Minister Copps Supports Research Project to Build Bridges Between Private and Voluntary Sectors
OTTAWA, September 6, 2002 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced funding of $389,400 for a Canadian Centre for Philanthropy project aimed at improving the working relationship between the private and voluntary sectors.The two-year research project will identify best practices through case studies of effective partnerships between the two sectors, and examine policies and regulations that affect their collaboration. The findings will help shape government policies that enable partnerships between the private and voluntary sectors, and help determine the allocation of resources to improve their working relationship.
"We are committed to bridge the divide between the private and voluntary sectors, and to help them better understand one another," said Minister Copps. "Successfully engaging businesses and voluntary organizations in partnership will help develop innovative, cooperative approaches to building prosperous and sustainable communities."
"Until recently, businesses and voluntary sector organizations have had limited contact," said Patrick Johnston of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. "In the last decade, however, Canadians have been looking to private and voluntary sectors to take more responsibility for addressing community needs. This project will help engage business in corporate citizenship issues and encourage best practices in corporate community investment activities.
The project will be led by Imagine, an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada and the Public Policy Forum.
Funding will be provided by the Community Partnerships Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage under the Voluntary Sector Initiative. The Voluntary Sector Initiative is a joint undertaking between the voluntary sector and the Government of Canada. Its long-term objective is to strengthen the capacity of the voluntary sector and enhance its relationship with the Government of Canada.
Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
BACKGROUNDER
2002 Community Partnerships Projects under the Voluntary Sector Initiative
On March 20, 2002, the Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board of Canada and Chair of the Reference Group of Ministers for the Voluntary Sector, announced funding for more than 100 voluntary sector organizations who will lead 46 projects contributing to public policy development.
Among these projects is one that will help develop policy on creating an enabling environment for partnerships between the private and voluntary sectors.
Creating an Enabling Environment for Private - Voluntary Sector Relationships and Partnerships to Build Community Capacity
($389,400)
The project will span two years and aims to develop a new framework for understanding and partnership between the private and voluntary sectors for the benefit of Canadian communities.
The objectives of this project are to generate the research, consultations, information and knowledge that will:
- generate appropriate policy recommendations to Government so that Government can create a more enabling environment for partnerships between the private and voluntary sectors
- generate recommendations to improve the working relationship between the private and voluntary sectors, including recommendations on the most appropriate capacity-building tools, training and resources
- describe the current state of the working relationship between the sectors
- create an opportunity for greater understanding and communications between the sectors
The lead organization for the project is the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (CCP). The CCP is working in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Business in the Community (Conference Board of Canada), and the Public Policy Forum.
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