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March 31, 2020 Covid Advocacy

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Social Enterprise Council of Canada

March 31, 2020

Dear Members of the Cabinet, 

Our sincere wishes to each of you, your family members, friends and colleagues in this difficult time. 

We want to congratulate the government for your supportive social enterprise steps over the past several years, and as you consider the many options and their effectiveness to cope with the reality of COVID-19, we urge you to continue these same practices through these challenging times.  

The governments’ inclusion of social enterprises into existing and emerging COVID response programs, services and investments will address both economic and social issues by delivering blended value solutions through their very business activities. 

Social enterprises are businesses working primarily to realize a social, environmental or cultural purpose, that also re-invest any profits back into furthering their community value. 

Recommendations:

  1. Open up access to all existing SME business programs, supports and investments to non-profit social enterprises       
  2. Utilize Community Benefit Agreements on all Federally funded Construction and Infrastructure Projects
  3. Implement a Social Procurement Policy on the purchase of Goods and Services and for all primary contractors
  4. Adjust the Treasury Board policy and CRA regulations affecting the use of social enterprise activities by non-profits and charities
  5. Implement all of the Social Innovation / Social Finance Recommendations

We urge the Government of Canada to engage, support and scale the social enterprise business model as a core component of the COVID 19 recovery process, helping ensure we all can live in healthy, sustainable local communities in the future.  

We would appreciate any opportunity to meet with you or your staff members to explore and explain further any of the items we have identified.  

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Social Enterprise Council of Canada

David LePage, Chair

david@buysocialcanada.com / 1.778.772.3472

Members of the SECC Board of Directors:

  • David LePage (British Columbia)
  • Anne Jamieson (Ontario)
  • Andy Horsnell (Nova Scotia)
  • Chas Young (Alberta)
  • Marty Donkervoort (Manitoba)
  • Norman Greenberg (Nova Scotia)
  • Penelope Rowe (Newfoundland / Labrador)
  • Sarah Leeson-Klym (Manitoba)
  • Mandy Burke (New Brunswick)

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Posted in Advocacy
SECC Social Enterprise Definition
Social enterprises are community-based businesses that sell goods or services in the market place to achieve a social, cultural and/or environmental purpose; they reinvest their profits to maximize their social mission.
SECC Vision, Mission, and Goal
We envision vibrant community-based social enterprises successfully contributing to creating healthy communities. Our Mission is to convene, inform, advocate to and influence key stakeholders and social enterprises. Our strategic goal is to ensure social enterprises have a supportive ecosystem that: · Enhances Their Business Skills · Assures Access To Capital · Creates Market Opportunities · Recognizes Their Impact · Provides Supportive Legislation And Regulations