organic waste at landfill, can happen through social enterprises that not only make environmental impact, but also create local jobs for a wide range of job seekers. Our Network asserts that partnership with community economic development initiatives can create major value for money in this area.

Housing

Many Manitobans continue to experience an affordable housing crisis. Far too many households spend 50% or more of their income on rent, putting them at significant risk of losing their housing, their health, and their spirit. Affordable housing is a key piece of neighbourhood renewal, and a necessary foundation for economic development, accessing a good job, and family stabilization.

Throne Speech:

The Throne Speech pointed to “the need for a flexible approach that delivers cost-effective housing programs that can better meet local housing needs”. Gaps in housing options for marginalized Manitobans with unique housing needs were identified. At the same time, the province has not committed to new housing units, and has sold off some social housing units. As well, the deductible under Rent Assist for low-income Manitobans in private housing not on social assistance rose to 30 percent of their income from 28 percent. Rent Assist recipients on social assistance got a small increase in benefits.

The provincial government intends to work with the federal government on a renewal framework for housing needs. In April 2018, the province signed onto a Multilateral Housing Partnership Framework. It remains to be seen if budgetary commitments will be made to match federal funding.

Mandate Letter (Minister of Families):

“Reviewing our public housing programs to look for ways to get better value for the money we spend providing needed shelter for low income Manitobans”

Next Steps:

The Right to Housing Coalition is a key group supported by the Network to champion affordable and social housing policy at all three levels of government. Key to watch will be how the provincial government partners with the federal government on leveraging funds within the National Housing Strategy.

Poverty Reduction

A comprehensive and integrated approach must be taken to effectively address the multiple and inter-related causes of poverty and social exclusion. Tackling poverty through a whole of government approach, co-constructed and carried out in partnership with community, is an essential part of a CED agenda.

Throne Speech:

A plan for a renewed provincial poverty reduction strategy was not mentioned in the throne speech. The government indicated a key part of their work on poverty reduction will be working to transition employable Manitobans from welfare into the workforce. The province should look to successful workforce integration social enterprise models for success within the community for this priority, among other key community-led training programs and initiatives that reduce poverty through meaningful, supported, and culturally appropriate training and job opportunities for Manitobans.

The government intends to create a new approach to assessments of employable Manitobans on employment and income assistance, featuring “more timely and holistic assessments, based on more accurate data as to individual need, and more rapid connections to support to rejoin the workforce sooner”.

Accessing birth certificates and other documents through the Vital Statistics Agency remains a challenge for low-income Manitobans due to cost and administrative burden, and the government intends to “implement changes that will connect individuals with to the agency directly, instead of through third-party vendors”. In implementing change to Vital Statistics, the government should waive fees on birth certificates for low-income Manitobans, and provide more support for those released from incarceration or youth who are leaving care.

Mandate Letter (Minister of Families):

“Working with your colleagues to release an updated strategy to reduce poverty in Manitoba”

Next Steps:

The Make Poverty History Manitoba coalition continues to be a leading community movement and voice on poverty reduction priorities, including calling for a renewed provincial poverty reduction strategy. Members should stay tuned for a strategy release in the coming months. As well, MPHM’s Livable Basic Needs Benefit campaign presents an opportunity for a new approach to EIA, including movement away from the welfare wall that often adds another barrier in the effort to link Manitobans to meaningful employment.

Social Enterprise & Social Procurement

Social Enterprises, with a social, economic, and environmental triple bottom line, offer a tested alternative to homelessness, poverty, and social exclusion for marginalized people, including low-income Manitobans, individuals who have been in the Child and Family Services care, and many others. The Manitoba government has already been successfully partnering with social enterprises by purchasing renovation and maintenance services for Manitoba Housing, showing a well-defined community benefit. We’ve been pleased to see this practise maintained through this government’s mandate and suggest that there are many more opportunities present to increase procurement from social enterprises within various departments and institutions.

Throne Speech:

While social enterprises were not mentioned directly, many key social or economic issues that local social enterprises are trying to address are, including reducing recidivism rates, reducing the number of children in care, and supporting economic development for all Manitobans.

The government committed to “modernizing its procurement practices”, including that “evidence-based decision making will be applied in order to shop smarter on behalf of Manitobans”. The government ought to further investigate procurement through social enterprise to meet their defined targets, including through all government departments and institutions, as well as instituting community employment benefits in infrastructure projects funded through federal-provincial agreements.

The government also argued that education and training can “transform our province … to meet the challenges of the global economy today and in the future”. Workforce integration social enterprises and businesses have the tools to offer supportive training environments, reach social and environmental goals, and spur economic development for Manitoba.

Mandate Letters (Minister of Education & Training):

“Ensuring our apprenticeship program provides access to training, supports and certification of skilled workers to help meet the needs of Manitoba industry”

“Working with your colleague, the Minister of Families, to reduce the number of employable Manitobans on welfare and instead connect them with training and job opportunities”

Next Steps:

New opportunities for social enterprise are arising constantly. CCEDNet and its former Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy partners will be urging the Province to leverage every opportunity for growing this innovative sector. This will include fully engaging with the new Community Employment Benefits reporting requirement for federally funded infrastructure projects as well as continuing to deepen the Manitoba Housing experience and exploring its replication across government. We will also continue to assert the potential of social enterprise in the Look North strategy. As well, it will be crucial to engage with the implementation of the federal Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy including the proposed investment of over 50 million dollars for readiness and 700 million dollars for investment in socially innovative initiatives.

Social Finance

Gaps, challenges, and opportunities exists in financing the social economy in Manitoba, which includes non-profits, cooperatives, and social enterprises. Access to the appropriate capital and financing is essential to the sustainability of any organization. The Province of Manitoba can play a role as a market enabler and developer, and can co-design policy and models with community stakeholders to ensure investments and policy target strategic priorities and provide for a fair sharing of risk and return. Although the Province is exploring the Social Impact Bond model, they have also defunded the Cooperative Development Tax Credit, and haven’t improved the CED Tax Credit model. At the same time, new opportunity is on the horizon with the Federal government’s expected Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy.

Throne Speech:

Many social financing and tax credit tools are not specifically mentioned in the Throne Speech, save for reviewing of tax increment financing process, with a new process being launched in December 2018. The government ought to work with the Winnipeg Social Finance Working Group on knowledge sharing, information, and resources toward better social finance success throughout the province. The federal government announced a $755-million Social Finance Fund in its fall fiscal update that the provincial government ought to tap into.

As well, the government should increase the grants provided to third party not-for-profit business and enterprise support services to 2016/17 levels so that low-income and rural Manitobans can receive robust and timely access to accessible business, cooperative, and enterprise development training and consulting supports.

Mandate Letter (Minister of Families):

“Enhancing the services you and your Cabinet colleagues provide throughout government with innovative business, social and community partnerships financed by Social Impact Bonds”

Mandate Letter (Minister of Municipal Relations):

“Implementing a new, transparent framework for Tax Increment Financing that reduces risk and liability for Manitoba taxpayers and advances economic development”

Next Steps:

Much of the focus on social finance will likely be directed at the federal government’s proposed investment. With $50 million included for readiness, CCEDNet and our partners will be suggesting the Province leverage whatever is allocated to our region so we can ensure local social enterprises can benefit fully. We’ll be continuing our collaboratively offered social enterprise development services and looking at ways to more deeply focus on financial and operational readiness for investment. We’ll also be watching the rollout of the first Social Impact Bond, considering how their model may leverage new resources but also whether it integrates learning about the potential pitfalls of SIBs so we can better advocate for models our members support going forward.

Michael Barkman is the CCEDNet Manitoba Public Policy Coordinator. He is a life-long Winnipegger, based in Treaty 1 Territory. Michael cares deeply about social, economic, and environmental justice, and believes in collective movements and solutions rooted in the knowledge of local communities. At CCEDNet, Michael’s role focuses on membership policy resolution and taking action to advocate to the provincial and local government for positive policy change. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Winnipeg and is the current Chair for the Make Poverty History Manitoba coalition.

He has participated and collaborated on numerous community events and actions for public education, anti-poverty and economic justice, LGBTTQ* rights, and the environment. He served previously as the Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students – Manitoba, and the Interim Executive Director of the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, working on wide-ranging policy areas in public policy, human rights, and community development. In his spare time, he is an improviser, sometimes combining his love of the arts with social justice initiatives.

You can reach Michael at: m.barkman at ccednet-rcdec.ca | 204.943.0547

The following article appeared in the Calgary Herald on December 16, 2018. Following EconoUs2017 in Calgary, members of the Canadian CED Network and partners in Calgary’s social economy delivered an appeal to the City of Calgary to explore social procurement for Calgary. A Social Procurement Strategy could help foster economic inclusion, increase innovation, and build a sustainable economy for Calgarians.

Update: Calgary City Council approved the proposal on Dec 17. See the report here.

Rather than just price point, Calgary should adopt a policy that considers factors such as social concerns and ways that community members can benefit when using its buying power, a report by the deputy city manager’s office recommends.

The report, scheduled to go before council Monday, follows a notice of motion in April that passed unanimously, asking city administration to look into the issue of social procurement.

“Every purchase has an economic, environmental and social impact, whether intended or not,” the city’s report states. “Social procurement is about capturing those impacts and seeking to make intentional positive contributions to both the local economy and the overall vibrancy of the community.”

While the city’s procurement practices have historically been based on choosing suppliers offering high-quality products for the lowest prices, social procurement is aimed at achieving other governmental goals and takes into account “multiple outcomes in addition to maximizing financial value.”

“The whole idea behind social procurement is that you’re not just looking for the lowest bidder. You’re not just looking for the lowest bidder who’s not destroying the environment. You’re looking for bidders to be really thoughtful about how they can maximize the social good of big government contracts,” said Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra, who spearheaded the motion that led to the report by city administration.

“It takes it to the next level and says, ‘while you’re building it, is there something you can do to employ local people who can gain skills that they can turn into marketable skills, cut down on unemployment?’ These are just some examples.”

The three-year strategy proposed by the city recommends establishing an advisory task force with representation from the city, local business, industry and community to support the implementation and design of a sustainable, social, ethical and environmental procurement policy.

The policy would be an extension of the city’s Sustainable Ethical Environmental Procurement Policy (SEEPP), which is already in place.

Administration also recommends the city initiate pilot projects to test and design the inclusion of more small and medium-sized businesses into direct procurement opportunities.

The recommendations propose using a staged implementation process that will eventually include all construction and consulting contracts, which are outside the scope of the city’s current SEEPP policy.

The projected budget for the three-year pilot and implementation plan would be $505,000.

Coun. Druh Farrell, who co-sponsored the motion earlier this year, said such a strategy “could make a big difference in the local economy.”

“Whatever we can do to bolster local entrepreneurship or advance our municipal goals, we should take that opportunity,” Farrell said.

“The first thing that comes to mind when looking at ethical procurement is not using child labour, so not buying uniforms from countries that use child labour or slave labour, and that needs to transcend other policies like our recycling policy. We don’t want to send our waste to developing countries where they don’t have the same environmental rules and they’re putting their population in danger.”

The report notes that other Canadian cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have adopted similar practices.

Farrell said the impact of the city’s purchasing power “can change society for the better.”

SOURCE: The Calgary Herald

As part of Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, has launched a call for applications for a National Advisory Council on Poverty.

This ministerial Advisory Council will be appointed through an open, transparent and merit-based selection process with a mandate to:

provide advice in relation to programs, funding and activities that contribute to poverty reduction;
produce an annual report that will provide detailed information on the progress being made towards meeting the poverty reduction targets and other indicators being tracked under the Strategy, as well as advise on poverty reduction;
undertake public engagement with various groups, including the academic community and other experts, Indigenous peoples and persons with lived experience of poverty; and
undertake other related duties.

Minister Duclos is looking for candidates that have knowledge and experience of poverty-related issues, as well as people who have lived experienced or are currently living in poverty. Indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and other vulnerable groups are encouraged to apply to become a member of the Council.

The Advisory Council will be representative of Canada’s linguistic, gender and regional diversity.

The call for applications includes four different streams (applicants can apply to more than one stream):

Stream 1: Chairperson
Stream 2: Member with particular responsibility for children’s issues
Stream 3: General members
Stream 4: Members with lived experience of poverty

Interested individuals must apply online by January 29, 2019.

More information on the call for applications

Philippa Wiens joined the CCEDNet team midway through this year, coming with a diverse set of skills and background. Since I joined CCEDNet 3 years ago, I have been fortunate to meet our many employees through our annual National CED Conference, EconoUs. Our team keeps expanding with the many projects that we partner on with various organizations. As the Communications Coordinator I’m going to periodically share employees’ journeys and passions so that you know who is helping to foster a network that can strengthen sustainable and inclusive communities directing their own social, economic and environmental futures. Below are 3 questions I asked Philippa.

What brought you to joining us at CCEDNet?

I have worked for most of my career in international development, supporting processes of local community economic development through co-operatives and associations in other countries. It was a privilege and an honour to work with my colleagues overseas and support the amazing work they were doing in their communities. I learned a lot from my colleagues. And as I bore witness to the amazing work of my colleagues overseas, I began to yearn for the possibility of contributing to a similar impact in my own country and my own community. And so when this position came up at CCEDNet, it seemed too good to be true! It was the perfect fit allowing me to move from supporting local community economic development processes overseas, to supporting these processes at home, in my own country.

Philippa testing coffee with Colombian producers in Toronto

Philippa with Colombian coffee producers in Toronto
during her time with the Co-operative Development
Foundation of Canada.

What are you looking forward to most about this new position?

I am looking forward to developing relationships with all of the CCEDNet team cross Canada and to learning about the amazing things that are happening in CED across Canada and also with social enterprises in Canada. I am looking forward to developing relationships with the group of 12 partners who make up the collaborative leadership group which is leading the Social Procurement and Investment Readiness Fund that I am working on. Each of these partners is a key player and leader in the sector in Ontario and Canada and have oodles of experience and learning from their lifetime’s work in the sector. I have been blown away by what they have accomplished thus far in their lifetimes – some of them also raising five or six children in the process!!!! (How do you DO that?!?!) Overall, I am looking forward to a lot of learning, and to meeting and getting to know and being inspired by a lot of amazing people doing amazing things. (Welcome to CED in Canada!)

Note: The Social Procurement and Investment Readiness Fund is a fund of $4.5 million to fund grants of up to $5,000, $50,000 and $100,000 to support social enterprises in Ontario to strengthen their ability to win social procurement contracts and/or social investment to further expand the impact of their social enterprise.

What’s a unique trait you bring to CCEDNet?

I am not sure it is a unique trait, but I am very passionate about and a strong believer in participatory processes, the collective generation of knowledge, and horizontal power structures to facilitate those processes. I also believe very strongly in equality, including gender equality, and have worked for many years in spearheading gender mainstreaming processes in the projects and organizations I have worked with. I consider myself a facilitator, in the sense of helping to bring people together to listen to each other, to share their experiences and knowledge with each other, and to learn from each other. I am deeply convinced that we all have much to learn from each other and much to teach each other, and that this learning can happen in the right atmosphere and context. As facilitators, we can help create safe spaces for horizonal relationships and mutual learning and sharing, with the knowledge of one person as equally valued as the knowledge of other people participating in the process, regardless of background. That is my dream and what I strive to contribute to. I have been witness to amazing stories of personal transformation through participatory processes of collective knowledge generation. It would be amazing to somehow be a small part of such processes here in Canada.

Tom Jakop is Communications Coordinator with CCEDNet, and assists with CCEDNet’s overall communications plan through the website, social media and national newsletters. He brings his web development and analysis experience with him to help increase the strength of our network. Tom also helps with the organizing and promotion of the annual national CED conference, EconoUs, and volunteers for Social Enterprise Niagara.

Gerald Wheatley, manager of Calgary Dollars Calgary is breaking new financial territory in Canada, becoming the first city to have its own local, digital currency.

Sometimes referred to as complementary currencies or micro-currencies, local currencies operate alongside federal currencies — not as a replacement, Calgary Dollars manager Gerald Wheatley told HuffPost Canada.

“A complementary currency has lots of benefits, from saving your federal dollars, to making connections in your community, to shopping at and supporting local businesses,” said Wheatley.

Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, Calgary Dollars aren’t bought or cashed out. Users can earn Calgary Dollars by posting ads for goods or services they would like to sell, trade or barter for on the website or through the smartphone app. One ad earns $5. Taking surveys and referring new users are other ways to earn Calgary Dollars.

Calgary Dollars have been around since 1996, and citizens and businesses have offered goods and services in either straight or partial exchange for the local currency. Users are required to accept at least 10 per cent payment in Calgary Dollars, but can accept up to 100 per cent if they want. Calgary Dollars are accepted on par with federal currency.

What’s new, however, is that Calgary Dollars now has it own dedicated app, allowing users to store currency on their devices.

Pat Guyn, owner of local grocery store Sunnyside Market, has been accepting up to 20 per cent Calgary Dollars on grocery purchases for many years.

“Not a lot of people use Calgary Dollars at the moment, but I think the new digital platform could really help it take off again,” he told HuffPost Canada, adding that more people used the currency several years ago, but now it only makes up a small percentage of transactions.

Calgary Dollars has an app, now available on iPhone and Android.

Sunnyside Market takes its Calgary Dollars and funnels them back into the system, donating to the Calgary Dollars’ Take Action Grants, which help fund community gardens and food forests, art projects and films, and social justice activism “that might make life easier for some Calgarians,” said Guyn.

The market has also used the currency to pay for their compost pick-up and the printing of marketing materials. Staff can opt to take a portion of their salary in Calgary Dollars, too.

“It’s a great way to keep money within the local economy and to encourage people to shop locally and barter within their communities,” Guyn said.

Calgary Dollars put together this explainer video. Story continues below:

The program is backed by the City of Calgary, and allows a fixed number of transit tickets to be bought using Calgary Dollars, or up to 50 per cent of the cost of a base business licence.

Chris Frei, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at the University of Alberta, believes Canadians could see an increase in local currencies as technology evolves.

“There’s an aspect of convenience, having a digital currency in your pocket and being able to see which businesses are accepting that currency and what other people have to trade, barter, or offer.”

It really has the potential to connect likeminded people.Gerald Wheatley, Calgary Dollars

Frei said local currencies, while not extremely popular in Canada at the moment, offer businesses another way to connect and build trust with their customers.

“The more people using the currency, and the more businesses that sign up to take that currency, legitimizes the program and eventually trust begins to grow, both with the currency and with the businesses accepting it.”

Wheatley said building that trust is what Calgary Dollars strives to do. More than 350 individuals and businesses now accept the currency, and people can buy and barter everything from language lessons and house cleaning, to storage rentals or a cup of coffee.

“It really has the potential to connect likeminded people and to help them save a bit of their federal currency,” he said, stressing that the platform offers an entry point for entrepreneurs and artists who want to promote their products locally.

Alfred Lehar, a finance professor at the University of Calgary, said programs like Calgary Dollars offer users the ability to shop, barter, and trade with a clear conscience, especially for those rethinking their big-box shopping, or wanting buy locally and purchase gently used items.

“When you can bring together local vendors and local people, it really creates this shared common interest. It helps highlight local, small shops that offer unique goods and services, and brings awareness to the local community and the local economy.”

Lehar said, however, that while local currencies have lots of benefits on a small scale, there are limits to what people can — and should — use them for.

“Local currencies are not something you want to use exclusively or put your life savings into…they shouldn’t replace federal currency, or people could find themselves with no real money.”

Originally Posted December 7th, 2018, via Huffington Post

Spring Cohort

Apply today ESE Idea Accelerator program

Workshop Schedule:

Eligibility:

Key Dates:

Information Session

Spring Cohort Application:

Read CCEDNet Manitoba’s full 2019-2020 pre-budget submission

CCEDNet Manitoba Recommendations

Economic Inclusion: Skills, Jobs and Training

Tackling Poverty

Stronger Economy: Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan

Stronger, Healthier Communities: Community-Led Development

Read CCEDNet Manitoba’s full 2019-2020 pre-budget submission

Some additional information

Any lessons for us in 2018?

Apply to the Community Justice Trust Fund

Groundswell is excited to review applications for $500-$4000 that meet the following criteria:

Responding to the needs of the community

From objectives to action, but first comes values

Impact, results and influence

Building a better future

Analysis

Accessibility

Community-Led Development

Cooperative Development

Climate Change & Energy

Housing

Poverty Reduction

Social Enterprise & Social Procurement

Social Finance

The call for applications includes four different streams (applicants can apply to more than one stream):

More information on the call for applications

What brought you to joining us at CCEDNet?

What are you looking forward to most about this new position?

What’s a unique trait you bring to CCEDNet?