History of the VSI
In 1995 thirteen national, umbrella voluntary sector organizations
formed a group called the Voluntary Sector Roundtable (VSR). The
VSR was established to bring about collaboration in the voluntary
sector on issues of common concern. The sector has a long and
effective history of working together in groups and coalitions.
Prior to the VSR, groups of sector organizations worked on shared
issues or concerns related to the mandate of their organization
such as poverty or improved conditions for artists and cultural
workers. The VSR was the first cross-sectoral group in Canada
to work on the shared issues related to being a voluntary sector
organization.
In 1997 the VSR convened the Panel on Accountability and Governance
in the Voluntary Sector. The Panel conducted Canada-wide research
and consultations and published its recommendations in its final
report entitled Building on Strength:
Improving Governance and Accountability in Canada's Voluntary
Sector. The 1999 report made 41 recommendations for the
voluntary sector and for governments with the goal of enhancing
the effectiveness and credibility of the sector in its ongoing
role of strengthening civil society.
Following on the release of the Panel’s report, the VSR encouraged
the creation of a joint Government of Canada - voluntary sector
process to explore three areas of common concern: building a new
sector/government relationship, strengthening the voluntary sector's
capacity, and improving the regulatory environment in which the
voluntary sector operates. Over the summer of 1999 three "joint
tables", comprised of government and sector leaders, discussed
these issues and produced a final report entitled Working
Together: A Government of Canada/Voluntary Sector Joint Initiative.
The recommendations from this report form the basis for much of
the work of the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI).
In the 1999 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada
clearly recognized the need for an active partnership with a strong
and vital voluntary sector to meet its goal of improving the quality
of life for Canadians. This commitment was given life the following
June, when the federal government and the voluntary sector announced
a joint initiative entitled “Partnering
for the Benefit of Canadians: Government of Canada – Voluntary
Sector Initiative”. The announcement provided a
five-year funding commitment of $94.6-million dollars for the
work of the VSI. Click here to learn how
VSI funding was allocated.
The work undertaken during the VSI has been divided into two
phases – Phase I from June 2000 to October 2002 and Phase
II from November 2002 to March 2005.
VSI: Process and Structure
Process
Throughout the VSI Phase I, the voluntary sector and the federal
government worked through seven Joint Tables. Each table was comprised
of equal numbers of representatives from the voluntary sector
and government. This was the first time a joint approach had been
attempted in such a multi-faceted and complex environment. This
joint approach, which enabled two essentially different sectors
to examine difficult issues with openness and respect, is a unique
VSI achievement.
Management
The voluntary sector leadership comprised of:
- The Voluntary Sector Steering Group (VSSG), composed of 23 individuals,
that included:
- Members of the Voluntary Sector Roundtable;
- Voluntary sector co-chairs of Joint Tables;
- Chairs of Sector Working Groups;
- Voluntary sector members of the Joint Coordinating Committee;
and
- One representative each from the Visible Minority and
Aboriginal Reference Groups.
- Voluntary Sector Initiative Secretariat, reporting to the
VSSG, and supporting the involvement of the voluntary sector
in the VSI
- Visible Minority Reference Group
- Aboriginal Reference Group
The federal government leadership comprised of:
- A Reference Group of Ministers, chaired by The Honourable
Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board;
- Voluntary Sector Task Force reporting to the Deputy Secretary
to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office;
- Government members of the Joint Coordinating Committee;
- Assistant Deputy Ministers Executive Committee; and
- Government co-chairs of Joint Tables.
Joint Tables
The Joint Tables worked on policy and program recommendations
in seven areas:
At the end of phase I, some of the tables had fully completed their
mandates while others had outstanding projects and work. In October
2002, all of the joint tables produced final reports and made recommendations
for future action. Three of the tables appointed advisory bodies
to oversee continuing VSI work. These bodies are the Awareness
Initiative Advisory Committee, the Capacity
Joint Table Advisory Committee and the IM/IT
Advisory Group.
Working Groups
During Phase I, two issues of great importance to the voluntary sector
– advocacy and funding were worked on by sector-only working groups
– the Working Group on
Financing and the Advocacy
Working Group. These were each comprised of 7 voluntary sector leaders
and were staffed out of the Voluntary Sector Initiative Secretariat
and in the second phase of the VSI these two issues, in addition to
others of national concern to the voluntary sector, are being addressed
by the Voluntary Sector Forum.