CreateAction - Call for Proposals for Host Organizations
 The Canadian CED Network is Proud to Announce the Return of CreateAction! Now in it's 9th incarnation, the CreateAction program offers six-month work experience placement to post-graduate youth with a career focus in CED. We are recruiting up to 40 community-based CED organizations to host work experience participants for 25 weeks starting in April 1st. A special focus for this intake will be on building capacity and sustainability of innovative community enterprises and supporting the development of new community enterprises.
Saskatchewan CED News
 Shift Change: Free Documentary Screenings
Saskatchewan Co-operative Association is hosting a series of free screenings of Shift Change in Saskatoon and Regina this month. Shift Change is a documentary film by award-winning filmmakers Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin. It tells the stories of employee owned businesses that compete successfully in today’s economy while providing secure, dignified jobs in democratic workplaces. The Regina screening will take place on Tuesday, March 19 at the Regina Public Library Theatre. In Saskatoon, the screening will be held Thursday, March 28 at the Broadway Theatre. 
Does Saskatchewan's Anti-Poverty Strategy Measure Up
 In the summer of 2012, the Saskatchewan government published its anti-poverty strategy From Dependence to Independence. A new report from the Saskatchewan Office of the CCPA assesses the claims of the government’s strategy, and compares Saskatchewan’s anti-poverty plan to that of other provincial programs to reduce poverty. Saskatchewan’s Anti-Poverty Plan, From Dependence to Independence: Does It Measure Up? evaluates the extent to which Saskatchewan’s plan replicates the features of the more established and proven anti-poverty plans of other provinces. The report demonstrates several serious shortcomings in the anti-poverty strategy, and identifies a number of vulnerable groups who have not kept pace with recent economic growth in the province and would most benefit from a truly comprehensive poverty plan.
(Source: CCPA-SK)
Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Awards
 Do you know an outstanding co-operative or co-operator in your community that deserves recognition for their work? The Saskatchewan Co-operative Association is now accepting nominations for their annual Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Awards. These prestigious awards honour individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to co-operatives and credit unions in Saskatchewan. The Merit Awards ceremony and banquet, organized by a committee of co-operative sector representatives, takes place during Co-op Week each October. The nomination deadline is May 1, 2013.
National CED News
A Second Opinion: 2013 Alternative Budget
 Austerity measures are not the way to kickstart an already stagnant economy, warns the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. With the release of its annual Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), the CCPA shows how austerity can be replaced by a plan that strengthens the economy, leads to a better quality of life for all Canadians, and eliminates the deficit by 2016. The Alternative Federal Budget shows what the federal government could do if it decided to seriously tackle Canadians’ largest social, economic, and environmental concerns. According to the CCPA, the AFB Plan would generate 200,000-300,000 full time jobs. CCEDNet co-authored the chapter on Cities and Communities and contributed to several other portions of the final document.
Social Impact Bonds, Explained CED
 In a recent article for the CCPA, John Loxley - a professor of economics at the University Manitoba - holds a microscope to the growing phenomenon of social impact bonds (SiBs). In a SiB arrangement, the private or social sector finances and delivers services under contract to the public sector, against a bond issued by the public sector, promising to accomplish specified delivery criteria. If the criteria are met, then the private or social sector agencies cash in the bond to receive reimbursement of their costs plus a rate of return based on performance. In the article, John Loxley explains the what, why, and how of SiBs by providing case study examples from the UK. He also defines the potential and challenges of this form of social finance.
CED Book Club: Developments in Asia's Solidarity Economy
 This publication entitled Developments in Solidarity Economy in Asia contains 19 chapters and is divided into four parts. It captures an overview of SE developments across Asia and the proposed strategies to scale the movement up to the next level with a wider reach. The first two chapters provide reflections of the 2011 Asian Solidarity Economy Forum, and summarizes the ideas shared during the conference on how to meet the challenges currently faced by the social solidarity economy. The third chapter documents the developments in Asia's solidarity economy since 2011. The book sheds light on the basic concepts and theory of the solidarity economy. The final chapters provide in-depth views into the experiences and community impacts generated by the solidarity economy across Asia.
CED Tool: Community Capital Scan
 The CCS, Community Capital Scan, is an internet based instrument offers the opportunity to gain insight into how projects or programmes might contribute to the sustainable development of a community. This insight generated through a questionnaire that is completed by all relevant stakeholders. The questions relate to the six capitals of sustainable community development: natural capital, physical capital, economic capital, social capital, human capital and cultural capital. To facilitate interpretation, the outcomes are presented graphically. In addition, the scan offers an opportunity to make a wide range of suggestions for improvements to the project.
Community Development Award Season
 It's that time of year again to nominate an outstanding co-operative and/or social enterprise in your community. The annual Canadian Co-operative Awards recognizes excellence and achievement in the Canadian co-op sector in four award categories: The Canadian Co-operative Achievement Award; the Global Educator Award; the CCA Co-operative Governance Awards; and the Canadian Co-operative Hall of Fame Pioneer Inductees. The deadline for nominations for all the awards is March 31, 2013.
Nominations are also now being accepted for Trico Charitable Foundation's Social EnterPrize Awards. The awards recognize and celebrate leadership and excellence in social entrepreneurship across Canada, with prizes totalling over $80,000. The deadline for applications is May 10.
Top Tweets of the Month
 Here is a sampling of the messages we launched into the Twitter-sphere this past month. To follow us on Twitter, click here.
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