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National Policy Work

CCEDNet Asks Premiers for Positions on EU Trade Deal (CETA)

The Canadian CED Network has sent a letter to the premier of each province and territory across Canada requesting their position on granting the European Union unrestricted access to procurement at the sub-national level in Canada through the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
 
Members of the Canadian CED Network and communities across the country have benefited from the policy flexibility sub-national governments currently have to implement purchasing policies that recognize the added social, economic, and environmental value of locally owned businesses, cooperatives, and social enterprises.
 
Canada is currently negotiating a CETA with the European Union. There is growing concern around proposed procurement rules that would remove the option sub-national governments have to use government purchasing in a way that creates stronger and more inclusive local economies, protects the environment, promotes ethical business practices, creates new opportunities for marginalized groups to gain long-term local employment, and fosters communtiy economic development. If you would like to get involved with others who have come together to challenge the Canada-EU free trade negotiations visit www.tradejustice.ca
 

Read Our Network's Letter

Call for new members!

CCEDNet's National Policy Council is made up of CED practitioners from across the country who work to raise the profile of CED with federal, provincial and municipal governments. The Policy Council is looking for several new members to join in the work of advancing a CED policy agenda throughout Canada.
 
If you are interested in joining the Policy Council, please submit an expression of interest to council Chair Rosalind Lockyer (rlockyer@paro.ca) by May 1st, 2010 outlining your availability, experience, particular interest in the work of CCEDNet's Policy Council and any affiliations to national organizations.
 
In selecting council members, the council looks to ensure diverse representation from a geographic, demographic, and sectoral context.
 
Send expression of interest to:
Rosalind Lockyer
Canadian CED Network
Policy Council Chair
rlockyer@paro.ca
by May 1, 2010
 

The 2008 CED & Social Economy Common Election Platform

Recommendations for the Federal Government on Community Economic Development and the Social Economy

Five major networks - the Canadian Co-operative Association, the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, Chantier de l'économie sociale, Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité, and the Conseil Canadien de la Coopération - representing thousands of co-operatives, community-based organizations, and non-profit enterprises across the country, propose a new partnership between communities and the Canadian government to build a stronger economy, invest in sustainable communities, and tackle poverty.

With our economy under stress from the growing downturn in the United States and the continuing pressures of globalization, we believe that now - more than ever - Canada needs stronger policies for community economic development (CED). A commitment by the Government of Canada to support CED and the social economy will allow Canada to join the growing number of countries around the world that have adopted policies to support this rapidly growing movement.

Through our networks rooted in every region of Canada, we have seen how community economic development can help to create resilient communities. Social economy enterprises and organizations, both co-operative and non-profit, have been successful in responding to local needs, including housing, health, environment, agriculture, culture, recreation, tourism, and childcare.

People working together to deal with common economic and social problems can have a powerful positive impact on rural, urban and Aboriginal communities. In many communities, businesses are closing down or moving away while community-led social economy organizations remain rooted, delivering valuable services, creating opportunities, and maintaining jobs.

Our impact is far-reaching. Canada's co-operative sector has assets of $250-billion. Canadians have more than 17 million memberships in co-operative organizations and the sector provides over 150,000 jobs. In 2001, the GDP of the core non-profit sector amounted to $25.4-billion, representing 2.5% of the overall economy. This share increases to $80.3-billion or 6.8% of GDP when hospitals, universities and colleges are included.

Recommendations include:

  • A Greater Role for Social Enterprise in Economic Revitalization
  • Support for New and Emerging Co-ops
  • Sustainable Support for Community Economic Development (CED) Organizations and Community Capacity Building
  • Support for Technical Resources and Expertise for Enterprising Non-Profits
  • Access to Capital
  • A National Anti-Poverty Strategy with Targets, Timetables and Resources.

To download the full document, including expanded information on the recommendations, please click here

CCEDNet's Letter to the Federal Party Leaders
CCEDNet has created a letter to the federal party leaders in the 2008 election campaign raising the pressing issue of support for community-led action on urgent social and economic development needs.

We've asked each federal leader to respond to the questions in the letter, so that we can share the responses with our membership.

To download the letter, click here.  

Party responses received:

To view the NDP response click here

To view the Bloc Québécois response click here

Working together to build a Communities Agenda

Poverty, homelessness, environmental degradation, inadequate child care, and gaps in social programs are resulting in worsening conditions in many communities. Community economic development offers a holistic approach to tackling these issues. In order to be successful, it needs a supportive public policy environment.

CCEDNet joins with others concerned about growing social and economic inequality in Canada. These are our recommendations for implementing a Community Economic Development approach to eliminating poverty and revitalizing communities. This is our case for change.

A Communities Agenda:

1. Build Fairer and Stronger Local Economies

2. Tackle Poverty and Homelessness

3. Invest in Sustainable Communities

To download a printable version of our policy brochure please click here (PDF).

CCEDNet responds to the CRA's proposed guidelines for fundraising

CCEDNet is excited by the CRA’s initiative to address recent issues of accountability and appropriate activity for charities in Canada. We feel that this is a great opportunity to build stronger relationships and trust between the public and charitable organizations and to better articulate acceptable charitable fundraising activities.

Fundraising activities are extremely important to the work and sustainability of charities and the Income Tax Act must reflect this reality while also outlining what is acceptable within the fundraising activities of charitable organizations. We feel strongly that no responsible charity would deny that the public has a right to know as clearly as possible how the finances of a charity work, particularly as to how a charity disburses its revenue for charitable purposes as distinct from its administrative and fund-raising costs.

CCEDNet has reviewed the CRA's Proposed Policy and Backgrounder as well as many of the briefings of other involved organizations and key players. We have also sent out a briefing to our members whose feedback has helped to inform our response. We encourage the CRA to take the time to review this response and all other submitted responses, and to continue seeking the input of those who have not been included in current and previous discussions.

Click here to read the full document.

CCEDNet's 2007 Submission to the Finance Standing Committee

This brief has been prepared by CCEDNet for the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. The information contained in this brief is intended to respond to the Committee's pre-budget consultations on Canada's tax policy.

To download the submission click here.

National Policy Council

During the past year, the Policy Council, made up of 15 members from across Canada, has led our policy work with a focus on:

  • Effectively responding to a changing external environment.
  • Maintaining a policy profile for community economic development.
  • Making CCEDNet's policy role more engaging and relevant for the members in their daily work in communities.