Canadian CED Network

train movementWe definitely know the tide is turning when industry leaders like Mitchell Cohen, the President of the Daniels Corporation, encourages the private sector to “climb aboard the social procurement train”. (Globe & Mail, June 14, 2017)

As with any business, increasing sales opportunities is a critical factor for success. But for social enterprises1, additional sales translate into more than just increased revenue or profits; more revenue creates the opportunity for even greater social impact!

Social procurement (often referred to as social purchasing) is essentially buying contracts for goods and services from social enterprises, with the intention of making a positive social impact, be it job creation for a historically disadvantaged community, or reducing carbon emissions. It means leveraging money that will already be spent on contracts by governments, private companies or nonprofits to also further a social good. This practice is extremely important for opening up social enterprise market opportunities.2

Social purchasing is emerging as a means for government, private sector, institutions and nonprofits to leverage their existing purchasing into an added value outcome. They are moving their purchasing from being a simple business transaction to get the lowest priced option to using purchasing to achieve a social value, too.

With the intentional use of existing purchasing we are able to address issues such as poverty, housing, targeted employment and social isolation. The direct result of social procurement initiatives means many more people who experience barriers to employment are getting work with social enterprises such as EMBERS in Vancouver or Build in Winnipeg, across the portfolio of the Toronto Enterprise Fund or DASC in Halifax. 

Social purchasing doesn’t negate the need for competitive pricing, quality of service and goods, and environmental issues; it merely adds another lens into the purchasing consideration. Nor is social purchasing a silver bullet, able to solve all of our social issues and economic challenges. But it is one more tool in our collective efforts to build healthy communities.

Policy is being developed nationally to further the social value marketplace

The current policy arena at the municipal level, provincial strategies, and federal mandates and legislation is rife with government initiatives. We are seeing multiple drivers influencing this shift to social procurement. Federally, the mandate letter to the Minister of Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) includes social value within its purchasing modernization goals. House of Commons bill C-344, which will allow the Minister of PSPC to add a social value unto federal infrastructure investments, is making its way towards passing, potentially this fall (see our Early Alert April 10th edition for more info on that specific bill).

Provincially, British Columbia has published Social Purchasing Guidelines. Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia have criteria for social purchasing within their social enterprise and social economy strategies. In terms of municipalities, Victoria, Cumberland, Vancouver, Fort McMurray, Toronto, Montreal and other municipalities have social procurement policies in place. Vancouver and Toronto have used community benefit agreements to insure a community value from major developments and infrastructure. 

The rapid social procurement evolution across government is in turn influencing and impacting the decisions along their entire private sector supply chain. Major institutions, especially universities and colleges including the University of Winnipeg, Concordia, UBC, and others, are realizing their purchasing should, and can, align with their community development and sustainability goals.

The sector is energized and moving on social procurement

Operationally, Buy Social Canada is the only national third-party certification body for social enterprises and social enterprise purchasers. On our website, we’re building a resource library of public policy examples and related cross-sector tools to enable the growth of procurement activity and experience within the nonprofit sector.

Toward this end, we are also building a network of partnerships and collaborations across the country. We’re currently working with the partners of S4ES to map out a supportive ecosystem, as well as the Social Value Marketplace Community of Practice and the upcoming Social Procurement Summit in Gatineau, November 27 & 28.

A community of practice on social enterprise

The Social Value Marketplace Community of Practice emerged as a result of several random conversations about “what’s going on in your community or region” on issues related to social procurement. Coordinated by Buy Social Canada, it is open to anyone interested in learning more and sharing updates on the range of social procurement policies and practice across the country. The group already boasts membership from all levels of government, private sector purchasers, social enterprise suppliers, and consultants in the field sharing their experience and learning from one another. (Contact us to get involved!)

A summit on social purchasing

The Buy Social Canada Summit will be an assembly of 250 purchasers from government, business and social enterprise suppliers engaging in a full day of discovering their common goals, identifying barriers and seeking solutions that will contribute to the future of social procurement.

The summit program is focused on creating an environment for cross-sector understanding of the spectrum of policy options and sharing the experiences of actual practice. The format will include: a series of case studies on the role and relationships of government, private sector and social enterprise; facilitated learning exchanges sessions, and working group explorations of barriers and opportunities for purchasers and suppliers. Many of the Community of Practice members will meet in person at the Buy Social Canada Summit, where they will serve as the lunchtime learning dialogue facilitators.

Buy Social Canada3 is very excited about the emerging social procurement movement because every application of social procurement is a means to improve the opportunities for social enterprises, and every social enterprise success leads to creating healthy communities.

David LePageDavid LePage is Managing Partner of Buy Social Canada, Partner in the Social Enterprise Institute and Principal with Accelerating Social Impact CCC, Ltd. He is engaged in policy initiatives and projects to support the social enterprise ecosystem across Canada, including the Social Enterprise Council of Canada and as a member of ESDC’s Steering Group on Social Innovation and Social Finance.
 

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

  1. A social enterprise seeks to achieve social, cultural or environmental aims through the sale of goods and services. The social enterprise can be for-profit or not-for-profit but the majority of net profits must be directed to a social objective with limited distribution to shareholders and owners. http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ccc_bt-rec_ec.nsf/eng/h_00016.html

  2. Author’s Note: Let’s be clear, more social purchasing and increased social enterprise success isn’t a silver bullet for the social sector organizations or the communities that we serve. Nor is social enterprise a replacement for government support or charitable giving – but it is another tool available for income generation and delivering social impact.

  3. Buy Social Canada (BSC) was established in 2014 and funded in part through the Canadian Social Enterprise Ecosystem Project, S4ES, is affiliated with the international Buy Social collaboration that was founded by the Social Enterprise UK in 2010.

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On Monday, March 12, 2018, the Province of Manitoba released Budget 2018, it’s spending plans for the 2018/19 fiscal year. CCEDNet – Manitoba has conducted a review of the budget in respects to our membership policy priorities.

Read CCEDNet – Manitoba’s 2018 pre-budget consultations submission

Overall, the budget does not include any drastic spending changes for our member’s priorities but also doesn’t show investment or prioritization of our interests. There are small increases in priority areas, as well as decreases. The following analysis breaks down Budget 2018 by our member-led priority areas. CCEDNet – Manitoba looks forward to continue advocating our members’ policy priorities and working with the Government of Manitoba for more inclusive and sustainable communities and economies.

Highlights

  • Consultations for the new Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy are ongoing. Budget 2018 states the strategy is being developed and does not provide a timeline for completion.
  • Budget 2018 is clear that a $25/tonne carbon levy is coming into place (projected to net approximately $260 M per year), however does not set a clear plan for recycling these revenues into GHG-reduction initiatives besides a one-time, $102 investment in an endowment fund for natural infrastructure.
  • Funding for Neighbourhoods Alive! has been maintained at $5.08 M (a slight funding decrease when factoring inflation).
  • Funding for Community Places has increased by 11%, from $5.17 M in 2017/18 to $5.74 M in 2018/19.
  • Effective March 12, 2018 (budget day), cooperatives are once again eligible to use the CED Tax Credit.
  • Budget 2018 maintains funding for the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative at $1.25 M.
  • Budget 2018 announced $3.3 M for new and newly funded childcare spaces, estimated to be 700 spaces, as well as $4.8 M in new funding for the Inclusion Support Program. Much of these increases can be attributed to the recently announced Canada-Manitoba Early Learning & Child Care Agreement.
  • Manitoba Housing & Renewal Corporation’s funding was increased by 8.3%, to $115.96 M from $107.05. This increase will be offset by a cut of $20 M to capital borrowing. No increases to the supply of affordable and social housing are planned.

More details about the 2018 Budget’s impact in the following areas can be found below

Poverty Reduction
Community-Led Development
Energy and Sustainability
Social Enterprise
Co-operative Development
Justice and Community Safety
Child Care
Food Security and Sovereignty in Northern Manitoba
Housing
Social Innovation and Social Impact Bonds

Poverty Reduction

Read Make Poverty History Manitoba’s response to Budget 2018

CCEDNet – Manitoba’s membership and our partner organizations have called upon the Province to release a new comprehensive poverty reduction strategy, with targets and timelines for implementation.

Consultations for the new Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy are ongoing. Budget 2018 states the strategy is being developed and does not provide a timeline for completion.

Spending on Employment, Income Assistance and Rental Assistance is budgeted to decrease from $523 M to $511 M. CCEDNet – Manitoba has been advised that this is not to be seen as a cut, but an expected reduction in demand for the programs. CCEDNet – Manitoba will seek to clarify what data supports this expectation, out of concern a reduction in EIA spending will harm low-income Manitobans.

The Province is contributing an additional $7 M to index RentAssist to median rates.

There is no increase to assistance rates for low-income Manitobans in Budget 2018. As highlighted by Make Poverty History Manitoba, current EIA rates leave recipients with income that falls as much as 47 percent below the poverty line for single individuals.

Budget 2018 commits to increases the Basic Personal Amount tax credit available to all Manitobans by $1,010 in each of the taxations years 2019 and 2020.

Community-Led Development

Funding for Neighbourhoods Alive! has been maintained at $5.08 M (a slight funding decrease when factoring inflation).

Funding for Community Places has increased by 11%, from $5.17 M in 2017/18 to $5.74 M in 2018/19. CCEDNet – Manitoba will continue to monitor these programs to advocate this funding is spent in the highest value way: long-term, stable agreements with community organizations.

Earlier this year, funding for the Manitoba Community Services Council was cut. After an early lack of clarity, government has committed to continuing to spend the funds that were delivered by this organization. The budget shows this money is still allocated to community development but there remains a lack of clarity about how these resources will be deployed now.

Budget 2018 made no mention of the NPO Strategy. CCEDNet – Manitoba will seek clarity about the agreements that were grouped under this program, and will continue to call for long-term, stable funding for community organizations.

The Communities Economic Development Fund (a crown corporation with a mandate to encourage economic development in Northern Manitoba) has been cut by 30%, from $1.43 M in 2017/18 to $1.00 M in 2018/19.

Energy and Sustainability

Budget 2018 is clear that a $25/tonne carbon levy is coming into place (projected to net approximately $260 M per year), however does not set a clear plan for recycling these revenues into GHG-reduction initiatives.

The Province has committed to creating an endowment fund for natural infrastructure (managed by the Winnipeg Foundation and administered by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation) through a one-time investment of $102 M. The Winnipeg Foundation has averaged 7.10% returns over the last 10 years, suggesting this endowment will generate approximately $7.2 M per year in funding for spending on natural infrastructure.

The remaining revenues from the carbon tax pay for tax reductions in others areas, although Budget 2018 also highlights investing $40 M in green projects. It is unclear how this investment connects with revenues from the carbon tax.

CCEDNet – Manitoba members have advocated that these revenues should be used for energy efficiency efforts and job creation in low-income neighbourhoods and in First Nations.

Social Enterprise

Social enterprise is featured in the poverty reduction strategy section of the budget, highlighting Manitoba Housing’s social impact procurement. Manitoba Housing practice of social procurement is the Province’s most significant support for social enterprise. Since 2016, Manitoba Housing has been procuring approximately $7 M from social enterprises hiring individuals facing barriers to employment.

Budget 2018 (as well as the most recent Throne Speech) reference a “social impact procurement strategy.” At this time it is unclear what this strategy is. CCEDNet – Manitoba will continue to work with the Province to see this practice grown and expanded to more operations than Manitoba Housing.

The Province has announced changes to the Labour Market Transfer Agreements with the federal government, noting increased flexibility in program and client eligibility, which the Province says will “support those furthest from the labour market with training and work experience.” CCEDNet – Manitoba looks forward to following this file and seeing how our members can take utilize this program and these changes.

Co-operative Development

CCEDNet – Manitoba members strongly support co-operatives as they create economic democracy, root ownership locally, distribute profits equitably and often create jobs and services in communities where they are otherwise lacking. Unfortunately, Budget 2018 does not prioritize co-operative development.

Budget 2018 decreases funding for Co-operative Development by 6.7%, from $386,000 in 2017/18 to $360,000 in 2018/19. Spending on Salaries and Employee Benefits increased from $312,000 to $316,000, and spending on Other Expenditures decreased from $74,000 to $44,000.

Effective March 12, 2018 (budget day), co-operatives are once again eligible to use the CED Tax Credit.

The Credit Unions Special Deduction is being eliminated. This special tax deduction allowed credit unions and caisses populaires to pay a lower rate of tax on a portion of their income. This is being phased out over five years, which once fully removed will end up costing credit unions and caisses populaires in Manitoba $15 M per year.

At the same time, the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Profit Tax, currently a 1 percent profits tax on taxable income over $400,000, is being eliminated, providing approximately $1 M per year in tax relief between Manitoba credit unions and caisses populaires.

Justice and Community Safety

Ahead of releasing this year’s budget, the Province of Manitoba announced plans to modernize the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on prevention through community partnerships, restorative justice and reducing recidivism through responsible reintegration. CCEDNet – Manitoba was pleased to hear this news, as our members have called on the Province to reverse the trend towards increased incarceration and instead focus on addressing the root causes of crime.

While budget documents highlight small investments in community-based crime prevention programs ($250,000), it seems Budget 2018 does not prioritize the strategy identified in this press release. Budget 2018 slightly decreases funding to Community Corrections by $68,000 (from a $32.3 M budget allocation), and decreases funding to Crime Prevention by $69,000 (from a $2.4 M budget allocation). Custody Corrections and Policing Services & Public Safety received funding increases of $2.55 M and $35 M, respectively.

Child Care

The following draws upon analysis completed by the Manitoba Child Care Association

Budget 2018 announced $3.3 M for new and newly funded childcare spaces, estimated to be 700 spaces, as well as $4.8 M in new funding for the Inclusion Support Program. Much of these increases can be attributed to the recently announced Canada-Manitoba Early Learning & Child Care Agreement.

Total funding for Early Learning & Child Care increased by 5.4%, from $175.7 M in 2017/18 to $185.1 M in 2018/19. As highlighted by MCCA, it is likely most or all of this increase comes from the recently signed agreement with the Federal government.

As further highlighted by MCCA, with 16,702 names on the Manitoba Online Child Care Registry (as of Aug/16), a rate of 700 new spaces per year means this waiting list will be eliminated in 22 years.

The province also announced a Child Care Development Tax Credit, a refundable corporate tax credit meant to stimulate the creation of licensed child-care centre spaces in private workplaces. The tax credit provides up to $10,000 per space over 5 years, with pick-up for the program capped at 200 spaces.

Food Security and Sovereignty in Northern Manitoba

Budget 2018 maintains funding for the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI) at $1.25 M.

Further to Northern food security, Budget 2018 highlights the Affordable Food in Remote Manitoba program (AFFIRM), a retail subsidy for communities with rail and fly-in access only who do not receive Federal Nutrition North Canada subsidy. At this time, we are unable to comment on the program, as budget documents do not specify the amount of funding AFFIRM receives, nor its demand, pick-up or outcomes.

Housing

See the Right to Housing Coalitions’s budget analysis here.

Manitoba Housing & Renewal Corporation’s funding was increased by 8.3%, to $115.96 M from $107.05. The budget documents state “Manitoba Housing is maintaining existing capital spending on maintenance and improvement of it social and affordable housing stock, and new construction.” As Make Poverty History Manitoba has noted, this increase will be offset by a cut of $20 M to capital borrowing and no increase in new supply of social or affordable housing.

The budget comments that development of a Provincial Housing Strategy is underway.

Budget 2018 does not mention the expiring Federal operating agreements that threatens to pull many affordable co-op housing units off the market.

The Rental Housing Construction Tax Credit is being eliminated, estimated to provide the Province with $3.1 M in new revenues. As highlighted by the Right to Housing, “this tax credit was introduced in 2013 to stimulate the construction of rental housing and increase the supply of new affordable rental housing units. The tax credit was worth up to 8% of the capital cost of new rental housing construction by the private, non-profit, and co-op sectors. Eligible projects required at least 10% of constructed units to have affordable rents.”

Social Innovation and Social Impact Bonds

Budget 2018 reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to pay-for-performance models such as social impact bonds. The first SIB will be in child welfare, aiming to improve outcomes for children and families at-risk of coming in contact with the child welfare system. It’s unclear how much money is being budgeted to develop this financing tool.

Other Organizational Budget 2018 Responses

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The Canadian CED Network is seeking proposals from qualified communications specialists for a storytelling audit of external communications, followed by a year-end evaluation. Ideal candidates will have particular experience working within the non-profit sector and with organizations that are national in scope. Familiarity with organizations who are member-based, who undertake collaborative projects, and who are focussed on socioeconomic change is also an asset.

BACKGROUND ON THE CANADIAN CED NETWORK

Community Economic Development (CED) is action by people locally to create economic opportunities that improve social conditions, particularly for those who are most disadvantaged. It is an approach that recognizes that economic, environmental and social challenges are interdependent, complex and ever-changing. To be effective, solutions must be rooted in local knowledge and led by community members. CED promotes holistic approaches, addressing individual, community and regional levels, recognizing that these levels are interconnected.

The Canadian CED Network is a national association of organizations and people throughout Canada committed to strengthening communities by creating economic opportunities that enhance social and environmental conditions.

Our Values: The Canadian CED Network and its members are committed to the values of inclusion, diversity and equity. Our methods are participatory, democratic, innovative and entrepreneurial.

Our Vision: Sustainable and inclusive communities directing their own social, economic and environmental futures.

Our Mission: The Canadian CED Network connects people and ideas for action to build local economies that strengthen communities and benefit everyone.

The Canadian CED Network wishes to expand and enhance engagement with our audiences by making better use of storytelling strategies. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Community economic development as theory and practice incorporates a broad spectrum of activities and ideas. As a national network our membership is representative of the diversity encapsulated by CED, as well as the geographic scope of Canada. This complexity is hard to distill into a single story. But it does present the opportunity for many compelling stories, from the personal stories of members to the collective stories of communities.

The storytelling audit will seek to answer “how well are we telling stories relevant to our work and where are real opportunities for improvement?”

Working with staff, in particular the Communications Manager, Communications Coordinator and Membership Engagement Coordinator, the auditor will:

  • Evaluate how well our content is communicating its intended message and purpose by speaking to emotions and relatable human experiences;
  • Provide training and resources for staff to become better storytellers;
  • Set targets for improved communications moving forward;
  • Complete a year-end assessment of implemented changes and the impact they’ve had on engagement.

PROPOSAL CRITERIA

  • Describe your experience in conducting storytelling/communications audits and providing communications services, highlighting any experience working with organizations of similar scope, mission, and/or organizational structure to the Canadian CED Network
  • Describe your experience with storytelling in the context of community organizing and movement building
  • Describe your experience providing storytelling training
  • Identify any relevant accreditations
  • Your resume or CV and that of any team member who would also be involved
  • Three references for clients for whom you have provided or are providing communications services or related work
  • A timeframe in which an audit could be completed
  • Costs for the services you would provide

Submit your proposal by April 5 to:

Matthew Thompson
The Canadian CED Network
mthompson at ccednet-rcdec.ca
416-760-2577

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tomatoThe emerging drive for Community Benefits is creating new opportunities for nonprofit leaders to think differently about working with the people and communities they serve. As communities begin to challenge their own poverty and economic exclusion, nonprofits have a supporting role to play.

Infrastructure investment’s unrealized potential 

Whether because of the loss of manufacturing jobs or significant shifts in resource industries, local economies are changing across Canada. Service sector growth, the rise of precarious employment and low wages have created growing economic insecurity for workers and communities. At the same time, Canadians face the challenges of climate change and the need for climate adaptation. Community Benefits organizing simultaneously takes on the challenges of growing inequality, precarious work, and the climate crisis. Imagine this: Every time a construction crane goes up, a pathway to jobs in the trades or an opportunity for affordable housing, or the opening of a child care centre is created. Every infrastructure dollar spent could hold this promise. As governments have announced commitments of billions of dollars in infrastructure investment, local leaders have seized the opportunity.

Community Benefit coalitions are built when labour and community leaders join together to advance their shared interests and be part of the decision-making process. Their efforts are local in focus and they can use law, policy or partnership agreements to ensure that new economic development meets community needs. Community Benefits Agreements are negotiated, legally enforceable contracts, signed with a private developer or government agency, stipulating commitments made to the community – and how they will be monitored and enforced. The underlying principles are that economic decision-making should be inclusive, open and accountable, and that economic development strategies should create opportunities for workers, as well as real, measurable improvements for communities.

Experience shows it’s possible

When transit agency Metrolinx committed to building a light-rapid-transit line running through many communities with high rates of poverty and unemployment, union and community leaders formed the Toronto Community Benefits Network. Together with recruited member organizations, they developed a vision for equitable economic development. Now they have a seat at the table: they’ve signed a Community Benefits Framework with Metrolinx, and they’ve negotiated for 10% of apprenticeships to be made available to historically disadvantaged communities and equity-seeking groups. They have also won concessions for a local community hub and storage facility, consistent with neighbourhood demands. Now groups are forming in more cities focused on transit expansion and other forms of infrastructure, including in Hamilton, Windsor and Peel Region.

A leadership development role

The Broadbent Institute’s priority pillars are climate change, inequality and democratic renewal. Our leadership development goal is to build backbone for progressive organizing in Canada. Supporting Community Benefits organizing goes directly to the core of our mission.

Last spring Atkinson Foundation engaged Broadbent to conduct research on the development and training needs of organizers working on community benefits and social procurement strategies in Windsor, Hamilton, Peel Region, Toronto, and Halton. Alongside this research has been side-by-side coaching in the field to strengthen the network of organizers in this emerging field of local economic development.

The Institute’s contribution is in facilitating learning on the ground by leaders-in-action as they build their organizing capacity. This includes making a profound commitment to equity – fighting injustice in all its forms – and thinking about power from the ground up. This extends to promoting policy changes that put the people who should benefit at the center. Together we are developing a new way of knowing and doing – deeply grounded in solidarity and respect across differences.

Networked action and impact

Creating the foundational relationships and networks to deliver on policy change, while delivering material improvements for people, can create real change. Organizations have been successful in their efforts to build equitable local economic development coalitions and campaigns. They have done this through a commitment to shared values, strong partnerships between community and labour, and learning by doing, while focusing on achieving measurable gains.

At the same time, there is an awakening of communities to agency and power in relation to shaping the local economy. People begin to look at infrastructure investment and development differently. They begin to demand tangible benefits, to demand accountability and to reimagine the economy they want to build for themselves. This disrupts the idea that gentrification is inevitable and creates a new narrative where development can happen without displacement. As economic, racial, gender, class and climate equity are put at the center, leaders and activists together learn the principles and the practice of fighting injustice.

Contributing to the Community Benefits movement

Community Benefits organizing places the people implicated, served, and living in the catchment area of an organization or forming part of the community, at the center. Their voice and agency in their relationship with the sector itself, and in shaping the economic conditions that contribute to their need for services, provide opportunities for nonprofits to deliver on mission. Nonprofit leaders can play an important role in supporting the activities of civic and self-organized groups, a proven contribution to movement building.

Clearly, this work means building from the experience, voice and agency of the people for whom change is urgent. Supporting the development of their authentic leadership is key. This practice requires making a profound commitment to equity, and to considering that people who are marginalized have and can build power to effect change.

Thank you to Imagine Canada for permission to repost this article.

Alejandra BravoAlejandra Bravo is Director of Leadership and Training at the Broadbent Institute, where she builds backbone for progressive organizing in Canada. Active in the community benefits movement, she supports organizers and leaders and has a 25-year history of working for progressive social change with grassroots, immigrant, and labour groups.

*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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Pass Bill C-344: Let's Build an Inclusive Economy

Over the next ten years, the federal government will invest $180 billion in infrastructure across Canada. In the next few months, MPs and Senators will vote on Bill C-344, which will allow a social value to be included in all of these investments. Let’s urge them to pass Bill C-344 to support healthier communities and a more inclusive economy.

Send an email to your Member of Parliament to support Bill C-344
and say yes to healthier communities and an inclusive economy

Add your voice

About Bill C-344

  • Bill C-344, an Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act is currently entering its final stages of approval in Parliament.
  • If passed and implemented, this bill will allow the Minister of Public Service and Procurement Canada to encourage local Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) alongside every infrastructure investment.
  • CBAs support local communities to ensure economic inclusion for everyone – no exceptions. They can create employment and apprenticeship opportunities for people who most need them, and generate business for social enterprises and local businesses.
  • Bill C-344 will allow 180 billion dollars of federal infrastructure funds to be leveraged for a social value and generate positive impact for local communities.

About Buy Social Canada

Buy Social Canada is an organization that brings socially driven purchasers and social enterprise suppliers together, building business relationships that generate social benefits to communities across the country. Buy Social Canada works with community, private sector, and government to support the development of policy and resources to strengthen local and regional social procurement initiatives. For more information about Buy Social Canada does, visit their website.

This campaign is hosted by Buy Social Canada in partnership with Imagine Canada and the Canadian Community Economic Development Network. 

Buy Social Canada The Canadian CED Network Imagine Canada
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Online Survey Launched for Poverty Reduction Strategy

Minister of Families, Scott Fielding, and Minister of Education & Training, Ian Wishart, announced the launch of an online survey to continue the Province’s poverty reduction strategy consultations. 

This survey was developed using information collected from in-person consultations that began in November 2017. It includes options for feedback if you are completing the survey as a person living in low-income, a resident of Manitoba, on behalf of an organization with a general interest in poverty reduction, or on behalf of an organization working directly with individuals living in poverty. 

The Province hopes to capture a diversity of experiences through this format, which will help them move forward on developing a new poverty reduction strategy. This online survey will remain open until March 23, 2018.  You can access the survey here.

Manitobans can also still send written submissions (such as position papers, letters, etc.) to or by mail to:

Poverty Reduction Strategy
Manitoba Families
Poverty Reduction Strategy Team
400 – 352 Donald Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2H8

The written submission deadline has been extended to March 23, 2018.

CCEDNet Manitoba has already submitted to this consultation process, supporting the recommendations of our members and partners especially through MPHM, Barrier Free Manitoba, Right to Housing, and the Child Care Coalition of Manitoba but the Provincial government also wants to hear from individuals, especially those with lived experience of poverty. Check out our submission, feel free to use any portion of it in your responses, and share this opportunity with your colleagues and community members!

View CCEDNet Manitoba’s full Poverty Reduction Strategy Submission

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Mapping the Social Shift - PRSince co-releasing the Social Enterprise Sector Strategy in partnership with the Government of Nova Scotia in April 2017, the network secretariat, Common Good Solutions, has been collecting and analyzing data and authoring a report that captures the promise the social enterprise sector holds for businesses pursuing positive community impact as well as profit.

“With this research we have been offered a snapshot of the enormous potential the social enterprise sector holds (with over 3000 identified) and we are thrilled to move forward with a clearer understanding of how to grow and strengthen the sector,” said Cathy Deagle-Gammon, President, Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia.

Respondents indicated:

  • This sector wants to grow.  The majority of respondents (66%) plan to grow their business activities to further meet their missions.
  • This sector can grow, if supported by policy and access to capital.  The three strongest priority areas identified by respondents to assist in their development was to increase their access to customer markets, expand business skills of their directors and managers, and increase their access to capital.
  • There is lots of room for budding social enterprises.  Social enterprises make a strong financial contribution to the province. Respondents reported $179 million in revenue in 2016, $123 million of which was from the sale of goods and services.
  • Social enterprises are actively making the economy and communities stronger.  Respondents indicated they believe their role and the sector’s role should be as an agent of fundamental change. They seek, through their operations, to build a more socially, environmentally, culturally and economically just society.

Download Mapping the Social Shift

Another exciting component of this release is the launch of the social enterprise resource portal. This database can be found at www.senns.ca, where over 500 data points have been researched and curated to directly serve anyone looking to start or grow a social enterprise. The new portal exists to remove barriers to startup success for social enterprises across the province by bringing resources together in one place, exclusively for the emerging social enterprise business model.

The Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia (SENNS) is a non-profit, member-led society, building a movement on behalf of social enterprises across the province. SENNS is committed to advocating on behalf of entrepreneurs and businesses whose missions involve strengthening our communities.

Source: Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia

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PostcardsIn the nonprofit sector, we often seem to be fighting uphill battles trying to combat poverty and exclusion, addictions and mental illness, climate change, racism, political disengagement and many other challenges in our communities without the sense that we are making real progress against “the system.” As we work to support our community members’ access to jobs, food, and housing, and their exercise of rights, it’s easy to view our work as swimming against a tide of economic inequality, powerlessness, and a system that simply does not care.

It was an inspiring contrast to have been part of a transformative summer institute about systems change where many better ways were presented as living realities, actual working models to take home and plant to flourish on our own soil.

I was fortunate to have been one of six members of a team funded by Metcalf Foundation to attend Synergia, a two-week summer institute on “The Transition to the Ethical Economy”, along with delegates from Toronto Neighbourhood Centres, West Neighbourhood House, and Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre. It was billed as an opportunity to learn about community-led systems – on food, energy, housing, finance, social care (care and support for the elderly and persons with disabilities), and more. The course was an eye-opener about the possibilities for developing an inclusive, sustainable economy here in Ontario.

With participants from across Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Italy, Spain, Malta, Costa Rica, and Ireland, there was lively discussion between practitioners, cooperative & social enterprise developers, educators, and advocates. With the majority of participants coming from post-colonial states, throughout the two weeks there was a current of discussion about the legacy of colonialism and how new models could engage Indigenous peoples. There was also much debate about the role of women, care work, and unpaid labour in economic systems.

The many examples presented at our summer institute showed that communities can – indeed must – develop sustainable economic systems that provide for community (and planetary) wellbeing. Community-led initiatives provide opportunities for residents to participate in the critical decisions affecting them: like who has access to housing, where our food comes from, the quality of our jobs and ownership of our workplaces, and how to finance our community development.

We don’t need to dream up such a world, but can consider examples already happening:

Communities elsewhere have already done this and we can do so in Ontario. In fact, to a small but growing degree, we already are.

Leaders in the transition to a collaborative economy are not waiting for government to solve these kinds of problems or even to be granted permission to start. There is clearly a role for government both to regulate the for-profit market and to be a supportive partner-state to the collaborative economy(among other critical roles). Municipalities are essential partners in the transition. The urgency of the crises we face, however, means that the nonprofit sector must step up and do what needs to be done for our own communities.

To start, this means working on our economic literacy and examining how present ownership models have drained wealth from our communities. A range of social, economic, and environmental problems are, in many ways, different faces of one underlying problem: we are held hostage by a system that turns the gifts of nature and human effort into wealth accumulation for a small minority.

With that realization, we must turn to building and scaling up alternatives that create and distribute value and wealth in more inclusive and environmentally sustainable ways. As a society, we tend to think of the economy as made up of the free market and the state. The residual role of the nonprofit sector, if it is considered, is to mop up the problems left by the market. But the nonprofit sector is, and can be, so much more.

Any community that has assets and needs has the basis to transition to a new economy. Think of the goods and services that communities purchase – as individuals, nonprofits, small businesses, and even anchor institutions. Then consider the effect it would have if even a modest percentage of their spending and financial investments were redirected to local communities through social procurement, community shares, community investment banks, and community banking partnerships. Imagine the impact on our households and communities that would come from the widespread availability of nonprofit housing, food, energy, and social care (not to mention jobs in these fields), along with interest-free banking.

The team came back with a draft action plan for sparking changes in our own economy, starting where nonprofits already are. We’ll engage our network partners, including those who co-hosted the “Champions for a New Economy” event, to develop this new initiative. If you are interested, please get in touch or connect with us at Nonprofit Driven.

Returning with more than just postcards, we have brought with us new energy and concrete ideas and models of how a collaborative economy can work in Ontario. Now we’re eager to get started!

With thanks to Metcalf Foundation and the Synergia organizers, Mike Lewis and John Restakis.

Originally Published on November 17, 2017 via Ontario Nonprofit Network

Liz SutherlandLiz Sutherland joined ONN in 2015 to lead policy files on funding reform, pensions, police record checks, and other policy and regulatory issues. She has worked on policy development and advocacy concerning many issues facing the sector – from health and social policy, to procurement and HR issues, to the transformation of funding models. Her nonprofit experience includes roles for organizations focused on anti-poverty, a national children’s alliance and women’s health. She has five years of government policy experience at the federal level in employment and social development, and public health. Originally from Ottawa, Liz holds a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Victoria. She’s an active volunteer leader and sits on the boards of Cycle Toronto and Planned Parenthood Toronto.

*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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Alternative Federal Budget 2018The 2018 Alternative Federal Budget (AFB) delivers a roadmap to where the country could be on the eve of the next federal election, if the government moves forward with bold action to deliver a progressive economic plan that leaves no one behind. If implemented, the 2018 Alternative Federal Budget: Getting There will reduce income inequality, lift close to a million people out of poverty, close unfair and expensive tax loopholes, and create 600,000 jobs while locking in the unemployment rate in the five per cent range.

Download Alternative Federal Budget 2018: Getting There

The AFB plan:  

  • Boosts direct transfers to low-income families in ways that would lift 600,000 children and adults out of poverty and reduce child poverty by roughly a third;
  • Eliminates all fossil fuel subsidies and creates a Just Transition Fund to help ease energy sector workers into new roles in a fully green economy;
  • Tackles historic under-investment faced by First Nations communities through a $9-billion investment this year in urgently needed infrastructure, clean water, education and health care on reserves;
  • Acts immediately to implement pay equity legislation and invests heavily in child care so women’s labour is no longer discounted as a result of discrimination;
  • Slashes senior poverty rates by 30% by increasing the Canada Pension Plan income exemption for the Guaranteed Income Supplement by $3,000 and boosting the top-up amount by $1,000;
  • Accelerates the national carbon price to reach $50 per tonne by 2020, while investing in training, apprenticeships and green infrastructure.

Source: The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)

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Community EnergyCommunity organizations across Alberta have an opportunity to play a prominent role in supporting the on-going transition to clean energy by developing their own renewable energy projects.

Energy Efficiency Alberta has opened its Community Energy Capacity Building Program to provide funding for capacity building projects that support community-scale renewable energy generation across Alberta. Projects with activities focused on community energy development, could include but are not limited to, renewable energy project feasibility studies, business case development, webinars and training.

The deadline for applications is March 12th, 2018.

If you are engaged in any community energy projects or related activities, they highly encourage you to apply to the program. If you have any questions you can direct them to CECB.Info at efficiencyalberta.ca.

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Jean-Yves DuclosOver the past year, the Government of Canada has travelled across the country, engaging with thousands of Canadians, especially those who have lived experience with poverty, to hear their stories, ideas and feedback about reducing poverty. Today the Honourable Jean‑Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced the release of the What We Heard report, a summary of the feedback gathered during the Poverty Reduction Strategy engagement process.

Many of the experiences and stories shared by Canadians are captured in the report, reflecting the diverse needs of Canadians affected by poverty. The report covers issues such as the inability to meet basic needs, challenges with joining the middle class, risks of slipping into poverty, experiences of First Nation, Inuit and Métis people, service delivery and targets and indicators.

Canadians are concerned about their future and the future of their children. They want to see real, tangible results from their government with solutions that address the root causes of poverty. This will require bold and measurable solutions that are inclusive and work to address different aspects of poverty faced by Canadians, as well as setting measurable targets to reduce poverty. The invaluable feedback gathered during the engagement process will help to inform the ongoing work to develop the first-ever Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Source: Employment and Social Development Canada

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Seeking Session Proposals for EconoUs2018 – Deadline March 19

Do you have a great community economic development story that you’d like to share (success or otherwise)? Do you want to teach skills that you have found to be essential in your community economic development work?

The EconoUs2018 program committee looks forward to reviewing all proposals. Preference will be given to proposals that clearly outline the relevance to community economic development, that fit well with one of the formats (storytelling or skill-building workshop) and align with one or more of the format themes, and that exemplify the diversity of activity, organization type and people engaged in the social economy.

Session presenters will receive 50% off full registration to EconoUs2018 or a free registration for the day of their session.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: MARCH 19, 2018

Final selection: EconoUs2018 will inform applicants if their submission is selected by May 15th.

For more information, visit econous.ca

If you have any questions, you can contact Mathilde Gougeau with the Canadian CED Network at m.gougeau at ccednet-rcdec.ca or by phone at 416-760-2554.

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