CCEDNet Supports Community-Oriented Budget Recommendations  The Canadian CED Network recently wrote to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to express our support for three recommendations in the Standing Committee on Finance's report on their pre-budget consultations. The report, Jobs, Growth, Productivity and Demographic Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Canada, included recommendations that highlight the need to foster growth in co-operative and social enterprise sectors, and to support minorty language communities. 
New Research: Creating Opportunities With Green Jobs  In a new CCPA-MB report, Kirsten Bernas (CCEDNet's Policy Advisor) and Blair Hamilton document the quantitative and qualitative value produced by BUILD and BEEP - two Manitoba-based social enterprises that perform energy efficiency retrofits on low-income homes while providing training and jobs for local people with barriers to employment. The report reveals that BUILD and BEEP are effectively achieving their social missions, while generating significant energy cost savings - over $359,300 and $116,900 respectively every year!
British Columbia CED NewsAre You a Social Enterprise Hero?  Enterprising Non-Profits' Social Enterprise Heroes celebrates the amazing individuals and organizations whose work, contributions, and actions enhance and sustain our healthy communities and local economies. Heroes is both entertaining and informative. This competition is designed to assist local social enterprises in addressing their most critical business challenge or opportunity by awarding financial support or providing in-kind consulting services. This must-attend event takes place March 27 in Vancouver, BC.
The Latest CED News & Events from the SFU Community  Simon Fraser University's Community Economic Development program recently published their newsletter for February 2013. In this issue, Nicole Chaland (program director) shares news about the school's new social enterprise accelerator program - the first in North America to use design thinking to help launch non-profit and co-operative enterprises. Nicole also offers a sneak peak at their revised Community Economic Development Certificate Program. Headlines in this issue:
Vancouver Social Innovation Centre  Vancity credit union has pledged $1.5 million to support the development of a centre for social innovation and inclusion in Vancouver. This idea incubator is being created in honour of the legacy left by City Councillor and social activist, Jim Green. Vancity is working together with other community partners such as Simon Fraser University to develop the centre, which will engage organizations, institutions, and businesses committed to building a more resilient and inclusive community to support and inform one another’s work.
BC in need of a new procurement model for community services The Victoria Social Planning Council has published a report that they hope will open up a renewed discussion about the relationship between government and the community services sector. Toward a Benefit Model of Procurement in Community Services finds that the BC Government's procurement practices - which prioritizes short-term contracts and competitive bidding - has damaged the quality of community services in the province. The Community Council is proposing a “community benefit model” of procurement, in which the government establishes long-term funding relationships with key community service providers, develops a clear policy framework for procuring community services, and establishes regional planning tables to better align community service funding to the needs of each community.
National CED NewsCED Tool  The Digital Leaky Bucket (DLB) is an online version of a tool that Coady graduates have been using with communities for more than 15 years. The leaky bucket is a popular education tool that helps people at the grassroots better understand their local economy. It enables them to identify and quantify the main flows of money coming into and out of their community. In turn, this process may reveal economic opportunities, which can help community members improve their household and community well-being.
Oil, Global Food & New Community Systems Michael Lewis, Director of the CCCR and long-time CCEDNet member, delivered a stirring keynote speech at Food Secure Canada's 2012 Assembly. In his address, Michael discusses the global food system's addiction to oil, and its extravagant use of energy. When we start to discuss the sustainability of our food system, Michael Lewis wants us to look at Teikei, Food with the Farmer's Face on It, Japan's pioneering (1965) efforts in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Follow the link below to watch Michael's speech in full.
Federal government pledges support for enp-Canada  Trico Charitable Foundation will receive $1.5 million in federal funding to support the launch their Enterprising Non-Profits Canada project. This project will test the ability of non-profit organizations to leverage non-federal government funding to address social challenges. Trico will support the development of the social enterprise sector by coordinating and pooling ideas and resources across the country. By working closely with communities and relying on local expertise to find local solutions to social issues, the government is exploring new approaches to increase the impact of federal spending.
Co-ops are on the move  Although 2012 was the International Year of Co-operatives, the Canadian co-op sector is off to a good start in 2013. On January 28, the federal government announced its decision to move responsibility for the co-operative sector from Agriculture Canada to Industry Canada. After engaging key co-op stakeholders (including CCEDNet) across the country, the Special Committee on Co-ops endorsed the move among its eight recommendations to support the growth of the sector. The government also responded positively to other recommendations of the Special Committee, including efforts to collaborate with financial institutions, the provinces and territories to offer business financing and capitalization to co-ops. (Source: CCA News Brief)
From Bridging to Bonding: Examining the Social Enterprise Research-Practice Continuum The Institute for Nonprofit Studies at Mount Royal University and Simon Fraser University are co-hosting a research day on October 31, in collaboration with the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF-2013). This dedicated research day will provide the opportunity for the presentation and discussion of research case studies; research partnerships; educational programs and workshops; collaborative evidence‐based policy development; and research‐based studies on social enterprise operations, financing, or governance. If you are interested in participating, please submit a title, an abstract of 250 words and complete contact information to Peter R. Elson: pelson@mtroyal.ca by March 31st, 2013.
Take Action for a National Housing Strategy: Support Bill C-400
 Canadians have a rare opportunity this week to make an impact on poverty in our country. The Secure, Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing Act - a bill currently before Parliament - calls on our federal government to develop a national housing strategy. Bill C-400 would oblige the federal government to bring provincial and municipal governments to the table with Aboriginal communities, civil society, non-profits and the private sector to create a plan that ensures everyone in Canada lives in decent and affordable housing. MPs will be voting on the bill on February 27, so we encourage you to act now. Make Poverty History Manitoba has made it easy to submit a letter to your MP with an online form (see link).
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The Parliamentary Secretary for HRSDC recently hosted a budget consultation meeting with various stakeholders to discuss federal strategies on economic development, job creation, and skills development. Brendan Reimer attended the meeting to represent the priorities of CCEDNet members, and spoke to the importance of federal government support for co-operatives, social enterprises, and community-based employment development programs. In a follow-up letter, CCEDNet submitted seven recommended actions that HRSDC could take to support the growth and development of co-operatives and social enterprises in 2013.
