Leading by Example: CCEDNet Awarded for Excellence in Sustainability
 Earlier this month, CCEDNet-Manitoba was honoured by the Province of Manitoba with a Excellence in Sustainability Award. Each year, the Province celebrates individuals and organizations that turn the province's guidelines for sustainability into concrete achievements through the Awards. CCEDNet-Manitoba received the Education for Sustainability Award. This distinction recognizes our efforts to inform policymakers and citizens about the benefits and impacts of using a holistic approach towards sustainable development, which seeks to build strong, equitable and more environmentally-friendly communities. Two CCEDNet members, Assiniboine Credit Union and the Green Action Centre, were also recognized for their sustainable development work.  (Photo Credit: Tracy Goncalves, Province of MB)
Affordable Antigonish: Videos Highlight Housing Problem
 A new video created by ACALATV tells the personal stories behind the affordable housing crisis in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Affordable Antigonish demonstrates how a chronic lack of affordable housing affects individuals, families, and local communities. Through these accounts, we learn about the daily struggles and community-wide consequences of being evicted or living in precarious or unstable housing. The film includes interviews with people who have been directly affected by the chronic lack of affordable housing, and provides testimony from experts who offer insights into the policy and root causes behind the housing shortage. Antigonish County Adult Learning Association (ACALA) T.V. is a social enterprise dedicated to providing workplace training and economic opportunity.
New Advertisements to Raise Co-op Awareness
 Nova Scotia's co-operative sector is bringing their message of reciprocity and collaboration right into the living rooms across the province with some cleverly crafted television commercials. The Nova Scotia Co-operative Council launched a television ad last month, which airs during CTV's news programming. The 30-second spots use the imagery of a tree to demonstrate the diversity and scope of the co-op sector in Nova Scotia. Meanwhile, a voice-over provides key facts and messages about the province's many co-ops and credit unions.
New Jobs in Moncton Through Co-operative Partnership
 The Co-operators General Insurance Company will be opening a new agency contact centre in Moncton, New Brunswick. The announcement was welcomed by Premier David Alward, who stated, "The Co-operators shares our government's confidence in New Brunswick's innovative workforce, and this investment is another step forward in our plan to rebuild our economy through smart solutions." The new facility will provide 25 jobs for local residents. The site is one of four Co-operators agency contact centres in Canada and will serve markets in Eastern Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The provincial government is partnering with the Co-operators on the expansion, by providing $175,000 in payroll rebates.
National CED News
Budget 2013: Good News for Housing, Disappointment for Credit Unions
 Canada's community development sector responded to the federal government's 2013 Budget last month with relief and concern on two important issues, in particular. Canadian credit unions were disappointed to learn that income taxes will soon be rising for credit unions due to the elimination of a long-standing tax measure. However, the Budget brought good news for housing advocates across the country. The Budget included five-year renewals of both the Affordable Housing Initiative ($1.25 billion) and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy ($600 million) with a new focus on 'housing first.' The budget also includes $100 million over two years for housing in Nunavut.
Groundbreaking Social Economy Act Introduced in Québec
 On March 19, the Québec Government introduced the Social Economy Act. The objective of this landmark bill is to recognize the contribution of the social economy to the socioeconomic development of Québec and to determine the role of the Government in that area. It works to promote the social economy and support its development through the creation and adaptation of policy tools, and to foster access to the Administration’s measures and programs for social economy enterprises. It is hoped that the Act will be passed by summer.
Canadian Co-ops Among the World's Most Sustainable
 Canada is home to two of the world's most sustainable co-operatives, according to a new global ranking by Corporate Knights magazine. The Most Sustainable Co-operatives in the World list awarded The Co-operators the top global spot, and the Desjardins Group placed third. The list is based on several variables related to social and environmental business leadership, including energy productivity, resource usage, sustainability mandate and board diversity. The top 10 list also includes co-operatives and mutuals from France. Germany, Japan and the United States. Along with the ranking, Corporate Knights included a profile of The Co-operators and its sustainability initiatives.
(Source: CCA News Brief)
CED Tool: Collaboration Coach
 The Collaboration Coach platform is designed to help your not-for-profit organization avoid common pitfalls, use successful strategies and make informed decisions about your collaborative initiatives and opportunities. More than a tool kit, Collaboration Coach aims to be a virtual coach. We invite you to spend some time exploring the various points of entry which guide you to reflective questions, tools and stories. This interactive online tool takes users through six key themes: 1) Understanding Collaboration 2) Investing in Collaboration 3) Building Effective Relationships 4) Creating Shared Governance 5) Setting and Monitoring Direction, and 6) Getting the Work Done.
CED Book Club: The Insiders Guide to Community Renewal
 The Insiders' Guides (IGs) are a series of 4-page cartoons that make mainstream some concepts and tools critical to community renewal. Developed with the assistance of a number of community economic development practitioners across the country, Insiders Guides use illustration and a straightforward text to be both informative and fun. The Guides were developed by the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal.
A Little Bird Told Us: Top Tweets of the Month
 Here is a brief sampling of some of our most popular tweets from the past 30 days. Click here to follow us on Twitter.
- The fundamental principle of #coops is reciprocity, "a simple but powerful idea" - John Restakis #neweconomy
- Income tax set to rise for #creditunions - Sector laments elimination of tax credit in #Budget2013 https://ccua.com/
- Survey Finds Independent Businesses Benefit from “Buy Local First” Campaigns, But Challenges Loom https://ilsr.org/articles/2013-independent-business-survey/
- Tackling poverty with social enterprise. How #socent in Africa are addressing food poverty & food security http://ow.ly/jfVG0
- Building a social enterprise requires a holistic approach: Why it's vital to keep an eye on the big picture
- A good place to do social business: Québec introduces the Social Economy Act to support the development of #socent /en/new-in-ced/2013/03/20/social-economy-act-introduced-quebec
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