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March 6, 2013 
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Alberta Budget 2013/14  

 

Can We Cut Our Way to a Preferred Future?
By Katherine van Kooy, President and CEO, CCVO 

 

The 2013/14 provincial budget will be released tomorrow, answering some of the questions about how the Government of Alberta will address the projected 4 billion dollar deficit. The growing financial issues have prompted a difficult and long overdue conversation about how we finance the services that Albertans need and expect.  

 

Debate about tax options, expenditure controls and the level of services required to meet the needs of a growing population and a strong economy is healthy in a democratic society.  To date much of the public discussion has been dominated by those, such as the Fraser Institute and Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who see expenditure reduction as the only solution.  

 

A significant voice in this discussion needs to be coming from the nonprofit sector.  

 

There is little argument that government should use public money wisely. But the idea that government programs should be slashed to bring expenditures in line with current revenues needs to be challenged. 

 

Alberta's tax advantage is so substantial that it is short-sighted to suggest that there is no room for revenue increases, and that spending reductions are the only available option.  

 

There seems to be an assumption that deep budget cuts can be made and sustained with minimum impact on our society or our economy. The reality is much more complex.   

     

Among other things, government funding supports a wide range of services that address the real needs of individuals and communities. Health care, services for children and seniors, education, safety and housing for the homeless - some of the most obvious social expenditures all represent significant government financial commitments. What will be the impact of funding reductions in these areas? Fewer care options to meet the needs of a growing senior population? Fewer mental health services? Less care for disabled citizens or vulnerable children?

 

Alberta's strong resource-based economy has acted as a magnet, attracting people from across the country and across the world to meet the growing needs of our industries. That growth has contributed to exciting, vibrant communities, but it has also contributed to social issues fueled by stress, isolation and poverty. For the past five years CCVO's annual survey of the nonprofit sector has reported that community -based organizations have seen an increased demand for their services, citing population growth and economic conditions as major contributing factors.

 

While cuts to these services may reduce provincial expenditures in the short term, the costs are really just transferred to others or deferred with a greater bill to be paid in the future - a social mortgage on our future.

 

Many of these programs and services are delivered in communities throughout Alberta by nonprofit organizations. Historically these organizations have risen to the challenge of maintaining services with inadequate funding, often relying on fundraising and donor support to meet such basic operating costs as building maintenance or to supplement employee wages.

 

Despite these efforts, annual turnover rates of 40% are not uncommon among nonprofits delivering essential services on behalf of the Province.  Staff pays the price of inadequate funding through lower wage rates, inferior benefits, and uncertain retirements.

 

Where does this practice fit within the Alberta Advantage we continue to trumpet to the rest of the nation? Are donors, corporations and their employees willing to make up the difference if the current situation is worsened by funding cuts?  

 

It was encouraging that Premier Redford, in a recent radio interview, identified the risks of running both infrastructure and social deficits if across-the-board cuts are implemented. And we hope the results-based budgeting process will help identify opportunities for strategic reductions, but the current fiscal situation has accelerated expectations that the results of the review process will be implemented when only about one-third of government programs have been reviewed.  

 

This raises concerns that decisions may be based on the review results, without considering the unintended consequences in other areas.

 

The province has shown leadership in developing a new social policy framework, which establishes goals of reducing inequality, creating a person-centered system of high-quality services and protecting at-risk populations. While there is always room to find greater efficiencies, can we really cut our way to this preferred future?

 

Now it is time for leadership on the most challenging question of the times: how will we finance the infrastructure and services required in this province? What is our collective responsibility to contribute to the provision of essential services and infrastructure, both physical and social?  

 

This discussion is overdue, but now that we are having it, let's make sure we consider all the options and the consequences of our choices.

 


Government and Policy

 

Alberta's Social Policy Framework

 

The Government of Alberta released its Social Policy Framework document on February 28. CCVO commends the government for its thoughtful and inclusive method of engagement. It has redefined the public consultation process, and produced a modern framework that reflects who we are as a society today and what we envision for tomorrow.

 

CCVO will be closely monitoring the upcoming budget's potential effect on the framework's implementation.   

 


Research and Resources

 

Office in a Box 

 

Charity Central provides a one-stop-shop for your nonprofit organization with its Office in a Box. Administrative documents, charitable returns, templates for minutes, policies and procedures, all available to download, for FREE

 

Canadian Revenue Agency webinars

 

The CRA has several webinars this month including:


March 12: Community Economic Development Activities and Charitable Registration
March 19: Completing Form T3010
March 20: Arts Activities and Charitable Registration 

 

More details and registration online.  

 

Do you have a deadbeat board member? 

 

Do you struggle to engage a board member? Here are some tips on what questions to ask yourself, and what you can do.    

  


Professional Development 

 

Refresh, Renew, Refocus at Banff Compass 2013

May 26 to May 29, 2013
The Banff Centre    

It is a time of great change. Master or practitioner - now more than ever, you need insight and inspiration.You will find both at this essential event, check out the program at  banffcompass.ca

Ten Practical Online Tools to Help Busy Nonprofit Leaders

Thurs March 21  1:00 pm EST  (Webinar)

Register online 

 

The Rural Ontario Institute has a series of leadership webinars from Feb-April that would be of interest to any nonprofit or charitable organization.  

 

Group Works Facilitator Training 

Begins April 13  

 

Further Education Society provides hands-on experience in the strategies and skills of helping adults learn in small groups. Register now for our eight-week (22.5 hours) Facilitation Course beginning April 13th, 2013.  Early-bird deadline is April 2nd, 2013.  Please contact Madina Abdi at mabdi@furthered.ca or (403) 250-5034 for more information or to register.

 

 


Funding and Awards

  

AASCF Leadership Bursary

  

Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families is now accepting applications for its leadership bursary. The purpose of the Leadership Bursary is to foster future leadership capacity by enabling senior organizational leaders working in a position funded by Alberta Human Services to participate in formal education and professional development programs that enhance their ability to lead their organization and the field. Deadline for applications is April 30.  

  

  

Timeraiser Call for Agencies now open

 

Buy art with your volunteer hours at Timeraiser on June 13. The call for agencies is now open. Read more to find out how your organization can participate

  

Prime Minister's Volunteer Awards Nominations

 

The Prime Minister's Volunteer Awards celebrate Canadians who make a difference. A total of 17 awards are given at both the regional and national level. Award recipients are recognized at a ceremony and can identify an eligible not-for-profit organization to receive a grant of $5,000 (regional award) or $10,000 (national award). Deadline April 15. Read more.

  




Connections Conference

Did you know...?

More than 75% of Connections registrants are from the nonprofit sector, and 60% of those registered are CEOs, Executive Directors or Presidents of their organizations.

Make sure to be a part of this annual conference of big ideas & even bigger conversations.

Dan Pallotta at TED

 

"Our generation does not want its epithet to read, 'We kept charity overhead low.' We want it to read that we changed the world."   


Connections keynote speaker Dan Pallotta spoke at TED 2013 this week. Read the full blog post.
 

Connections Conference EXHIBITORS application now online

Don't miss your chance to showcase your business or organization to hundreds of key decision makers and leaders in the non-profit sector, the corporate community, and government!

20% discount on all job postings until March 12

CCVO is going to the Mount Royal University Career Fair on March 13. Get your job in front of hundreds of students.

Members: your rate has already been adjusted.

Non-Members: use the code
marchmadness at checkout
ONLY 5 SPOTS LEFT!

How to Build a Government Relations Plan

March 12 1:00 - 5:00pm
CCVO Boardroom
1070 - 105 12 Ave SE  

$65 CCVO members
$95 non-members 

Register online 

 

Have you identified a policy issue that your organization needs to address? 

 

Are you interested in learning more about developing a government relations plan? 

 

Join Kim Mustard from Fresh Angle Consulting for an introduction to how to build a proactive government relations plan.  

 

Participants will leave with the information, tools and resources to start building a plan to address the key policy issues facing their organizations.

Annual membership drive begins March 13 

If your membership expires on April 30, you will be receiving a renewal notice by email on March 13.

You will be able to log in to our system to pay for your 2013/14 membership and update your account with any contact changes.  

 

Not a member yet?   

 

Apply online today. 

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