[ Backgrounder
]
August 8, 2001
OTTAWA - The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the
Treasury Board of Canada, Minister responsible for Infrastructure and
Chair of the Reference Group of Ministers for the Voluntary Sector, today
announced $11.6 million in support to voluntary sector organizations to
lead 21 pilot projects that contribute to federal policy development.
This investment was financed from the Sectoral Involvement in
Departmental Policy Development fund which was established under the
Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI) - a joint initiative between the
voluntary sector and the Government of Canada. In the VSI, the voluntary
sector and the Government of Canada are working to strengthen the
voluntary sector's capacity to meet the challenges of the future and to
enhance the relationship between the sector and the federal government.
"These projects are instrumental in building the voluntary sector's
capacity to influence Government of Canada policy-making," said
Minister Robillard. "This is an important step towards realizing our
long term vision to fully engage the voluntary sector in the day-to-day
business of government."
Patrick Johnston, Co-Chair of the VSI's Joint Coordinating Committee
and President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Centre for
Philanthropy said, "This is a concrete example of an investment in
voluntary sector organizations to build their policy capacity and
strengthen their relationship with the federal government. By working
together, government policies, programs and services will be improved to
better meet the needs of Canadians."
Proposals were solicited by federal departments from voluntary sector
organizations across Canada. Several hundred organizations will work on
the 21 pilot projects in partnership with eight government departments.
They will focus on a wide range of policy areas, including key government
priorities in the areas of health, security, child poverty and
environmental issues. The departments include Canadian Heritage,
Citizenship and Immigration, Environment, Health, Human Resources
Development, Justice, Solicitor General and Veterans Affairs.
For further information on the Voluntary Sector Initiative, call
1-800-O Canada.
(1 800 622-6232) or check the VSI website at http://www.vsi-isbc.ca.
See the attached Backgrounder and List of Approved Projects for further
details.
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
Barry MacKillop
Senior Policy Analyst
Voluntary Sector Task Force
Privy Council Office
(613) 943-0212
Daniel Grenier
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board of Canada and Minister
responsible for Infrastructure
(613) 957-2666
IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE
ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL
PREVAIL.
TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) --
(613) 957-9090
Supporting Voluntary Sector Involvement in Public Policy Development
The Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI) is a joint initiative between the
voluntary sector and the Government of Canada. The long-term goal of the
VSI is to strengthen the voluntary sector's capacity to meet the
challenges of the future, and to enhance the relationship between the
sector and the federal government.
When the Voluntary Sector Initiative was announced in June 2000, part
of its mandate was the enhancement of policy development in federal
government departments by creating opportunities for input by voluntary
sector organizations. This part of VSI's mandate is known as Sectoral
Involvement in Departmental Policy Development (SIDPD).
When the VSI was established, a $28.5 million SIDPD fund was created
for projects that will:
- Enhance and strengthen the voluntary sector's involvement in
departmental policy development, and
- Strengthen the voluntary sector's capacity to contribute to
departmental policy development.
Some examples of projects SIDPD will support include:
- Contributing to building networks, alliances, and other mechanisms
among organizations within the sector/sub-sector that will facilitate
voluntary sector involvement in the departmental policy process, and
- Supporting knowledge development and dissemination activities
intended to increase voluntary sector involvement in the departmental
policy process.
In the summer of 2000, a first round of proposal development was
launched. A screening panel made up of sector representatives with
experience in public policy development reviewed the proposals and
recommended that 21 projects be supported in this round.
In the spring, a second round was launched and submissions are now
under review. A broad call for project descriptions was issued outlining
the steps that voluntary sector organizations should take to develop and
submit a project description to a federal department for funding.
Approved Projects for Round One Voluntary Sector Initiative Sectoral
Involvement in Departmental Policy Development
1. Sport Policy Advisory Collective
The project will enable the sport voluntary sector to contribute to the
development of government policies, programs and services resulting in
improved management, coordination and leadership in the sport voluntary
sector. Policy issues of mutual concern will be identified and improved
information sharing on key trends, key learnings and issues in sport will
result from the Collective's work. In addition the collective will work to
develop a sustainable entity to enable the sport sector to contribute to
the development of government policies, programs and services in an
ongoing, regular and co-ordinated manner.
Lead Organization(s): Sport Policy Advisory Collective
Department: Canadian Heritage
2. Giving a Voice to the Heritage Voluntary Sector
Under the direction of a joint sector/government committee, this
project will lay the foundation for enhanced collaboration between
Canadian Heritage and the heritage voluntary sector. Through this project,
knowledge of the heritage voluntary sector will increase; the policy
capacity of the representative NGOs will be expanded; and communications
between the department and the heritage voluntary sector will increase.
This will result in a greater contribution by the voluntary sector to the
process of heritage policy development.
Lead Organizations(s): Steering committee with representatives from
voluntary sector organizations.
Department: Canadian Heritage
3. Northern Native Broadcast Access Program
The main objective of the project is the development of an action plan
to address current pressures within the context of the Northern Native
Broadcast Access Program, which will result in a greater focus on federal
policy considerations in the various areas of Aboriginal cultural,
heritage and language concerns and needs.
Lead Organizations(s): Consortium of 13 Aboriginal non-profit
communications societies.
Department: Canadian Heritage
4. Strengthening the Settlement Sector
The primary objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of the
settlement sector to address policy and program issues identified by both
the sector and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The key benefit
is more effective services to newcomers. Experiences gained throughout the
joint policy development process will be shared, as will conference and
working group discussion papers, policy recommendations and, where
appropriate, CIC policy decisions. In the process, relationships both
within the sector and between the sector and governments will be
strengthened.
Lead Organization(s): Numerous voluntary sector organizations
Department: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
5. Building the Capacity of the Environmental Community
The project will create initiatives that contribute to improved
governance, communications and networking opportunities for Canadian
Environmental Network (CEN) member organizations and other ENGOs. It will
also facilitate environmental group participation in government and inter-sectoral
consultations and promote communication among environmental groups and
other sectors, such as business, labour, native communities and
governments.
Lead Organization(s): Institute on Governance; Canadian Environmental
Network
Department: Environment Canada
6. Creating Public Policy for Sustainable Development
Three main components comprise this comprehensive project which focuses
on policy issues and strategies related to sustainable development:
linking community-based ecosystem monitoring to local decision-making and
policy development on sustainability; creating public policy for
sustainable development - Atlantic Region; and building capacity for
policy and program development on community sustainability under St.
Lawrence Vision (SLV) 2000 - Quebec Region.
Lead Organization(s): Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN)
Department: Environment Canada
7. Building Policy Capacity of the Youth Environmental Community
The main objectives of this project are to build the policy capacity of
youth environmentally focused NGOs nationally through a comprehensive
National Network, to develop policy approaches in the Pacific and Yukon
Regions that will strengthen the capacity of Canadian youth to play a
consistent and effective role in policy development on environmental and
sustainable development issues and, to use the national network to
replicate Pacific and Yukon region experience across Canada.
Lead Organization(s): Canadian Environmental Network - Youth Caucus and
the Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA).
Department: Environment Canada
8. Enabling Voluntary Action for Species and Habitat Conservation
This project will enable members of the voluntary sector, at the
national, regional and local levels, to inform the development of the
Canada-wide Stewardship Action Plan, and to facilitate the establishment
of a volunteer network that would be co-ordinated and supportive of the
Regional Implementation Boards established under the Habitat Stewardship
Program.
Lead Organization(s): Numerous wildlife habitat voluntary sector
organizations.
Department: Environment Canada
9. Health Canada and Voluntary Organizations Working in Health (VOWH)
Innovative Policy Development
This three-phase project is aimed at increasing the policy capacity of
voluntary organizations working in health (VOWH) and Health Canada, and
enhancing the ability of VWOH to collaborate, both individually and
collectively, in the department's policy development process. Initially, a
number of capacity- and partnership-building tools and activities will be
developed to respond to the policy capacity needs of the voluntary health
sector. The skills and knowledge
acquired through these activities will then be applied through a number
of policy development pilots on specific health issues. The final phase of
the project will evaluate the success of the project and establish a
long-term sustainable plan to shape future policy relationships between
Health Canada and voluntary organizations working in health.
Lead Organizations(s): a cross section of voluntary organizations
working in health
Department: Health Canada
10. New Brunswick Multi-Lateral Laboratory, Family and Children Poverty
The partnership will focus on policies and programs related to children
and family. It will establish a multilateral laboratory for fact-finding,
thinking, and discussion within the voluntary sector and then with the
public, private and voluntary sectors, leading to meaningful input to
policies and the development of enabling tools. Ideally, the laboratory
would become a permanent forum that would serve as a key policy
development tool - acting as an interface between all parties.
Lead Organization: The John Howard Society of New Brunswick
Department: Human Resources Development Canada
11. Building Voluntary Sector Capacity: A Multi-Sectoral Approach
(Manitoba)
This joint coalition/partnership based in Manitoba will focus on
policies and programs related to community capacity and well being. The
coalition will work with a broad cross-section of voluntary sector
organizations which represents Manitoba's diversity. The project will
identify what is necessary for community organizations to take ownership
and responsibility for their collective well being. It will establish a
multi-sectoral approach to fact-finding, information exchanges, work
plans, and forums that will lead to meaningful input to models and
engagement tools to develop community capacity as well as indicators for
community well being. These tools and models will be shared with voluntary
sector organizations across Canada.
Lead Organization: Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg
Department: Human Resources Development Canada
12. Aboriginal Women's Justice Consultation
Three aboriginal organizations will hold a consultation to deal with
justice issues of concern to Aboriginal women and their communities. The
consultation will allow them to build capacity and make their voices heard
through the gathering of information, the exchange of expertise, and
interaction with government officials. The objective is to increase the
policy capacity of Aboriginal women's organizations so that they can
advocate and respond to justice issues of concern with decision-makers
(government).
Lead Organizations: Métis National Council of Women, Inc., Pauktuutit
and the Native Women's Association of Canada
Department: Justice Canada
13. Edmonton Prostitution Court Diversion Project
This two-year pilot project will create personalized case plan
diversion processes for individuals of the age of 18 charged with S.213CC
and other prostitution related charges. The objective of the project is to
offer a community-based alternative to criminal sanctions for activities
of individuals involved in street prostitution in Edmonton by increasing
the capacity of many partners (NGO and government) to effectively work
together.
Lead Organization: Prostitution Action & Awareness Foundation of
Edmonton
Department: Justice Canada
14. Addressing the Needs of Families of Offenders
This project will identify and make policy and program recommendations
regarding the needs of offender families. There will be two series of
consultations in selected Canadian communities. Communities will be
identified using data on community profiles, demographics and crime
statistics from the Correctional Service Canada's Research Branch and in
locations where target audience reach can be maximized.
Lead Organization: Canadian Families and Corrections Network
Department: Solicitor General Canada
15. Voluntary Sector Capacity for Analysis of Government Policy in
Relation to Restorative Justice and Conflict Resolution
This project will develop the capacity within the organization to
provide analysis of government policy initiatives related to restorative
justice and conflict resolution in a more formal and comprehensive way
than has been possible to date.
Lead Organization: The Network: Interaction for Conflict Resolution
Department: Solicitor General Canada
16. Developing A Model for Regional Policy Input
This project proposes a regional consultation process that will lead to
the creation of a model for both organizing and providing regional input
into the Government of Canada's policies on corrections, criminal justice
issues and the government's agenda of Building Safer Communities. Two of
the proposed regional consultations will take place in regions which have
not had a voice in providing input into government policy and who are not
represented by existing national or regional criminal justice agencies or
victim's organizations.
Lead Organization: Canadian Training Institute
Department: Solicitor General Canada
17. Volunteer Information Control System
This project will improve the ability of the Block Parent Program to
communicate with their members, to enhance their capacity to provide more
informed policy advice to the Portfolio of the Solicitor General and to
identify opportunities for collaborative work among partners in the
criminal justice system. The federal government's priority of improving
the quality of life for Canadian children may be addressed by the work of
the Block Parent Program, which is enhanced through the development of
this database.
Lead organization: Block Parent Program of Canada
Department: Solicitor General Canada
18. Youth Justice Primer
The purpose of this project is to both enhance the general public's
understanding of youth justice in Canada and to provide an orientation
text which identifies effective crime prevention strategies and approaches
aimed at reducing youth crime and youth involvement within the justice
system of Canada.
Lead organization: Canadian Training Institute
Department: Solicitor General Canada
19. Policy Learning Centre
This project will demonstrate how a policy project within the John
Howard Society of Canada will enhance the effective participation of the
Society in policy development. This will be achieved by targeting three
important areas for developments within the framework of a current policy
issue (now selected as drug policy): knowledge accumulation, skills
training, and consensus building.
Lead organization: John Howard Society of Canada
Department: Solicitor General Canada
20. Recommendations for Mental Health Programs for Women Involved in
the Criminal Justice System
The project will develop a synopsis and analysis of mental health
programs that the local Elizabeth Fry Societies deliver. The project will
develop recommendations for strategies to support women involved in the
justice system who have mental health issues. Correctional Service Canada
is currently reviewing community infrastructure available for women
offenders with the aim of identifying gaps and developing strategies to
fill those gaps. The results of the Elizabeth Fry Societies project will
form a piece of this review.
Lead Organization: Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
Department: Solicitor General Canada
21. Review and Determination of Housing Issues for Veterans and Seniors
The objective of this project is to ensure that present and future
housing needs of a growing segment of the Canadian population, veterans
and seniors, are met. In addition to addressing very specific policy
objectives, it is also anticipated that the project will result in an
increased capacity among key voluntary sector organizations to address
broader policy concerns with Veterans Affairs Canada and other
departments, in the interest of serving all Canadians.
Lead Organization: The Royal Canadian Legion
Department: Veterans Affairs Canada
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