Policy Agenda in Search of a Budget - This report is the Caledon Institute’s Response to the 2011 Federal Budget.
Federal Action to Eliminate Poverty - On June 16th the Poverty Elimination Act was introduced into the House of Commons in Ottawa – marking a new level of federal engagement in poverty reduction.
Canada at 150: Our Social Agenda – This paper, by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, outlines the three main social challenges facing Canada in the future. These are: Canada as productive society, Canada as caring society and Canada as aging society.
From Insecurity to Prosperity – This report from Maytree and its policy partners outlines a series of strategies to reduce poverty and promote a more prosperous and inclusive Canada. Access the report here.
Bad News about Poverty in Canada - How does Canada compare to other Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations with respect to poverty and income inequality? In a recent report entitled Growing Unequal? – Income Distribution and Poverty in OECD Countries, the OECD makes the following observation about poverty rates in Canada: “After 20 years of continuous decline, both inequality and poverty rates have increased rapidly in the past 10 years, now reaching levels above the OECD average.” Canada, the OECD says, “spends less on cash benefits such as unemployment and family benefits than most OECD countries.” This partially explains why Canadian taxes and transfers do not reduce inequality by as much as in many other countries. Furthermore, the effect of these transfers on inequality has been declining over time. Read the report here.
Community Roles in Policy - There has been growing interest in recent years in place-based interventions and their unique contribution to tackling complex issues, such as poverty. Place-based strategies are exactly that: a range of efforts that seek to achieve a desired objective through interventions in the neighbourhoods and communities where people live. This paper explores the various ways in which communities are engaged in policy through formulating, modifying or seeking improved access to public programs and services. The purpose of this exploration is both to showcase the exemplary work under way in the country and to share these efforts with other communities. Read the full Caledon paper here.
Local Solutions for a Global Crisis - In 2009, communities will have two choices. They can hunker down to watch helplessly as decisions are made by business, governments, education institutions, foundations and others who are fending for themselves. Or they can mobilize a coalition to engage in a search for creative solutions, says Judith Maxwell, former head of the Economic Council of Canada and Canadian Policy Research Networks. Only a few Canadian cities have formed community-wide coalitions whose goals are to deal with the root causes of economic decline. Two examples are the Hamilton Roundtable on Poverty Reduction, co-convened by the city and the Hamilton Community Foundation, and the Toronto City Summit Alliance, chaired by Boston Consulting’s David Pecaut. Download the full article here.
Public Policy's Impact on Volunteering - This study explores the impact of public policy on volunteering in community-based organizations and finds that volunteering in these organizations is increasingly being molded by external factors such as legislation, policy and funding programs. The full report can be downloaded here. [Source: Nonprofitscan]
Canadians Need a Medium-Term Income Benefit - This paper focuses upon a serious weakness in Canada’s income security system - the gap in social insurance coverage for millions of Canadians whose work and earnings are interrupted on a temporary or recurring basis because of illness or disability. The paper examines the current relationship between Employment Insurance sickness benefits and Canada Pension Plan disability benefits, and explores possibilities for stronger linkages between these programs. Download the paper here. [Source: The Caledon Institute of Social Policy]
A Bigger and Better Child Benefit - The federal child benefits system has undergone far-reaching changes over the past two years. In this report, the Caledon Institute proposes an expanded and redesigned Canada Child Tax Benefit that would boost federal child benefit payments to $5,000 for every child in low-income families, covering much of the basic cost of raising a child in a poor family and significantly reducing the extent of poverty. The $5,000 Canada Child Tax Benefit would also improve child benefits for the large majority of non-poor families, which have modest or middle incomes. Download the full paper here. [Source: The Caledon Institute of Social Policy]
Innovative Processes to Improve Governance - This paper by Eleanor Glor explores the problem of getting inventions and innovations in governance and public administration effectively implemented. Even when there is implementation of innovations, the results tend to bear an uncanny resemblance to what already exists. Read the paper here. [Source: The Innovation Journal]
Ontario’s Other Big Decision - When Ontario voters go to the polls in October, they won’t just be casting ballots to elect politicians. They will be choosing whether to make an historic change to Ontario’s electoral system by adopting the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system, recommended by the Ontario Citizens Assembly, or maintaining the status quo by voting to stay with the current system, Single Member Plurality (SMP). The merits and challenges of both were discussed in Toronto on June 18, 2007 at the Public Forum on Electoral Systems: Policy Influence, Impacts and Implications. Read the Forum Highlights here. [Source: CPRN News]
Progressive Governance for Canadians - Nearly ten years in the making, this book acts as a working guide for governments to engage citizens, businesses and the voluntary sector to tackle the challenges faced in the upcoming years. Download the book here. [Source: Crossing Boundaries National Council]
Innovation in Public Management - It has always been a challenge to bring a community perspective to public management. Historically, public administration did not reflect the needs and desires of those who were directly influenced by its policies. Recently however, a stronger focus on social factors when designing public policy has been emphasized. This changing paradigm is exemplified in Australian public management, including how community oriented instruments and community based knowledge facilitated the movement towards community-based policy development. Learn more here. [Source: The Innovation Journal]
Economic Arguments for Action - "Policy-makers the world over have argued that good social policy is the route to achieving economic growth and prosperity. CPRN has been studying that relationship for years, concluding that a strong health care system, a skilled workforce and resilient families bring with them comparative advantage." Read more here. [Source: CPRN]
The Future of Think Tanks in Canada - This report published by Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) makes the case that Canada's foundations should be stepping up to the plate and supporting think tanks more vigorously. To download the full report, click here. [Source: Charity Village]
The Very Long Engagement - The new Conservative government has delivered its first throne speech, outlining plans for Canada's future. With changes in store, it is the perfect time for nonprofits to turn their attention to public policy development and the role they can play. Find out about the organizations that are working to help with the process here. [Source: Charity Village]
Managing Complexity - Ian Peach turns to the important issues of “horizontal” policy processes across Canada, comparing them to that of similar American jurisdictions and the United Kingdom. Peach identifies new ways to effectively address multi-faceted social and economic challenges through policy development. Download the paper here. [Source: University of Regina]
Awareness, Engagement and Policy Change - By educating Calgarians about the complex realities of poverty and influencing the development of responsive public policies, Vibrant Communities Calgary is trying to create a profound shift in thinking. It seeks to move from a climate that sees poverty as a personal problem to one in which systemic change makes it possible for individuals and households to improve their circumstances. Read this Caledon paper here. [Source: Caledon Institute of Social Policy]
Organizations engaged in public policy - A directory of Canadian nonprofits that engage in public policy is now available free online. The information about organizations in the directory was gathered through a web-based survey that was conducted in the spring of 2005. A significant number of organizations responded and described their policy work. However, it is not an exhaustive list and many groups engaged in public policy are not yet included. The researchers are proposing to turn the directory into an ongoing resource by converting it to a searchable database for easy updating and additions. In the meantime, the first edition can be downloaded in PDF format here. [Source: Charity Village]
Horizons: Data for Policy - In government, data, and the analyses they underpin, are an intrinsic part of the policy-making process. As national challenges continue to evolve, so also does the need for the statistical information that supports both the rigorous assessment of emerging issues and the design of effective government policies and programs. This issue of Horizons explores the world of data for policy, with articles covering a wide range of data-related issues, including current challenges in addressing future data needs, the relative value of longitudinal surveys, the expansion of modeling in health and social policy development, data needs for reporting on the state of the nation, and the various ways in which data are accessed and used by policy researchers. Read the October 2005 issue of Horizons here. [Source: Policy Research Initiative]
What is Policy? - The Caledon Institute's Sherri Torjman wrote this paper to support the work of community initiatives interested in policy development. A public policy is a deliberate decision that provides guidance for addressing identified objectives and concerns. The formulation of public policy can be understood as a process of making good decisions – for the public good. Download the paper here. [Source: The Caledon Institute of Social Policy]
About the Social Economy - The guide provides background on the social economy, identifies research issues whose examination would support the development of policies and programs, provides suggestions for how this research might be conducted, and points to some useful information sources. This guide will serve as a useful resource for those developing the analysis and advice that will help governments find the best ways of supporting the social economy in local communities. The guide can be found here. [Source: Public Research Initiative]
Social Capital as a Public Policy Tool - What is social capital? Who benefits - and who does not? Is there a role for government? Examining the potential of the concept of social capital to inform policy development and evaluation, this final report on PRI's Social Capital Project offers a clear framework for the analysis of the concept, identifies policy and program areas where social capital makes a difference, and offers a strategic set of recommendations for testing new approaches, improved measurement, and policy action. Read an executive summary here or download the full report here. [Source: Public Research Initiative]
Public Policy Grantmaking Toolkit - Northern California Grantmakers has launched an online Public Policy Grantmaking Toolkit to demystify advocacy grantmaking and encourage more foundations to support it. Beyond providing the basics of what it calls "public policy grantmaking," this Web-based toolkit offers numerous case studies of grantmakers nationwide engaged in the activity, what it identifies as best practices, and information on how funders can evaluate their public policy grantmaking. Learn more here. [Source: Irvine Quarterly, Vol. 5, Issue 1, Summer 2005]
A way between the market and the state - In this article, Nancy Neamtam describes an emerging cohort of young social entrepreneurs who are combining social goals and entrepreneurial strategies with brio. In Quebec, the social economy accounts for over 10,000 organizations, employs over 100,000 workers and has sales of over $4.3 billion. Yet public policy has a way to go to fully embrace this diverse sector, which is still seen largely as philanthropic and outside the economic sphere, says Neamtam. The social economy is a manifestation of positive and active citizenship that governments need to recognize and support. Download the article here. [Source: Canadian Social Research Newsletter]
FES Policy Handbook Focuses on Local Actions - A new policy handbook from AECF focuses on improving results for families by strengthening the structures that lead to family economic success. It features ideas and examples of policy and regulatory actions that can be promoted by residents, and implemented at the local level. The handbook opens with a section on the qualities and characteristics that can make local policy advocacy most effective, then follows with a series of questions that help to identify the systems that must be influenced. Information and resources are organized into three areas: workforce development, family economic supports and community investment. Download the handbook here. [Source: AECF Family Economic Success Quarterly Newsletter]
War of Ideas - Mainstream and liberal foundations outspend conservative foundations in the war of ideas, yet conservative foundations have been far more successful in actually influencing public policy and mass media. How are the grantmaking strategies of mainstream and liberal foundations hampering their own cause? Download the article here. [Source: Stanford Social Innovation Review]
Public Policy and Public Participation - This report, by Bruce L. Smith, BLSmith Groupwork Inc., is "a practical guide to public policy development with specific emphasis on the meaningful inclusion of stakeholders and citizens." To download the report, click here. [Source: OHPE Bulletin 332.0]
Voluntary Sector Public Policy Toolbox - This toolbox from Ernie Ginsler and Associates was designed to help voluntary organizations to participate in the Canadian public policy development process. It's a helpful resource for those thinking about or currently participating in aspects of policy development and government relations. Access the toolbox here. [Source: OHPE bulletin]
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