International Symposium on Volunteering: Government Support Examples November 20, 2001

Purpose and Outline Purpose is to provide information on the Government of Canada’s Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI) Outline l Who is the Voluntary Sector in Canada? l The Relationship - A Chronology l The Voluntary Sector Initiative l Major elements of the Voluntary Sector Initiative l Collaborative Governance l Conclusion

Who is the Voluntary Sector in Canada? The Numbers: l 80,000 registered charities l 100,000 non-profit organizations l 1.3 million people employed l 6.5 million people volunteer l 1 billion hours contributed each year (roughly equal to the entire workforce of Manitoba) Economic impact: l $90 billion in annual revenues l $109 billion in assets l 22 million people make in-kind and/or financial donations

The Relationship - a Chronology 1902 Canadian Lung Association receives a grant 1995 Voluntary Sector Roundtable - Broadbent Panel 1997 Red Book II 1999 Joint Tables - “Working Together” 1999 Speech from the Throne (SFT) 2000 Voluntary Sector Initiative

The Voluntary Sector Initiative Five year, $94.6M Initiative Goal is to improve quality of life for Canadians through two intertwined objectives: l federal government legislation, policies, programs and services that are more responsive to the needs of Canadians increased capacity of the voluntary sector to meet the demands Canadian society places on it

Major Elements of the VSI Five year, $94.6 M initiative for research and development in six key areas: Government/sector relationship building ($11.5M) l Development of an Accord, l Governance mechanisms, codes of good practice Modernizing federal funding strategies ($1M) l Study of federal funding policies and practices l Study by sector on broader financial issues

Major Elements of the VSI Involving the sector in departmental policy development ($28.5M) Support of projects developed by departments and their sector partners to increase capacity of the sector to participate in departmental policy development Improving the regulatory framework ($8.6M) l Charities issues (transparency, sanctions, appeal process, institutional arrangements, advocacy) l Director’s Liability

Major Elements of the VSI Strengthening capacity of the sector and knowledge of it (35$M) l Human resources l Financial management l Knowledge development l Information Management/Information Technology l Public awareness of the sector l CSGVP Encouraging volunteering as expression of Canadian values ($10M) l Canada Volunteerism Initiative l International Year of Volunteers

Collaborative Governance in Action Joint - Government and Voluntary Sector l Intent is to carry out concrete work jointly and to model “jointness” l Seven Joint Tables, each with a co-chair from the voluntary sector and government l Broad representation of the sector - large/small, volunteer/staff, subsectors Horizontal Across Government l Reference Group of 9 Ministers 25 departments and agencies, of which 9 are taking a lead responsibility within government for one or more elements of the initiative

In Conclusion For both the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector to deliver on the many and diverse elements of the Initiative: l Coordination at many levels is needed l Probable need for new process and institutions both within the government and the sector to support new ways of working together l Both partners will need to be flexible and build on goodwill l Will be a continued process of learning and sharing

Annex A Federal Departments/Agencies Involved in the VSI l Agriculture and Agri-food Canada l Canada Customs and Revenue Agency l Canada Economic Development l Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation l Canadian Heritage l Canadian International Development Agency l Citizenship and Immigration l Correctional Services Canada l Department of National Defence l Environment Canada l Finance Canada Fisheries and Oceans Canada l Health Canada l Human Resources Development Canada l Indian and Northern Affairs Canada l Industry Canada l Justice Canada l Natural Resources Canada l Privy Council Office l Royal Canadian Mounted Police l Solicitor General Canada l Statistics Canada l Status of Women Canada l Treasury Board Secretariat Veterans Affairs Canada

Annex B Voluntary Sector Roundtable Members l Canada Parks/Recreation Association l Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport l Canadian Centre for Philanthropy l Canadian Conference of the Arts l Canadian Council for International Co-operation l Canadian Council on Social Development l Canadian Environmental Network l Community Foundations of Canada l National Voluntary Organizations l Representative for the Faith Communities l United Way of Canada l Volunteer Canada l Representative of National Health Charities