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Our Letter on the Lobbyist Transparency Act

Our Letter on the Lobbyist Transparency Act

by | Oct 8, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Policy and Advocacy

Our Letter on the Lobbyist Transparency

Culture: People First
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by Vantage Point | Oct 8, 2020 | 0 comments

On September 29, 2020 we sent the letter below to outline our concerns around the Lobbyist Transparency Act and the administrative burden it places on not-for-profit organiations. If you would like to join our advocacy efforts on this issue please email us. To get updates on all of our advocacy work for not-for-profits, we invite you to join as a not-for-profit member.

Mr. Richard Fyfe, Deputy Attorney General
PO Box 9290, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria BC, V8W 9J7

and

The Honourable Carole James, Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier
Room 153 Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

RE: Meeting request to discuss negative impacts of Lobby Transparency Act on the BC not-for-profit sector

Dear Mr. Fyfe and Hon. James:

I am writing to you today on behalf of Vantage Point, the undersigned, and approximately 41 organizations that wish to remain anonymous to avoid potential penalties for perceived lack of compliance with the New Lobby Transparency Act (LTA). We are writing to request a meeting to discuss the very difficult and chilling impact the LTA is having on our sector.

Collectively, we wish to express concerns regarding the negative and, likely unintended, impacts of the LTA on the charitable and not-for-profit sector. The LTA creates substantial barriers to the fulfillment of our mandates to maximize community wellbeing and contribute to democratic debate. This letter builds on comprehensive dialogue our organizations have had among ourselves, with the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists (ORL), the Office of the Attorney General, and the Premier’s Office. While we support your efforts to increase lobbying transparency in relation to activities that are aimed at advancing private benefits to corporations and their shareholders, we urge you to acknowledge that our organizations are created for the purpose of advocating and caring for our communities, not to advance private interest. If there is a need to be transparent about meetings and engagement with our sector, we urge you to take the administrative burden upon yourselves by requiring MLA’s to track and reporting such engagements rather than the not-for-profit.

About BC’s not-for-profit sector

Not-for-profits are critical to the lives of people in British Columbia. There are over 29,000 not-for-profit societies registered in BC. Our sector provides more than 86,000 jobs and mobilizes volunteers who contribute the equivalent support of over 146,000 positions. Our workers and volunteers also make a direct economic contribution of more than $6.4B to our province’s GDP.

We provide a critical level of support to the Government of British Columbia, businesses, and the public. We provide everything from the provision of health and other essential frontline services, to supporting victims of domestic violence, deploying volunteers safely, and creating arts and cultural services. The not-for-profit sector is vital to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our province. We are an essential safety net for the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. Our work has never been more urgently needed as we navigate unprecedented circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, an exacerbating opioid crisis, and worsening inequities for communities suffering historic patterns of oppression and discrimination. Our employees and volunteers are stretched to the limit of their capacity responding to these extremely difficult circumstances. Our research has documented extremely high levels of stress and burnout among our peers. Our research also indicated that one in five not-for-profit organizations are unlikely to survive the current environment. This will put immense undue pressure on remaining organizations.

LTA’s burden on the not-for-profit sector

Among our organizations there is a substantial level of concern, anxiety, and frustration with the additional burden and overreaching implications of the new LTA. The Act creates barriers in our ability to respond effectively to growing challenges affecting our communities. Our concerns and challenges are significantly heightened as there was inadequate consultation with the not-for-profit sector during the development of this new legislation. Our sector not only provides essential services to British Columbians, but it is a major source of economic prosperity for our province.

Yet we see a continual pattern of consulting with a very narrow representation of the not-for-profit sector and a lack of comprehensive consultation on legislation which significantly impacts our operations and the ability to fulfill our missions.

Blending of lobbying and advocacy under the LTA regulation

At the heart of our concerns, many of our organizations have received LTA’s interpretations which do not seem to make a distinction between the advocacy and lobbying. Advocacy are efforts to strengthen public wellbeing and speak up for marginalized voices. Lobbying is done to advance private, corporate, and/or shareholders’ interests. In fact, the LTA’s design actually allows the lobbying of private interests to go unreported by including small private firms in the few exclusions to compliance (for example, organizations with less than 6 employees do not need to report their lobbying activities).

For-profit companies have the capacity to change how they function very quickly. There is nothing stopping a private lobbying company of twelve employees from dividing itself into two smaller firms very quickly. No twelve-person not-for-profit organization in BC could do that, nor would it be responsible of a volunteer Board to make such a decision. Instead of acknowledging the multiple layers of accountability charities and not-for-profits have to donors, members, and the communities that we serve, the LTA’s requirements undermine our capacity to meet those accountability requirements. In fact, the expectations of the LTA to reporting donations and funding to support our organizations threatens the trust that individual donors, foundations, and the public has granted us to support our vital work.

Legislation’s overreach

We are concerned that the LTA design did not take in consideration the unique circumstances, objectives, and strategies in which not-for-profit organizations deliver their vital services. The depth of our relationships with communities throughout BC provides critical sources of evidence on the evolving impact of social, economic, environmental conditions facing British Columbians. Being in the front-lines of some of the most complex challenges facing our communities, our organizations regularly communicate with government representatives to inform them of these circumstances, the impact of public policy, and to advance solutions that our organizations regularly develop to address these challenges. Through these essential advocacy efforts, we help strengthen public benefits for our communities, the economy, and the natural environments in which we all live.

The over-reach of the LTA’s requirements to report all communication directed at public office holders – including social media posts on Twitter and Facebook – may actually contribute to distorted public perceptions that not-for-profit organizations do substantially more lobbying compared to activities to advance private interests. Some not-for-profit organizations have been informed even endorsing the advocacy activities of a third party may constitute lobbying. This lobbying would be assigned to an individual/organization which should have registered as a designated filer with the Lobby Registry. This approach will limit the capacity of Not-for-profit organizations to do their own research to inform public policy submissions, endorsing, and signing on to letters or petitions put together by sector leaders as is a common practice to help inform and influence government and public opinion. This means not-for-profits may opt to silence themselves rather than risk compliance issues. And this has a detrimental impact on the ability for not-for-profits to advocate to advance their missions and provide essential services to British Columbians.

Fifty percent of not-for-profits are already highly regulated as charities, a legal system that has extensive processes for ensuring charitable activities are unquestionably of public benefit and NOT to advance private interests. Most Not-for-Profits have volunteer Boards of Directors whose sole interest is to ensure community benefit is at the forefront. Donors and funders (including the government) demand that we keep our administrative costs to an absolute minimum. In fact, prevalent funding structures in the sector limit investment in contingency funds, technology, employee benefits, and stable governance and have generated an insidious precariousness of our vital work. By demanding we spend donor, government, and foundation dollars on tracking all advocacy and dialogue discussions for compliance with the LTA, this government is in effect silencing not-for-profits and charities in BC. According to the responses we have collected from the Office of the Lobby Registrar, that is exactly what you are asking of us: ‘Be quiet or be fined,’ and put our organizations at even more risk.

All this has resulted in a very troubling, chilling effect that the LTA’s application is having on the not-for-profit sector, the communities, and people we serve. These circumstances ultimately have the potential to undermine democratic dialogue. The fact that 41 organizations were not willing to publicly put their names on this letter is evidence of this reality. The detrimental and unforeseen consequences would be a dark legacy of your government which will harm the future of our province.

We must believe it is not your government’s intention to create a burden on not-for-profits or reduce democratic debate. To this end, we urge you to acknowledge the LTA’s unintended negative impacts on not-for-profit and charitable organizations and acknowledge the following:

Recommendations

  1. Extend a moratorium to not-for-profit and charities for perceived noncompliance with the LTA regulations that came into place at the end of the transition period which expired on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, until further consultation with the sector takes place.<.li>
  2. Open a meaningful and comprehensive consultation with the entire sector of not-for-profit and charitable organizations that puts the burden of recording such a dialogue on the government and not the sector. This consultation should fully examine ways to strengthen the LTA rules and reduce the burden on the not-for-profit sector.
  3. Shift the LTA’s burden and chilling effect by establish an obligation for MLA’s and other public office holders, to track their interactions with not-for-profits and charities themselves and making it public. We have no objection to public scrutiny of our efforts to inform the government about what is happening in our communities across the province.
  4. As recommended by the Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society’s letter on September 15, 2020, we urge you to amend the LTA and exempt not-for-profit and charities from lobby reporting requirements for activities that seek to maximize public wellbeing (except for organizations that serve management, union, or trade and professional interests, or that have representatives who are profit-seeking enterprises, or who engage in lobbying through a not-for-profit).

We request a meeting at your earliest convenience with a delegation of not-for-profit leaders who have endorsed this letter. Together we seek to engage in constructive dialogue to identify ways to enhance lobbying transparency without harming the vital work our sector does in service of all British Columbians. We look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,

Alison Brewin
Executive Director
Vantage Point
T: (604) 637-8207
E: abrewin@thevantagepoint.ca
www.thevantagepoint.ca

cc:

Hon. David Eby, MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey
Hon. John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca
Mr. Michael McEvoy, Registrar of Lobbyists for BC
Hon. Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port Coquitlam

In 2019, Vantage Point supported 9,799 not-for-profit leaders through leadership development, board training, strategic planning, and more. We have over 550 not-for-profit members from 48 communities across the province.

Author

Alison Brewin

As Executive Director, Alison Brewin is responsible for executing the Vantage Point’s mission and vision. Alison graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Victoria in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992. Throughout the 1990s, she worked in non-profit management, as political assistant...

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Our Letter on the Lobbyist Transparency Act

Our Take on the Budget 2021 Consultation Report

by | Sep 3, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations

Our Take on the Budget 2021 Consultation Report

Culture: People First
All Blogs

by Vantage Point | Sep 3, 2020 | 0 comments

Earlier this summer, we shared with you our second written submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services (the Committee) for the provincial budget 2021 consultation, which took place this year between June 1st to 26th. The consultation process started with the Minister of Finance’s consultation paper, which outlined the provincial government’s COVID-19 action plan and three guiding priorities: 1) health and safety, 2) immediate supports for individuals, and 3) business and economic recovery.

The Committee released the Report on the Budget 2021 Consultation on August 21st with 124 recommendations (full list found on page 106 to 119).

How to read the report

Before diving into the details, keep in mind that $1.5 billion of the $5 billion COVID-19 action plan has been earmarked for economic recovery but remains unallocated. While the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts are unquestioned and underscored throughout the report, the Minister informed the Committee that many of the government’s priorities remain the same (see page 7 “Minister of Finance Briefing”):

  • K to 12 education
  • Childcare
  • Advanced education and skills training
  • Infrastructure (ex. roads, hospitals, schools)

Therefore, it is no surprise that these themes are represented throughout the report. Further, it is worth taking a moment to celebrate that this year’s consultation process had the highest participation level in nearly 10 years! The Committee heard and received 281 presentations, 1362 submissions, and 3624 survey responses.

The recommendations span over 12 themes, each making up a section in the report. Each theme/section has its own sub-sections that include impact of COVID-19, survey highlights (if any), detailed discussions, and the Committee’s recommendations for each theme.

Highlights

In Vantage Point’s submission, our three recommendations emphasized the opportunity for budget 2021 to be an investment in public wellbeing through funding and partnership with the not-for-profit sector.

Reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion

The Committee made the explicit call to action for the upcoming budget to “address inequities and make significant progress on reconciliation, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility” in all areas. Further, the Committee recommends “ensuring ministries adopt a diversity and inclusion lens and recognize systemic barriers to address the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic, and providing programs and supports for equity-seeking groups who face systemic barriers” (see the executive summary on page 2).

Similar points about the importance of gender equity, truth, reconciliation, and decolonization were incorporated throughout Vantage Point’s submission. The not-for-profit and charitable sector is comprised of organizations working to advance similar goals every day and the Committee’s recommendations validate the importance of the work made possible by our sector.

Digital connectivity

The necessity of internet access, reflected in Vantage Point’s recommendations, is another clear theme in this report. The report recognizes inequities related to digital infrastructure and “recommends accelerating investments…including addressing challenges related to affordability” and references this is an area requiring collaboration with the federal government and telecommunication companies.

Multi-year stabilization funds

While the report does not make an explicit recommendation for a not-for-profit sector stabilization fund (Vantage Point recommended a $500 million stabilization fund for the sector), it does suggest a need for urgent recovery funding and multi-year stabilization supports to several sectors.

To note, “non-profit” or “not-for-profit” is mentioned 19 times in total throughout the report. It has its own sub-section under the “Health” theme, and an entire recommendation based on it:

  • Recommendation 65: Provide urgent and stable funding to the charitable and non-profit sector so that they can continue to provide services to British Columbians, including exploring the provision of incentives to donate such as a donation-matching program, and increasing the charitable donation tax credit.

It is not only a pivotal moment that not-for-profits are mentioned, moreover, “non-profit” is recognized as a whole sector. This is welcomed language for those in the sector who have and continue to define the sector and raise its profile.

However, the report falls short to include not-for-profits in the Economic Development section. As mentioned in our submission for the Provincial Budget Consultation, BC’s not-for-profit sector contributes $6.4 billion to the provincial GDP. Jobs and service provisions, as well as losses in this sector need to be seriously considered in the context of a resilient provincial economy.

Other recommendations with implications on the sector

While the not-for-profit sector as a whole is only directly referenced in two themes – first in Health, and secondly, in Social Services, Community Social Services and Social Policy - there are several recommendations for other sectors that could impact BC’s not-for-profits whose work is related to those sectors. These include:

  • Arts and culture: targeted, multi-year recovery funding through BC Arts Council. Donation incentives, tax breaks, infrastructure investments. Increased funding for Creative BC and Amplify BC. Work with other levels of government and community partners to increase investments.
  • Digital media, music, film: explore new measures to address inequities and barriers for underrepresented groups in this industry.
  • Long-term care: sustain investments, especially for staffing and care standards.
  • Mental health and addiction services: invest in continuum of services, culturally safe supports and services, family supports, services for children and youth.
  • Housing: accelerate construction of continuum of affordable and social housing, especially for women facing violence, gender-specific supportive housing, expanded housing options for people with disabilities, youth, and low-income seniors. Expand investments in Indigenous housing with Federal Government.
  • Public safety and justice: increase investments in legal aid and community restorative justice programs. Provide operational funding to child and youth advocacy centres.
  • Childcare: invest in affordable childcare, and funding through Ministries of Children and Family Development and Health to improve access to supports for children and youth with accessibility needs, and their families.
  • Youth: improving supports for youth aging out of care and marginalized youth. The report names Boys and Girls Club, and Right to Play as organizations to provide care and wrap-around programs for marginalized youth.
  • Advanced education: increase adult education resources, including broadening course offerings and skills training (especially important because of COVID-19 and other disruptive workplace forces that could displace workers).
  • Social services: develop a comprehensive, outcome-focused social policy framework. Continue funding provincial poverty reduction strategy. Review the framework for income and disability assistance. Address recruitment, retention, and compensation challenges within community services sector.
  • Fiscal and regulatory policy: apply a gender-based analysis plus lens in policy development and economic recovery, as well as “equity, reconciliation, and climate action lenses”. Ensure federal and provincial programs continue supporting individuals and businesses in recovery. Transition emergency funding to targeted investments that are based on individual and sectoral needs. Review opportunities to temporarily adjust the Employer Health Tax. Introduce a municipal finance reform so there are more tools to address financial pressures related to housing issues, the opioid crisis, and other priorities.

Now what?

Budget 2021 will be presented on the third Tuesday in February (Feb 16, 2021). While the release of the report ensures the public can access the Committee’s recommendations, it is important to recall this report is written and has been submitted to members of BC’s legislative assembly. If you want to engage with your MLA about this report and budget 2021, make sure you are familiar with the Lobbyists Transparency Act.

Overall, the report recognizes many of the key points raised in our recommendations for the sector, namely that there is an immense financial impact due to COVID-19 and strong need for stabilization supports. The report also echoes the reality that the pandemic has revealed the need for resources to address gaps in supports and services for British Columbians. These are all encouraging signs that budget 2021 may reflect the needs and supports we have collectively identified for our sector.

If you want to get further involved in these discussions and the advocacy work that Vantage Point is doing, we encourage you to become a member. During the COVID-19 crisis we have made membership free. You can learn more and sign-up here.

Author

Joyce Lin

Joyce is the Sector Development Coordinator for Vantage Point - she facilitates the foundational work involved in Vantage Point’s goals to contribute to a healthy and thriving not-for-profit sector in BC. On any day, she is monitoring and sharing information that will support sector success and...

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Our Letter on the Lobbyist Transparency Act

Our Letter on BC’s Recovery

by | Jul 16, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations, Policy and Advocacy

Our Letter On BC's Recovery

Culture: People First
All Blogs

by Vantage Point | Jul 16, 2020 | 0 comments

The Government of BC has asked for feedback on their discussion paper, BC’s Recovery from COVID-19. This is a great opportunity to influence BC's recovery. We are sharing some resources for not-for-profits who would like to provide input. Vantage Point sent the letter below to provide our input on the importance of investing in not-for-profits for the recovery. The deadline to for input is Tuesday, July 21, at 4pm.

Ways you can provide input:

Letterhead Header

The Honourable John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia

Office of the Premier
West Annex Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

The Honourable Minister Carole James
Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier
Room 153 Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

July 10, 2020

RE: Now more than ever, is the time to invest in BC not-for-profits.

Dear Premier Horgan and Minister James:

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on how best to invest the $1.5 billion Economic Recovery Fund. I am writing to you today on behalf of Vantage Point and our member organizations. We are a charity based in Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and shíshálh (Sechelt) nations. Vantage Point supports not-for-profits and charities across the province with leadership development, board training, strategic planning, and more. We represent over 545 not-for-profit members from 48 communities across the province.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the not-for-profit sector has been devastating and requires your urgent attention and action. Vantage Point’s research on COVID-19’s impact on the sector clearly confirms troubling impacts on not-for-profit organizations and the communities we serve. The research documented an increased demand for community services as well as a massive loss of income. The most worrisome estimates suggest that one in five not-for-profits will not survive this crisis.1 Closures of this scale will have irreparable impacts on BC’s economy and communities. The people who depend on these services, often some of the most vulnerable people in society, face increased risks of falling through the cracks. While our sector is innovative and resilient, our capacity to navigate COVID-19 is has reached a breaking point.

Not-for-profits are critical to the lives of people in British Columbia. As we adapt to different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, BC's not-for-profits and charities continue to provide a critical level of support to the Government of British Columbia, businesses, and the public. We provide everything from the provision of health and other essential frontline services, to supporting victims of domestic violence, to deploying volunteers safely, to providing arts and culture services. The not-for-profit sector has long been recognized as vital to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our province. We are an essential safety net for the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. From all angles, an investment in the not-for-profit sector aligns with the key values outlined in the recovery consultation discussion paper.

We acknowledge the remarkable work the BC Government has done to support our communities during the extremely challenging environment of the COVID-19 crisis. We have been encouraged by your explicit acknowledgement that “supporting… not-for-profits throughout the pandemic is vital to BC’s response to and recovery from COVID-19.”2 We have also been pleased to know that your Economic Recovery Task Force includes representation from the not-for-profit sector. We encourage you to continue deepening and expanding this engagement to ensure that the full breadth of not-for-profits expertise is adequately reflected in your consultations, advisory groups, and recovery planning efforts.

Recommendation One: Create a $500 million stabilization fund for the not-for-profit sector

Following our recommendations for the Budget 2021 consultation, we insist that a $500 million stabilization fund for the not-for-profit sector is required to ensure that organizations can survive, adapt to new circumstances, and position themselves to actively contribute to our recovery. A stabilization fund of this magnitude is critically important to sustain not-for-profits.

Current measures announced by the Federal and Provincial governments have failed to recognize:

  • the unique situation facing charities and not-for-profits
  • the efforts not-for-profits have continued to make to serve their communities in unprecedented circumstances, and
  • the distinct role that not-for-profits must play in our recovery from COVID-19.

Make funding flexible: It is critically important that stabilization funding is truly flexible and allows not-for-profits to allocate funding where they need it most. Current funding and granting systems often limit spending in our organizations solely on direct program delivery without strengthening our operational capacity. These systems also burden organizations with rigorous reporting requirements. Funding restrictions often cause not-for-profits to drift from their mandate as they often are forced to adapt to evolving funding priorities. These restrictions create precarious working conditions and stifles investments in employee benefits, stable governance, and adequate resources for efficient operations.

Commit to gender equity: We know that gender equity is a priority for the BC government. A stabilization fund will ensure women, who make up 74% of the not-for-profit sector, stay employed. Further, this will allow organizations that serve women and other populations who experience discrimination, oppression, and violence, to continue safely providing services in-person and virtually. Not-for-profits are leaders in anti-racism and social justice work, they are also providers of community-based health and wellbeing programs.

Invest in not-for-profits to stimulate the economy: We encourage you to think of stabilization funding and stimulus spending beyond customary criteria narrowly focused on business, employment, and “shovel-ready” projects.

Invest in not-for-profits to support public health: A stabilization fund of this magnitude would be equivalent to an investment in public health and prevention. These investments can help ensure British Columbians are supported to recover from the mental health effects of prolonged isolation, depression, and stress. It will also help address other healthcare crises, such as the recent increase in opioid overdoses, from worsening.

Partner with well-established and trusted funders: We recommend that a not-for-profit stabilization fund be administered through networks of funders with deeply established relationships with local not-for-profits and charities. Examples of such funders include provincial community foundations such as Victoria Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, United Way, and Vancity Community Foundation. It is particularly important to direct funding to organizations and funders that are led by and are working with Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), and others who face systemic discrimination.

Municipal and regional governments also have well established relationships and partnerships with charities and not-for-profits within their jurisdictions. Funds distributed through municipalities and explicitly earmarked for supporting their local ecosystem of not-for-profit organizations could help strengthen local economies and reduce the load on other municipal and provincial services.

Recommendation Two: Use an equity lens to invest in province-wide internet access, connectivity, and infrastructure

We echo the views in the Building BC’s Recovery Together report of the urgent need for province-wide internet access.

We urge the BC Government to immediately invest in affordable high-speed internet in rural communities, households across BC, and not-for-profit organizations and housing providers. We encourage you to work with network service providers to create equitable access to internet. We encourage you to remove network deployment barriers and use government assets effectively to reduce costs and accelerate the expansion of connectivity in rural BC. As you develop plans for these investments, we encourage you to uphold your commitments towards a Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) framework as a way to ensure equitable access and connections for all, particularly for women, BIPOC, and other underrepresented communities.

We ask that you make funds available for not-for-profits to access reliable and adequate technology as this is one of the key impacts and barriers of COVID-19 on the sector. We encourage you to improve and update funding systems such as the rules for BC’s Community Gaming Grants to allow more flexibility for funds to be used for training and updating technology.

Work with the not-for-profit sector

Once again, we thank you for allowing us to join fellow British Columbians in sharing what is most important for our community’s wellbeing going forward. We urge you to work with the not-for-profit sector to strengthen public wellbeing and stabilize our economy. We look forward to continuing to contribute towards our province’s recovery through constructive investment and partnerships with the Government of British Columbia.

Sincerely,

Alison Brewin
Executive Director, Vantage Point
T: (604) 637-8207 E: abrewin@thevantagepoint.ca
www.thevantagepoint.ca

cc: Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, Hon. Michelle Mungall Minister of Labour, Hon. Harry Bains Mr. Spencer Chandra Herbert, Vancouver-West End Riding

 

[1] Vantage Point (2020). No Immunity Report. Retrieved from https://www.thevantagepoint.ca/blog/no-immunity-impacts-covid-19-our-sector

[2] Government of BC. (2020). Budget 2021 Consultation. Retrieved from https://www.leg.bc.ca/content/CommitteeDocuments/41st-parliament/5thsession/fgs/Budget2021Consultation/Budget_2021_Consultation_Paper.pdf

 

Letterhead Footer

Author

Alison Brewin

As Executive Director, Alison Brewin is responsible for executing the Vantage Point’s mission and vision. Alison graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Victoria in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992. Throughout the 1990s, she worked in non-profit management, as political assistant...

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Our BC 2021 Budget Submission

by | Jul 2, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations

Our BC 2021 Budget Submission

Planning: Strategy & Workforce
All Blogs

by Vantage Point | Jul 2, 2020 | 0 comments

This year was Vantage Point’s second time making a submission for the BC Budget Consultation to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. Of course, this year looked very different than other years, with the COVID-19 pandemic playing a major role in the way we approached our recommendations.

To prepare this submission we gathered input from our members, spoke to BC not-for-profit umbrella organizations, co-led a virtual gathering of 90 not-for-profits leaders that came together to speak to the budget process. We also reflected on many other convening conversations about COVID-19 we’d held since March 2020 and the input from 1119 BC not-for-profit leaders that were documented in our No Immunity Report.

We were heartened to see that the Budget 2021’s Consultation Paper stated that “supporting… not-for-profits throughout the pandemic is vital to BC’s response to and recovery from COVID-19.” We advocated that the not-for-profit sector is in fact essential to ensure the wellbeing of individuals and communities in British Columbia.

In this submission we ask the Provincial Government to:

1. Create a $500 million stabilization fund for the not-for-profit sector

Not-for-profits have been heavily called upon to assist those impacted by the COVID-19 crisis – through access to food, housing, mental health supports, and other necessities. We urged the Provincial government to invest in the not-for-profit sector to ensure not-for-profits will survive this crisis. Both front line organizations directly supporting those affected by pandemic, to arts and culture organizations that are so critical for wellbeing.

2. Use an equity lens to invest in province-wide internet access, connectivity, and infrastructure

Now more than ever, the world is relying on internet and mobile access. We heard from many not-for-profit organizations of the urgency to address this issue in BC. Especially for vulnerable populations and rural communities, some services can only be accessed virtually.

3. Invest in the Ministry of Citizens’ Services to create a home for the sector in government

In our budget submission last year, we recommended that the Government of British Columbia establish a home for the not-for-profit sector in government. We recognize that some not-for-profits operate under the jurisdiction of certain ministries, but there are vast portions of the sector that do not have a central ministry to turn to for direct collaboration with government and support. We argued that now is a critical time that calls for clear lines of communication between the Provincial Government and the not-for-profit sector.

We encourage you to read the full submission and reach out to Omar Dominguez at odominguez@thevantagepoint.ca with any feedback.

Read Full Submission

Author

Vantage Point

We are a team of passionate and dedicated not-for-profit professionals dedicated to providing not-for-profits with high quality leadership training. We are here to set you up for success. Learn more about our team at www.thevantagepoint.ca/about/our-people/

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Our Letter to the Prime Minister

by | Jun 12, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations

Our Letter to the Prime Minister

Culture: People First
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by Vantage Point | Jun 12, 2020 | 0 comments

Letterhead Header

Rt. Hon Justin Trudeau, PC, MP
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

June 10, 2020

Subject: Increasing Federal Government Support for the Charitable and Not-for-Profit Sector

Dear Prime Minister,

We are joining colleagues across Canada to emphasize the urgency of a federal proposal to support and strengthen charities and nonprofits across the country.

In the face of our global emergency, BC's not-for-profit and charitable sector has been called on to provide a soaring level of support to the Government of Canada, its businesses, and the public. From the provision of front-line essential health services, to supporting victims of domestic violence, and deploying volunteers safely, the not-for-profit sector is vital to the safety and wellbeing of our country. But the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the not-for-profit sector needs your urgent attention and action.

Vantage Point exists to uplift and support nonprofits across BC. One of our core principles is to meet nonprofits and their leaders where they are at, adapting programs and services to reflect the capacities of the organizations we serve. We see ourselves as representing portions of the sector often left our of conversations - smaller organizations, volunteer-run or with small staff teams, organizations facing all the pressures of other business.

The not-for-profit sector in British Columbia

British Columbia's not-for-profit sector is vast in size, scope, and impact. It consists of over 25,000 societies providing immeasurable value to the economy and lives of people across British Columbia. These organizations also provide a crucial source of employment for more than 86,000 people and contributes up to $6.69 billion in programs and services across the province.[1]

Despite the fundamental impact on the quality of life for Canadians, not-for-profit organizations languish under economic policies and regulations which undermine our efforts. In 2019, the Senate report on the Canadian charitable sector found that while community-based organizations are resilient and innovative, our potential is limited by complex, outdated rules and a lack of coordinated government support.[2]

Here in British Columbia, we released the No Immunity report to highlight the early impacts of COVID-19 on BC’s charities and nonprofits.  At the time of data collection in April, of the 1,119 respondents, 23% did not think they can stay open past 6 months and 74% were experiencing reduced revenue from fundraising. As overburdened not-for-profit employees experience increasing difficulties delivering essential services, our deep concerns for the sector also grows. Our colleagues at Imagine Canada estimate the projected financial losses for registered charities alone to be between $9.5 billion and $15.7 billion.

Here is what is at stake for our sector and the Canadian public:

  • Services to racialized populations and social justice support. Urban Indigenous, Black, and immigrant communities have been particularly affected by the pandemic. Our sector is the primary provider of skills, language and literacy training, justice and social equity support, anti-racism resources and programs as well as advocacy for these communities.
  • Support for women. Charities report that domestic violence is intensifying under lockdown, with additional support needed to engage children who are experiencing violence at home. Women and their families will need additional support to find safety and support.
  • Mental health services. Whether by directly providing mental health services, or providing Canadians with a semblance of normalcy (e.g. through amateur sports or arts), our sector will be at the forefront of helping Canadians cope with the experience we have all shared.
  • Services to people with disabilities. Charities and nonprofits ensure people with disabilities have a voice through advocacy efforts and a valuable place within society through career support, social activities, training, accessibility workshops, and more.
  • Childcare services, after school programs, and day camps. These are vital to ensure parents are able to return to work. If charities and nonprofits are unable to offer these services, there will be disproportionate impacts to women and single-parent families.
  • Services to seniors. Services provided by these organizations help seniors deal with isolation imposed by the pandemic and the resultant deleterious mental and physical health consequences.
  • Environmental sustainability. These organizations are crucial for creating the kind of recovery Canadians want. From the preservation of ecosystems, to the protection of threatened species, and the development of sustainable solutions for communities, their work needs to continue.
  • Health services and support. These organizations play an important role in preventative care, matching individuals to the right services, and providing support that enables individuals experiencing health problems to enjoy a higher quality of life.

At the outset of the pandemic, our sector identified the need for a grant program to ensure that organizations can survive, adapt to changed circumstances, and position themselves to actively contribute to the recovery. The financial measures announced so far have met a portion of what is required for those who are eligible, but much remains to be done. We urge you to work with your colleagues – primarily the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development – to finalize and implement a grant program that recognizes the unique situation facing charities and nonprofits, the efforts they have continued to make to serve their communities in unprecedented circumstances, and the role that they can and must play in Canada’s recovery from COVID-19.

We urge you to expand the criteria used to make policy and investment beyond a narrow focus on business and employment growth. Our current policies make sense when the metrics for economic success are based on GDP growth. But if the measure of success was to maximize public wellbeing, then the focus of infrastructure stimulus investment would look very different. Under this lens, it is clear that our sector is here to support common government objectives and that we need to work closer together. Our sector is Society’s Partner in Wellbeing. We encourage you to call on our expertise to inform and improve public policy decisions in ways that maximize public wellbeing. We urge you to engage in conscientious dialogue with our sector and to work together to recover from the pandemic, build healthy communities, and a resilient economy. Investing in, working with, and supporting the sector improves the lives of all people all Canadians.We encourage you to work with our sector to develop and incorporate a national wellbeing strategy to the stimulus spending that will be required to recover from the crises our nation is facing.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Alison Brewin
Executive Director
Vantage Point

cc: Hon. Bill Morneau, PC, MP
Minister of Finance
Hon. Ahmed Hussen, PC, MP
Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development

[1] Please see infographic attached.  

[2] Mercer, T., Ratna Omidvar. (2019). Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector. Ottawa, Ontario: Senate Special Committee on the Charitable Sector. 190.

 

 

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Author

Alison Brewin

As Executive Director, Alison Brewin is responsible for executing the Vantage Point’s mission and vision. Alison graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Victoria in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992. Throughout the 1990s, she worked in non-profit management, as political assistant...

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No immunity: The Impacts of Covid-19 On Our Sector

by | May 13, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Sector Research

No Immunity: The Impact of Covid-19 on Our Sector

Culture: People First
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by Vantage Point | May 13, 2020 | 0 comments

As of November 18, 2020, the second No Immunity survey is available until December 7, 2020. We ask every organization to select one leader to take 15 minutes to respond to the survey to support accurate results on how COVID-19 has impacted BC's not-for-profit sector.

Vantage Point exists to lift and support not-for-profits across the province. When COVID-19 hit, we immediately reignited our core purpose - to convene, connect, and equip not-for-profit leaders. We saw our history of providing training and one-on-one support in governance, planning, HR, and leadership was needed more than ever.

Another part of our team focused on the convening and connecting aspects of our core purpose. Early on, we saw the value of a sector-wide survey. As active participants in national discussions with organizations like the Ontario Non-profit Network, Imagine Canada, SaskNonprofit, Volunteer Canada, and others, it was obvious how helpful data could give perspective to our sector’s needs and experience. Alone, Vantage Point simply did not have the capacity. We could see subsectors, especially the arts community, managed to collect data about their subsectors and were beginning to communicate their findings throughout their respective communities.

In our interactions with the Vancouver Foundation and the City of Vancouver, it became clear many players were considering surveys. The Victoria Foundation joined us and with a combination of resources – human and otherwise – we collaborated to create the BC Non-Profit Impact Survey.

A special thank you to Trina Isakson and Kylie Hutchinson, who were able to support the partnership with their data and research analysis skills and produce a draft report in record time.

What have we learned?

We heard the deep need for information and support regarding funding sources and opportunities. We will leverage Vantage Point’s knowledge of funders, revenue development, and grant writing to support the sector.

COVID-19 has uncovered the impact of decades of pressures to limit spending in our organizations only to direct program delivery. The ‘overhead myth’ pushing our organizations to limit investment in contingency funds, technology, employee benefits, and stable governance is part of what has created the precariousness of our vital work.

The results show us the resiliency and optimism of this sector – although the optimism is more for our own organizations than the whole sector. As we begin to recognize the digital divide which has always existed throughout the growing use of technology, the challenges organizations have are transitions to cloud-based home offices, relying on outdated software and hardware, and bridging the gap between the technology available and the lack of capacity to access it. Clearly, we look to the private sector for support in these areas, and Vantage Point can contribute to advancing opportunities for private/not-for-profit partnership.

We also hear the unique challenges of our arts, sports, and recreational subsectors. The Arts are central to our recovery as we process the impacts of this crisis together. Sports and recreation organizations are central in keeping many of us healthy and active. They give opportunities to gather and play with our own communities and chosen families. Festivals, tournaments, events, and arts groups are designed to showcase and celebrate all British Columbians' lives. We will continue to work with umbrella organizations like the Arts Alliance to align our advocacy work to ensure our sector's full scope is understood and visible to decision-makers in the province.

And Vantage Point will seek solutions to the challenges equity-seeking groups have in participating in surveys like this. We will strive to make the needs of our most vulnerable organizations central to the dialogue. While surveys like this can tell a story, we must always pay attention to stories that fall through the cracks, supporting people with disabilities, Indigenous voices, LGBTQ2+ British Columbians, refugees and newcomers to Canada, and those marginalized by income inequality.

Thank you to everyone who was able to participate. We look forward to continuing our support of the sector in all its diversity.

Read the No Immunity Report
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Author

Alison Brewin

As Executive Director, Alison Brewin is responsible for executing the Vantage Point’s mission and vision. Alison graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Victoria in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992. Throughout the 1990s, she worked in non-profit management, as political assistant...

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Our Letter to the City of Vancouver

by | Apr 24, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations, Policy and Advocacy

Our Letter to the City of Vancouver

Culture: People First
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by Vantage Point | Apr 24, 2020 | 0 comments

Dear reader,

We are asking not-for-profit and charitable organizations to endorse our letter asking Vancouver City Council to preserve its critical funding support for the sector. Please take a moment to add your first and last name, position title, and organization in the comment section of this page. Thank you.

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Council members, City of Vancouver
Vancouver City Hall
453 West 12th Ave
Vancouver, BC
V5Y 1V4

April 24, 2020

Subject: Maintain Funding of Not-for-Profits in Vancouver - They are a vital part of sustaining our communities.

Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Council Members,

We acknowledge the remarkable work the City is doing to support our communities during the unprecedented and rapidly changing environment of the COVID-19 crisis. We commend you for the thoughtful actions you have taken to protect individuals and families in the region and for advocating on their behalf with higher levels of government.

In BC, as in the rest of Canada, charitable and not-for-profit organizations are currently seeing an increased demand for their services, increased operating costs, and have lost major sources of revenue. We employ over 86,000 people across the province. We also contribute up to $6.69 billion in programs and services per year. Beyond the essential services and support we provide for our most vulnerable, our sector is also a critical engine of economic prosperity and jobs.

As we rebuild our communities, our sector's role cannot be overstated. Consider the work of:

  • WISH - supporting women in the downtown eastside who are disproportionately affected by violence, extreme poverty, and ill health. WISH is the line between life and death for some of the most vulnerable women in our community.
  • Potluck - acting as a manufacturer and distribution centre for healthy meals to residents in need in the downtown eastside.
  • All the neighbourhood houses - connecting residents who are isolated with key supports to keep seniors, families, babies, and people with disabilities healthy - and doing it in multiple languages.
  • Community-based choral societies like Highs and Lows, connecting people struggling with mental health challenges to the healing art of singing.

As a sector, our work is crucial to mitigate the evolving hardship and loss of life associated with COVID-19.

Vantage Point's commitment is to continue working with government, businesses, and our community partners to ensure the vital services we provide are available during this emergency. We want you to know this sector is currently disproportionately impacted by overlapping risks which threaten our ability to continue working to support public wellbeing and resilience.

Results of our recent province-wide survey of the sector estimates that, without a targeted investment strategy to bolster the sector, up to 22,000, and likely more, of not-for-profit employees are likely to lose their job by the end of June. Many of those in the Vancouver area. As a response, Vantage Point and our community partners have launched several initiatives to help not-for-profit organizations access federal and provincial government supports to make sure they keep their doors open and their services available.

We understand the pressures on the City to manage the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on our communities. However, ending the supports you offer to your not-for-profit partners will only exacerbate the crisis we are currently experiencing. City of Vancouver grants in Social Planning and the Arts are an essential core support to keep key organizations open and functioning. Without our organizations, and without the funding support of the City, Vancouver would not be the resilient community it is. To this end, we urge your government to consider the following recommendations to address these crucial needs of the sector:

1. Maintain funding of not-for-profits in Vancouver and ensure emergency relief programs and funds made available to businesses also include clearly defined mechanisms to support the not-for-profit and charitable sector.
Not-for-profits and charities are seeing the same or greater revenue losses and challenges as private businesses - even their non-governmental funders are losing money and staff, creating a ripple effect. After years of dwindling funding sources and limited alternatives for undesignated funding, few organizations have cash reserves on which they can draw during a crisis.

The programming our sector provides is an essential factor to public wellbeing and there are strong financial arguments for maintaining, even increasing, your funding and other supports to the sector. The City supports not-for-profits which attract financial and human resources far beyond the dollars the City investment spends on grants.

2. Leverage mechanisms the Province recently announced to address cash flow and revenue loss challenges faced by municipal governments.
We were pleased to see the Provincial Government has offered local governments greater flexibility to borrow and carry deficits to help pay for operating expenses, such as employee salaries and other civic services. Sound financial thinking also supports investing directly in the not-for-profit sector in challenging times. Every contributed dollar supports the attraction of more dollars. The number of employees hired in Vancouver by the sector - employees paying rent, mortgages, city fees, etc. - are estimated to be in the tens of thousands. This crisis is not a time for austerity. Our sector looks forward to our continued partnership with you to maximize public wellbeing benefits through the thoughtful allocation of your investments.

3. Relax funding restrictions and provide greater flexibility to the allocation of funds.
Not-for-profit organizations experience additional pressures due to the ways they are funded. Funding agreements may stipulate outcomes for the number of participants, and these might not be met during a health crisis. There are serious implications for not-for-profits if governmental and non-governmental funders and donors reinforce expectations for outcomes or outputs, which may not be manageable, or even possible. We urge your government and municipal departments to continue to flow funds through grant and contribution programs and to emphasize flexibility in program delivery timelines and the use of these funds. We also request administrative burdens related to reporting and renewal to be minimized. Clear communication around flexibility measures would provide essential assistance for not-for-profits.

4. Ensure further measures - which provide employee assistance and help to retain employment - address the unique needs of charities and not-for-profits.
We have been pleased to see various levels of government implement mechanisms to mitigate job losses and support those who have been laid-off. However, employees in the not-for-profit sector have unique needs. Therefore, while mortgage deferrals have been a welcome respite for households affected by job losses, most not-for-profit employees are renters with average salaries 13.8% less than the provincial average. We urge you to consider how you can leverage municipal facilities and redeploy resources in ways which allow charities and not-for-profits to maintain operations, sustain facilities and infrastructure temporarily closed, and ensure capacity to reopen during the recovery period.

5. Ensure communications about emergency funds and programming refer to employers rather than businesses.
Charities and not-for-profits employ over 86,000 British Columbians. Governments' language should recognize this fact so it is clear to your staff, the public, and not-for-profits. Not-for-profit voices will ensure the needs of the not-for-profit sector, including their volunteers, workers, and constituents, are explicitly addressed in emergency preparedness response and recovery.

Your investment in not-for-profits is an investment which will save lives and aid our city in the recovery efforts. As your partner is public wellbeing, the not-for-profit sector has an unwavering pledge to work together to support your local government and our communities through this crisis and beyond.

Sincerely,

Alison Brewin
Executive Director
Vantage Point

 

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Please submit your first and last name, position title, and organization in the comments section if you would like to endorse this letter to Vancouver City Council. Thank you!

Author

Vantage Point

We are a team of passionate and dedicated not-for-profit professionals dedicated to providing not-for-profits with high quality leadership training. We are here to set you up for success. Learn more about our team at www.thevantagepoint.ca/about/our-people/

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2020 Emergency Wage Subsidy Letter to the Federal Government

by | Apr 20, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations, Policy and Advocacy

2020 Emergency Wage Subsidy Letter To The Federal Government

Leadership: Develop Unlimited Talent
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by Vantage Point | Apr 20, 2020 | 0 comments

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The Honourable William Francis Morneau
Department of Finance Canada
90 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5
Vancouver, BC, April 8, 2020

Subject: Make the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Immediately Available to All Charities and Community Not-for-Profits

I am writing this on behalf of Vantage Point, a BC-based charity which works to support other not-for-profits throughout the province. We request the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy be made immediately available to all charities and not-for-profits, rather than requiring not-for-profits prove a 30% revenue loss to be eligible.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) put forward an open call with this ask and over 300 organizations have endorsed it. There has been an article by Ms. Daub and myself in the recent Hill Times article articulating the unique position of the Canadian not-for-profit sector in this crisis.

While a flexible approach to the test announced this week is a welcome amendment to the original proposal, we want to take the time to encourage you to consider pushing this further. Not-for-profits and charities have multiple revenue streams coming in at different times during the year with very tight margins in our effort to ensure a balanced budget. Not-for-profits may see a financial impact through canceled annual events and campaigns, reduced donations, reduced business sponsorships over time, and reduced funding capacity from funders amongst others.

Charities and not-for-profits form a vital part of our social fabric and are seeing an unprecedented increase in demand for their services in this time of crisis. After years of dwindling funding sources and limited alternatives for revenue generation, few sector organizations have cash reserves on which they can draw during a crisis of this magnitude. Please ensure not-for-profits can continue serving communities across Canada by guaranteeing this wage subsidy.

At this time, Canada cannot afford to see the charitable and not-for-profit sector thrown into further crisis. Please show your support for this essential sector and ensure not-for-profits and charitable organizations are immediately eligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Sincerely,

Alison Brewin
Executive Director
Vantage Point

 

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Vantage Point

We are a team of passionate and dedicated not-for-profit professionals dedicated to providing not-for-profits with high quality leadership training. We are here to set you up for success. Learn more about our team at www.thevantagepoint.ca/about/our-people/

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Our Letter to BC’s Premier John Horgan

by | Mar 27, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations

Our Letter to BC's Premier John Horgan

Leadership: Develop Unlimited Talent
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by Vantage Point | Mar 27, 2020 | 0 comments

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The Honourable John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia
Office of the Premier
Premier and President of the Executive Council
West Annex Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4
Victoria, BC., March 24, 2020

Subject: Ensuring Not-for-Profits and Charities are Included in COVID-19 Relief Plans and Funding

BC's not-for-profit and charitable sector is actively supporting the Government of British Columbia, businesses, and the public during the COVID-19 crisis. The vital work our sector exists to accomplish - from supporting people with addictions and overdose prevention services, to supporting victims of domestic violence, and deploying volunteers safely - is work British Columbians are relying on; and now we must weather an unprecedented crisis. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the capacity of the not-for-profit sector needs urgent attention before we are forced to lay off the staff vulnerable community members trust and need.

BC's not-for-profit sector consists of approximately 28,000 societies affecting every aspect of British Columbians' lives. Community not-for-profits also represent a crucial source of employment for more than 86,000 people and contribute up to $6.69 billion in programs and services across the province.

We acknowledge the speed at which your government has been taking measures to navigate this crisis. We ask for you to pause and consider the unique and substantial ways in which not-for-profits are being called upon to support British Columbians through these tumultuous times. To this end, we urge the Government of British Columbia to consider the following recommendations to address these crucial concerns:

1. Immediate and direct support to safely coordinate the deployment of volunteers.​

Volunteer Centres and not-for-profits are experts in deploying volunteers safely. While the upsurge of desire to help those in need is admirable and should be encouraged, there are very real risks to those most vulnerable to this virus. There are creative, innovative, and safe ways to connect people to professional not-for-profits which have direct relationships with vulnerable populations. Please provide emergency funding to experts in volunteer management and deployment for the safety of these communities.

2. Promise us any emergency relief programs and funds made available to businesses also include clearly defined mechanisms to support the not-for-profit and charitable sector.

Not-for-profits and charities are seeing the same - or greater - revenue losses and challenges as private businesses. Even their non-governmental funders are losing money and staff. After years of dwindling funding sources and limited alternatives for undesignated funding, few organizations have cash reserves on which they can draw during a crisis. Applicable mechanisms for the sector must include access to emergency short-term capital in the form of stabilization grants and low-interest and/or forgivable loans.

3. Relax funding restrictions and provide greater flexibility to the allocation of funds.

Not-for-profit organizations experience additional pressures due to the ways they are funded. Funding agreements may stipulate outcomes for the number of participants, and these might not be met during a health crisis. There are serious implications for not-for-profits if governmental and non-governmental funders and donors reinforce expectations for outcomes our outputs which may not be manageable - or even possible. Similar to many non-governmental funders, the government must ensure all government departments and agencies continue to flow funds through grant and contribution programs. Additionally, flexibility must be emphasized in program delivery timelines and the use of these funds. Administrative burdens related to reporting and renewal should also be minimized. Clear communication around flexibility measures would provide much-needed assistance for not-for-profits.

4. Assure further measures, which provide employee assistance and help to retain employment, address the unique needs of charities and not-for-profits.

We are pleased to see various levels of government implement mechanisms to mitigate job losses and support those who have been laid off. However, there are unique needs for employees in the not-for-profit sector. While mortgage deferrals will be a welcome respite for households affected by job losses, most not-for-profit employees are renters with average salaries 13.8% less than the provincial average. We look forward to hearing announcements about supports for renters and to avoid evictions affecting both individuals and organizations who will be unable to cover lease payments.

5. Ensure communications about emergency funds and programming refer to employers rather than businesses.

Charities and not-for-profits employ over 86,000 British Columbians; the government's language should reflect this fact so your staff, the public, and not-for-profits are clear regarding who you are including.

6. Create and expand not-for-profit advisory groups and round tables to represent the full sector.

The not-for-profit sector includes thousands of organizations which do not get direct government contracts and funding but remain vital to the government's response and recovery capacity (consider first responder associations, supporting paramedics, nurses, pharmacists, and firefighters, for example). Not-for-profit voices will explicitly address the needs of the not-for-profit sector in emergency preparedness response and recovery, including their volunteers, workers, and constituents.

7. Consider the impact of essential services designation and lockdown exemption orders on not-for-profits.

Not-for-profits are actively doing our part to flatten the curve, but also have to be sure we can continue to provide the services communities depend on and the infrastructure which enables the important work of charities, social services, and other community assets. Charities and not-for-profits can't simply cease their activities during this crisis. It violates their legal mandates and would increase the strain on public services at a time when none of us can afford fewer essential supports. Together with our peers in the sector, we have been looking to the Ontario designation of essential services as a model to follow if further social distancing actions are required.

It is imperative the BC Provincial Government provides clarity and a plan of action on these fundamental elements, as it significantly impacts the operational capacity and long-term sustainability for thousands of organizations province-wide.

The not-for-profit sector is designed to help vulnerable people. We are designed to manage volunteers. We are designed to collaborate to achieve a vision of a just, caring, and healthy society. Accounting for over 86,000 employees and $6.69 billion across the province, we must be your partner. Just as you see the business sector as your partner in the economy, the not-for-profit sector is your partner in community care, emergency response, and rebuilding our beautiful province. We won't be here to accomplish these priorities if you do not expressly support our entire sector.

Sincerely,

Alison Brewin
Executive Director
Vantage Point

 

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Author

Vantage Point

We are a team of passionate and dedicated not-for-profit professionals dedicated to providing not-for-profits with high quality leadership training. We are here to set you up for success. Learn more about our team at www.thevantagepoint.ca/about/our-people/

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The BC Budget 2020 Is Out: What It Means For Your Not-For-Profit

by | Feb 27, 2020 | BC Non-Profit Network, Blog, Government Relations

The BC Budget 2020 Is Out: What It Means For Your Not-For-Profit

Culture: People First
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by Vantage Point | Feb 27, 2020 | 0 comments

This year was Vantage Point's first time attending the BC Budget Lock-up on February 18, 2020. Budget Lock-up is the day when the provincial government announces the budget and highlights key spending decisions to stakeholders and media. Omar Dominguez, Director of Government Relations & Sector Development, attended the proceedings.

In June 2019 Vantage Point made a submission to the BC Budget consultation process. You can read the submission here.

The BC Budget is out and the consensus across many stakeholders is this is a cautious budget which stays the course in the current government agenda, which is framed in terms of affordability, access to community services, and a sustainable economy. However, we note there is a disconnect between our governments' investment choices and the expectations it places in the not-for-profit sector to deliver on these priorities. Here are some highlights from the day.

Community Gaming Grants

The Community Gaming Grant program is a vital source of funding for a diverse range of community service groups. The budget notes that $249 million will be going to not-for-profits and local governments. Based on our questions to ministerial staff at the lock-up, this indicates no significant change in the funding pool for not-for-profits (currently stated at $135 million).

Additionally, 7% of the government's gaming income will be going towards Indigenous communities throughout the province (which was announced in 2019). In the budget they refer to the funding expectations as $3 billion over the next 25 years. This is estimated to be $96 million in 2021/22 and $98 million in 2022/23.

Multiples voices have been actively advocating for the healthy administration of these programs, like our peers from the British Columbia Association for Charitable Gaming (BCACG). We will engage with our partners and follow up with the Ministry of Housing (which is responsible for Community Gaming revenues) to confirm the allocations it has made specifically to community-based not-for-profits. We will also continue to provide additional feedback on ways that the sector can leverage the community gaming program to maximize community wellbeing. We will provide an update in our member newsletter when we have more information.

Budget categories that will impact not-for-profits

The following funding allocations will impact not-for-profits on some level directly or indirectly. The budget does not clearly articulate how funds will be divided in most cases. We would expect these areas might come in the form of social procurement contracts and grants.

  • Continued investments to meet the target of building 114,000 new homes over 10 years, plus $50 million to fight homelessness through approximately 505 shelters and two 60-bed navigation centres meant to provide wrap-around services for clients.
  • An additional $56 million in capital funding in 2020/21 for the development of 200 new units of supportive modular housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Modular housing has been, in fact, a successful and much-needed solution to begin addressing our housing crisis.
  • A human resources strategy for the social sector, which is welcome news by organizations which are facing mounting challenges to hire diverse and qualified staff, and to retain them in adequately remunerated positions. Unfortunately, no details have been disclosed.
  • The province has allocated $24 million over three years in a new needs-based BC Access Grant to help with the cost of programs leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. This is in addition to approximately $37 million of related programs. A key aspect of this new funding is that it also provides greater flexibility in the administration of these funds which can now be applied towards diplomas and trade certifications relevant to the not-for-profit sector such as early childhood education and health care assistants.
  • Up to $9.5 million in new funding in 2020 will go towards Community Living BC (this is in addition to $8.8 million increase in 2019).
  • British Columbians with over 220,000 in annual income will now be taxed at 20.5% which will generate funds which can be invested in public services. This is probably one of the most interesting narratives coming out of the budget because it pins taxation as an explicit mechanism to pursue a more equal distribution of income.

For more details, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives provides thoughtful economic analysis on how far the budget goes to support homelessness, housing, climate change, poverty, and more.

Missed opportunities in the budget

Overall, the not-for-profit sector is mentioned directly in a limited way throughout the budget. This suggest a limited understanding of the essential role the sector has to ensure this government can deliver on its ambitious agenda to put people first.

Our sector is vast in size, scope, and impact for our province. In 2016, community and business not-for-profits (e.g. chambers of commerce and business associations) generated $6.4 billion of the total gross domestic product for BC. These measures do not fully capture the actual value not-for-profits as an essential element to support social and economic prosperity. Our services also help strengthen public health and prevent further public spending.

Together with our collaborators, partners, and members, Vantage Point will continue to lift the voice of community organizations and advocate for a healthy policy environment to strengthen the sector. The better the government recognizes the link between the not-for-profit sector and their provincial priorities, the more we can work together to achieve these goals.

Budget Lock-up learnings

The provincial budget is a fundamental policy that shapes and delivers on our government's commitments to the public. It also reveals underlying assumptions, interests, and priorities that inform public investments, services, and the overall direction of the economy. In this context, it was an honour to have the opportunity to contribute to the public debate and to represent the perspective of organizations which are tackling some the of most pressing challenges facing our communities.

In the past, the not-for-profit sector has not always coordinated or collaborated to participate in the budget lock-up. But this is changing. In the last couple months leading up to the lock-up, a group of Vancouver-based not-for-profits came together to identify shared priorities. We agreed there is an urgent need to address poverty in BC and to call upon the provincial government to take action. We also advised and mentored each other to ensure we knew what to expect and how to participate more effectively during the day. Most importantly, we held a caucus during the lock-up to identify points of mutual interest and ways to amplify each other's messages.

But while this important civic process was taking place inside Victoria's Convention Centre and at the Provincial Legislature, we were also very much aware of the public debate and the blockades taking place across the country in support of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs. In fact, many organizations decided not to attend the budget release. And while the recent Province's decision to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People had been hailed as an historic step towards reconciliation, the official events of the day did not reflect the political tension we are currently facing. We still have a long road towards reconciliation. Similarly, the lack of diversity represented within the people participating at the budget lock-up suggests that we also have more work to do to strengthen the capacity of leaders of equity-seeking groups so they are the ones helping shape the policies which have a profound influence on their communities.

Next steps

You can now read the BC Budget 2020. We recommend scanning the budget and to look out for priorities which impact your organizational mission. Please let us know if you identify any emerging issues or concerns associated with the budget and your ability to further your organization's mandate.

Going forward, we want to see the government make a connection between the services the province needs and how not-for-profits are an essential part of the conversation.

Vantage Point's Membership is a great way to engage in public policy advocacy and support a stronger not-for-profit sector. Not yet a Vantage Point member? Learn more and sign-up here!

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