April 2009

In this Issue:

2009 National CED Conference - Early Bird Deadline: Friday, April 24th!!
Election Time in BC!
RACE TO RULE B.C. OFFICIALLY BEGINS WITH ECONOMY, JOBS FRONT AND CENTRE
BC GREEN PARTY ANNOUNCES PLATFORM
Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV)
National News: World Social Forum, RIPESS Meeting, US Solidarity Economy Network Conference, Credit Union System on Solid Ground, and more.
CCEDNet News: Youth in Charge Toolkit Published, Remaking the Economy Through People's Eyes - Final Report
Announcements
BC News Headlines
Funding
Events
Jobs

TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

June 3-5, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba

The last date for Early Bird registration is Friday, April 24!

HIGHLIGHTS:
Over 45 workshops and action sessions related to Building Fairer & Stronger Local Economies, Tackling Poverty & Homelessness, and Investing in Sustainable Communities.

An engaging program including mobile workshops, inspiring keynote speakers and innovative plenary sessions.

• A colourful Marketplace featuring interesting cultural and social enterprise products
• Unique cultural experiences, celebratory networking, social activities and the Canadian CED Network's 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner
• A special focus for 2009 will be Indigenous models of CED

The 2009 National CED Conference is hosted by the Canadian CED Network in partnership with Ka Ni Kanichihk and SEED Winnipeg.

Election Time in BC!

We call for increasing support for community economic development strategies.

*Provincial Election - May 12th*

With the upcoming provincial election close at hand, now is the time to make sure your candidate cares about community economic development.

Ways to raise your voice for CED during the provincial election:

* Attend a community meeting/forum and ask questions of your local candidates
* Attend a community meet-and-greet event
* Post information on your candidates website (blog, discussion forum)
* Become familiar with candidates and their CED platforms
* Visit your local candidates at their constituency offices
* Email candidates your questions
* Make sure that your colleagues, family and friends are registered to vote
* Send a letter outlining what you think your community needs to your local candidates, highlighting the main issues

Questions you can ask:

1. What is your party's position on a Community Economic Development Strategy to strengthen BC's communities?

2. How will you provide communities and development organizations with the long-term resources, tools and authority that they need for social and economic innovation?

3. What is your party's strategy to alleviate poverty in BC communities (rural, urban, Aboriginal, and Northern)? How will you support community-based solutions to reduce poverty and unemployment?

4. How will you support a greater role for social enterprises in economic revitalization?

Make an informed decision by voting for candidates supporting CED and the social economy!

RACE TO RULE B.C. OFFICIALLY BEGINS WITH ECONOMY, JOBS FRONT AND CENTRE

APRIL 14, 2009 | DIRK MEISSNER, THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER, B.C. - The B.C. election campaign officially started Tuesday with the leaders of both major parties accusing each other of attempting to sell economic plans to voters that will kill jobs during tough economic times.

Premier Gordon Campbell said the New Democratic Party's campaign platform is chilling and could result in at least 60,000 lost jobs in the green sector, while NDP Leader Carole James said British Columbia has already lost 25,000 forest industry jobs under the Campbell Liberals and last month posted the highest job losses in Canada.

The economy and who voters trust to manage it during a recession are expected to be the major issues in the campaign, which will see Campbell seek his third consecutive mandate May 12. James is fighting her second campaign as Opposition leader.

Both leaders held boisterous rallies in Vancouver Tuesday evening.

"The Opposition says they want to take B.C back - back to the 1990s, back to the time of more taxes, back to the time of increasing debt, back to the time of British Columbia being a have-not province," said Campbell at the rally at his own Vancouver riding headquarters.

"We are not going there," he said to about 150 supporters who crowded into his campaign office. "We are going forward to make B.C. even stronger in the future."
Campbell said the New Democrats plan to tax the oil industry and add more costs to small business.

"This is a time to protect jobs," he said. "This is a time to encourage investment. This is not a time for taking risks. This is not a time for experiments. This is a time for prudent leadership."

James told about 400 cheering supporters that Campbell has done more than his share to kill jobs in British Columbia.

"He should have a look around," she said. "Job losses - worst in Canada. Eighty thousand British Columbians out of work in the first three months of this year alone. Child poverty - worst in Canada. Spending on care for seniors - worst in Canada."

Campbell said the election is the most important vote in a generation and the stakes are enormous during a time of worldwide economic distress.

The New Democrats are appealing for British Columbians to "Take Back B.C.," but Campbell said a vote for the NDP will take the province back to the economic troubles of the 1990s, when B.C. was lagging behind other provinces economically.

"All could be lost in a single day," Campbell told reporters in Victoria earlier in the day, after visiting the lieutenant governor to have the legislature dissolved and start the official campaign. "It's not a time to turn back. It's a time to look ahead."

The Liberals will release their platform on Wednesday.

James hit the campaign trail early Tuesday, well before the premier visited Government House.

She said the latest unemployment numbers prove Campbell's economic plan isn't working.

"People will be looking to say who do they trust to take care of them, their family and their community during these difficult economic times," she told supporters.

James said predictions are that unemployment will continue to rise and that the Liberal government is completely out of touch with what's been going on in B.C.

"For two years, Gordon Campbell has ignored the issues that people have been facing in rural B.C. and forest communities. And now again when we see job losses coming, we see the premier saying 'Don't worry, British Columbia will get through this, everything's fine,"' she said.

"Well it's not fine for families. This is a government that has made life more difficult for British Columbians."

A redistribution of seats means there are now six more ridings, for a total of 85, up for grabs in an election that's largely turned the tables on predictable party lines.
Campbell's big-business, pro-development Liberals enter the campaign promoting themselves as friends of the environment and champions of aboriginal rights.
The Liberals were forced to retreat from an aboriginal reconciliation bill last month after some of the party's traditional big-business supporters revolted over the bill that would have entrenched aboriginal title.

For their part, the New Democrats have drawn fire from some of their traditional green supporters with their pledge to cut the provincial carbon tax.

James said all other jurisdictions are moving to a cap-and-trade pollution system.
She told New Democrat supporters that an NDP government will put people back to work with infrastructure and green-technology investments and by revitalizing the forest industry.

BC GREEN PARTY ANNOUNCES PLATFORM

BY MORGAN J. MODJESKI, TYEE - THE HOOK, MARCH 19, 2009

The Green Party of British Columbia released its platform today in a 75-page publication called British Columbia's Green Book, 2009-2013.

The platform calls for drastic changes, including the decommissioning of all gas and diesel power stations by 2015 and a halt on all oil and gas mining for energy generation before 2030.

According to the Green Book, the party will invest in infrastructure renewal, improve healthcare and build affordable housing. This transition into the green economy will create new jobs in environmentally friendly industries, producing thousands of "green collar jobs" which will stimulate the provincial economy.

Also presented in the platform is the Green Party's plan to provide interest-free loans to small and mid-sized businesses to help locally owned companies make the switch to green energy. The platform also calls for tax increases for businesses and individual practices that cause pollution.

Jane Sterk, leader of the B.C. Greens, told The Tyee her party has yet to assign cost projections to the changes in the platform. But she said there are enough funds in the provincial budget to accomplish what is set out.

"We are not going to be attaching budget numbers because we think that we have to look at how everything is done in the government and reallocate funds," Sterk said.

If the Greens form the B.C. government, money currently invested in the gas, oil industry would go into renewable energy and Gateway project funding would be completely redirected into the reformation of public transit, Sterk said.

Sterk added that the Greens will run a deficit when they make the initial investments towards greener infrastructure.

"For a different kind of life and a different quality of life, we may need to make an up-front investment," Sterk said.

The Greens also indicated the deficit they build will be left to future generations to worry about.

"While we move through this recession, Greens will spend more money than we take in; however, we are keenly aware that the money we spend today will need to be paid back by our children in the future," the B.C. Green Book read.

When we vote for Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV) on May 12th we are saying that governments must be accountable to the voters.

Our current flawed first past the post system weakens and divides us. It cheats British Columbians of the governments they vote for. As a result, voters are unable to effectively hold governments accountable. We end up with extreme policy swings, partisan polarization and instability. There are no extenuating circumstances or unique strengths that justify our continued use of this failed system.

Fortunately, we have a far better alternative - Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV) - recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. They were 160 randomly chosen, voters who volunteered 11 months of their time on behalf of their fellow citizens. Voters told them they wanted fair and accurate results, greater choice and more responsive local representation. Voters said that governments should reflect the will of the majority of the people.

As a result of what they heard, the Assembly recommended Single Transferable Vote - a reliable, well-tested system - to the people of BC.
To learn more, click here.

Courtesy of www.stv.ca

National News

Rupert Downing Reports from the World Social Forum - Belem, Brazil

The World Social Forum took place in Belem, Brazil from January 27 to February 1 2009, attended by 130,000 representatives of civil society organizations, researchers, and non governmental agencies. A major focus of the Forum was people-centered responses to the world economic crisis, led by organizations involved in the social and solidarity economy.

The World Social Forum organizers created a dynamic space for dialogue, networking and collaboration in Belem, with major themes (reflecting the Amazon region’s participation) around Indigenous People’s leadership and solidarity, ecological sustainability, and responses to the global economic crisis.

In addition to civil society participants, five South American Presidents held meetings in Belem, with one major public meeting which some participants were able to attend.

The 2009 World Social Forum demonstrated the growing importance of the social and solidarity economy movement as a solution to inter-related ecological, human, social, and economic crises facing communities and people across the world. For those of us involved in civil society and research to strengthen the social economy in Canada the timing is very important to support and strengthen international linkages. CCEDNet’s involvement in the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) needs to continue to be a focal point. Engagement in future international opportunities should also be a priority, including the International Forum in Luxembourg this spring (See next item for more info on this).

Rupert Downing, Co-Director for CCEDNet of the Canadian Social Economy Hub with input from Ethel Cote (CCEDNet and RIPESS Board) and Yvon Poirier (CCEDNet and RIPESS NA).

Another Economy Exists!

The 4th international meeting of RIPESS will be held April 22-25 in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, hosted by the Institute European d’Economie Solidaire. The theme “Another Economy Exists: The Innovations of the Social and Solidarity Economy” is expected to draw another 1200 participants, from all continents. Its workshops and presentations will explore SSE in relation to:

Co-construction of public policies
Social services of general interest and common goods
Solidarity-based entrepreneurship
The environment
Food sovereignty
Responsible production and consumption
Democratic participation
Research and conceptualization
Networking and communication
Trade union action
Solidarity-based financing

For more information, go to www.lux09.lu

Report from first U.S. Solidarity Economy Network Conference

Nearly 400 organizers and activists gathered at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst March 19-22 for the first national gathering of the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network, exceeding the expectations of its organizers. The deepening economic crisis made the meeting quite timely. The overall theme was 'Building Another World’. Internationally, delegations came from Quebec, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, and Canada. People represented economic justice and green jobs projects, food coops and credit unions, worker coops, labour unions, and peace and justice organizing efforts.

Workshops covered a wide-range of topics: A common policy agenda in the context of Obama's recovery plans, cooperative housing, fair trade, credit unions, alternative currencies, cooperatives in Venezuela, worker takeovers in Argentina, feminist economics, the social economy in Quebec, the role of labour unions, worker cooperatives, green jobs alliances, solar power and many more.

Read the full report

Credit Union System on Solid Financial Ground

In spite of the global financial environment, Canada's credit union system ended 2008 on solid financial ground. According to Credit Union Central of Canada, system assets, savings/deposits and loans all recorded solid gains, maintaining the annual growth reported in the previous quarter, but down from the growth rates reported in 2007.

Assets rose 8.7 per cent to reach $113.8 billion; over the past five years, the increase in assets was 45%. Growth in deposits and savings increased to $100.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, and loans grew 7.2 per cent over year end 2007. Four of the 10 provincial Credit Union systems reported double-digit growth in each of the three main financial categories: assets, savings/deposits and loans.

Meanwhile, Central 1 Credit Union, which was created last year through the merger of the credit union centrals in Ontario and British Columbia, reported a net income of $29.8 million in 2008. Net income increased by 22 per cent from the record $24.4 million posted by BC Central alone in 2007.

Thanks to the April 8th Ontario Co-operative Association e-newsletter for this piece.

YOUTH SUMMIT CHARTS FUTURE: MAKING NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR A PROVINCE OF CHOICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

April 9, 2009 - On November 14 and 15, 2008, about 140 young people attended a provincial Youth Summit in St. John's, NL, to identify common values and actions to make Newfoundland and Labrador their province of choice to live in and work.

CPRN organized the Summit for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as part of an engagement with young people in the province to support the development of its Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy. Premier Danny Williams announced the youth engagement in June 2008.

The Summit was preceded in September and October by a deliberative dialogue that identified a set of values and actions to guide the province - and its business and community leaders - to retain and attract young people. In total, 484 young people aged 18 to 30, from across Newfoundland and Labrador, participated in 13 sessions in 10 provincial centres and in Fort McMurray, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario, where large numbers of young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have relocated.

At the Summit, participants discussed their proposals with Premier Williams and 40 decision-makers from government, the community and private sector.

"Young people brought a passion and commitment to the province and its future and an understanding of the policy challenges involved to successfully retain and attract youth," said Dr. Sharon Manson Singer, CPRN President. "The action ideas they proposed provide important input to the development and implementation of the province's youth retention and attraction strategy and to make Newfoundland and Labrador a province of choice."
To learn what young people in Newfoundland and Labrador think is needed to retain and attract youth and to read the Summit Report, click here. To read or download the deliberative dialogue Synthesis Report, click here. To watch the video, Newfoundland and Labrador, Province of Choice, click here.

CCEDNet News

Youth In Charge CED Toolkit Published

The Canadian Community Economic Development Network, partnered with Pacific Community Resource Society, has worked with youth to develop local community action plans. The action plans address the human resource needs of employers and seek to find solutions to youth employment issues in urban settings.

Youth (aged 15-30 years old) worked together with community mentors to assess their communities and the issues related to the needs of employers. They created workshops to bring together stakeholders, business owners and other makers of change to find solutions to these challenges.

This resource manual compiles materials and tools from CCEDNet and our community partners that have been created throughout this project to help you and your organization successfully deliver youth focused and youth led projects in your community. Through the tools found in this toolkit the communities were able to prepare themselves and learn from the challenges to make change in their communities.

To view this resource on-line, click here. To download the full document, click here.

Remaking the Economy Through People's Eyes - Summary Report

On March 7, 2009, over 200 people attended Remaking the Economy through People's Eyes: A Forum Exploring Economic Models for Today and Tomorrow. 56 evaluations were turned in. To read a summary of the results, click here.

Announcements

COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION LITERACY AWARD - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Council of the Federation (COF) Literacy Award was established by Canada's Premiers to recognize outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.

People with high literacy skills enjoy increased employment opportunities, better health and greater engagement in the community. This, in turn, contributes to overall economic and social prosperity across Canada.

The call for nominations for the award in British Columbia is now open. To be eligible for the COF Literacy Award, nominees must have resided in British Columbia for at least two years and consent to their nomination. Each year, 13 COF Literacy medallions are awarded, one for each province and territory.

The award covers the entire spectrum of the field, including early childhood, family, Aboriginal, health, workplace and community literacy. Recipients of the award can be educators, volunteers, learners and community organizations (including non-governmental organizations), and businesses in each province and territory.

This is an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of people from all walks of life who are contributing to increased literacy across British Columbia. You are encouraged to consider nominating an individual, group or project that has made a significant contribution to the field of literacy in British Columbia, or who as a learner has achieved individual learning success. The deadline for nominations is May 29, 2009.

To access the nomination form and other information, please visit the Ministry of Education's Literacy website.

BC NEWS HEADLINES:

THIRTY-THREE COMMUNITIES RECEIVE OVER $22 MILLION IN PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL FUNDING.

Thirty-three communities received grants this week from the federal and provincial governments, under a variety of programs ranging from tree planting to infrastructure funding.

BC TRANSIT JOINS VICTORIA SCRAP-IT PROGRAM.

Through the BC Scrap-It Program, Victorians will now be able to trade in their 1995 or older vehicle in exchange for up to two years of free rides on the bus.

FIVE COMMUNITIES RECEIVE JOINT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.

A joint federal-provincial investment of $110 million will allow 41 projects to break ground, and the funds will allow faster money flow for targeted infrastructure projects in British Columbia communities.

FUNDING

CANADA-BC BUILDING FUND: COMMUNITIES COMPONENT

Grant provider: Government of Canada, Province of BC, Union of BC Municipalities.
Application deadline: April 24, 2009.

BUILDING COMMUNITIES THROUGH ARTS AND HERITAGE

Grant provider: Canadian Heritage.

Application deadline: April 30, 2009.

STAY ACTIVE EAT HEALTHY INITIATIVE

BCRPA and UBCM are pleased to announce that the STAY ACTIVE EAT HEALTHY INITIATIVE is offering grants of up to $7,500 each to communities as part of Phase 3 of its funding program. Thirty grants are being offered to local governments. Five grants are being offered to First Nations. The deadline for applications for both sets of grants is May 1. For more information, visit the website.