Canadian Non-Governmental Organizations (Social Issues)

Organismes non-gouvernementaux canadiens (Mission sociale)

Recession Relief Fund Coalition - website launched June 10, 2009
The Recession Relief Fund Coalition was formed by a group of social service agencies, philanthropic organizations, Bay Street Investment Firms and concerned citizens who came together to discuss options for addressing the effects of the recession.

The Recession Relief Fund Coalition is a national organization representing more than 230 organizations across the country that are concerned about the recession’s impact on Canada's most vulnerable people.
We call on the Federal Government to immediately create a Recession Relief Fund which will include:
* preventing spending cuts to public and private not for profit agencies serving vulnerable people including children, youth, families, immigrants, those who are homeless, un/under-employed, senior citizens, people who are disabled and those suffering from mental illness.
* increase funding to all HRSDC (Human Resources and Social Development Canada) and settlement programs, including doubling the existing level of funding being provided through the HPI (Homeless Partnerships Initiatives) program to supplement funding that is projected to be lost from private sector sources and increase funding levels as required.
In addition, we call upon the Federal Government to invest a portion of proposed infrastructure spending on social infrastructure by implementing a fully funded National Housing Program.

Endorse the
Recession Relief Fund Declaration
- read the declaration, then scroll down the page and add your name to the growing list of supporters, including me!

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From the website's
Resource Materials page:

This Is What the Recession Looks Like: June 2009 (PDF - 361K, 8 pages)
Research Bulletin #1
- calling for immediate government action on: * Social Assistance Reform * Unemployment Income (EI Reform * Funding for Non-Profit Sector, including Housing and Homelessness Programs
- incl. Key Facts & Trends in this Recession

"The Federal Contribution to Reducing Poverty in Canada"- Presentations
to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development
and the Status of Persons Disabilities (HUMA)
Several Recession Relief Coalition members were invited to make deputations to about “the Federal Contribution to Reducing Poverty in Canada” on June 1st and 2nd in Toronto.

Combating Poverty, Homelessness and
Hunger: Create a Peace Dividend (PDF - 65K, 7 pages)
By Cathy Crowe (Street Nurse and Atkinson Economic Justice Fellow)
June 1, 2009
"(...) Canadians need and want a peace dividend that is an investment in people not destruction. In the meantime however, this recession further necessitates program spending that will provide emergency recession relief – monies to expand Employment Insurance benefits, bolster provincial social assistance rates, prevent evictions, and expand emergency life saving services such as food and shelter."

Employment Insurance Reform and Poverty (PDF - 83K, 3 pages)
Submission to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills, Social Development
and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
By the Toronto City Summit Alliance
May 31, 2009 (in connection with appearance on June 2, 2009)

Brief submitted to the House of Commons
Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and
Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (PDF - 146K, 7 pages)
June 1, 2009
By John Stapleton
(on behalf of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation)
Topics:
* Federal Government Role in Canada's Social Safety net
* Disparity in responses to poverty and social policy at the Provincial and Territorial level
* Needlessly Prolonging the Recession

Testimony to the
Standing Committee on Human Resources,
Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (Word file - 24K, 3 pages)
by John Andras
Co Founder Recession Relief Coalition and Chair of SKETCH
"(...) The need for emergency funding to be made available to the agencies feeding, clothing, sheltering and counseling the victims of the recession is clear and pressing. Governments need to respond to the reality that demand is growing and non-government funding is falling. "

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Related links:

Recession Relief Coalition:
This is what the recession looks like for Canadians
Jun 11, 2009
By Michael Shapcott
As Canada's federal government is set to release its first major report on its economic initiatives (including the multi-billion dollar economic stimulus package that was part of the January federal budget), the Recession Relief Coalition has released its own report on "what the recession looks like" this morning. The coalition is a broad-based group of more than 260 organizations and 1,100 individuals across Canada.
Some key findings from the coalition's research report:
* the number of single people on Ontario Works (provincial welfare) reached an all-time record of 130,180 in April, 2009
* Ontario's real unemployment rate (the official unemployment rate, plus people who are "discouraged" and have dropped out of the labour market, plus involuntary part-time workers) is now well into the double digits at 13.6% and is a staggering 28% for youth aged 15 to 24.
* Credit Canada (which helps people deal with debt) has had a 42% increase in new clients in the past year.
* Non-profit and community-based programs and services are being over-whelmed with growing demand; foodbanks in Toronto report that a record one million people were forced to line up for food last year.
The Recession Relief Coalition sets out a policy agenda that includes increases to federal and provincial income assistance programs (including welfare and employment insurance); plus increased funding for the non-profit sector, including housing and homelessness programs.
Source:
Wellesley Institute Blog
[ Wellesley Institute ]

Aboriginal Youth Network (Canada)
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
The Aboriginal Youth Network is foremost an online resource created by youth for youth

ACORN Canada
ACORN is building a national movement for social and economic justice by organizing low- and moderate-income communities for power and social change; we want living wage jobs, decent affordable housing, tenant rights, ending predatory lending, opportunities for youth, voting and electoral rights. If it affects poor and working class communities, ACORN Members are organizing to win equity in Toronto and across the country. ACORN Canada is made up of more than 9,000 low- and moderate-income member families. There are more than 20 local chapters of ACORN throughout the country, organized democratically through community organizing. Our work is getting results and making change!
[ ACORN Canada reports ]

Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre

BC Legal Services Society


Campaign 2000
Campaign 2000 is a cross-Canada public education movement to build Canadian awareness and support for the 1989 all-party House of Commons resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Campaign 2000 began in 1991 out of concern about the lack of government progress in addressing child poverty. Campaign 2000 is non-partisan in urging all Canadian elected officials to keep their promise to Canada's children. There are over 85 national, community and provincial partners actively involved in the work of Campaign 2000. Hundreds of other groups across the country work on the issue of child poverty every day, such as children's aid societies, faith organizations, community agencies, health organizations, school boards, and low-income people's groups.
Follow these links from Campaign 2000's Home Page : What's New - Take Action - Report Cards - Resources - About Campaign 2000 - Events - Search/Site map

Campaign 2000 Partners - Complete list of all Campaign 2000 national, provincial and community partners - including links to 60+ websites of these NGOs and other groups from across Canada.

Campaign 2000 Report Cards - Links to the most recent report cards on child poverty at the national level as well as for the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario. You'll even find a link to the child poverty report card for the City of Toronto on the report card page. (Click on the links down the left side of the page)

First Ministers told to take action to lower shameful poverty rates
News alert - Campaign 2000
Kelowna, BC, 23 Nov 05
"Activists took their annual child poverty report directly to the First Ministers meeting here today. The findings are discouraging. For almost 30 years the poverty rate has been stuck at one-in-six children. Whether families are mother-led, have two parents, are working full time or on social assistance the numbers are static. A particularly disturbing finding is that child poverty rates for Aboriginal, immigrant, and visible minority children are twice the national rate. Campaign 2000 National Coordinator Laurel Rothman, whose organization prepares the annual update, was joined by Peter Dinsdale of the National Association of Friendship Centres. They are clearly frustrated by misplaced government priorities and jurisdictional wrangling."

Complete report:

Decision Time for Canada: Let’s Make Poverty History
2005 Report Card on Child Poverty in Canada [pdf, 12pp, 500KB]

Version française:

Une décision s’impose au Canada : Abolissons la pauvreté
Rapport 2005 sur la pauvreté des enfants au Canada [pdf, 12pp, 500KB]

Provincial Child Poverty Report Cards were also released in BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia;
you'll find links to these on the Children, Families and Youth Links (NGO) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/chnngo.htm

Reducing Child Poverty to Increase Productivity: A Human Capital Strategy
Brief to the Standing Committee on Finance (PDF file - 89K, 8 pages)
Pre-Budget Consultation
September, 2005
By Laurel Rothman
National Coordinator, Campaign 2000
"The fact that 15% of our youngest citizens are growing up in poverty does not bode well for Canada’s future productivity performance, which is the focus of the 2005 Pre-Budget Consultations. Broad based investment in our human capital is essential for a productivity agenda. "Canada’s Fiscal Outlook projects surpluses of almost $30 billion over the next five years. With consecutive multi-billion dollar budget surpluses, Canada has the resources to make substantial progress. We call on the federal government to commit a portion of these surpluses to invest in children, as they have committed portions for healthcare and equalization payments."

Submission to the Federal Labour Standards Review - Excerpts
September 26, 2005
Campaign 2000
"Campaign 2000 maintains that federal labour standards should be modernized to reflect leading standards and 'best practices'in other advanced economies. They need to be updated to reflect changes in the labour market and workforce over the past 40 years, with a particular emphasis on ensuring protection for vulnerable workers."

Complete brief:

Submission to the Federal Labour Standards Review Commission
Re: Part III of the Canada Labour Code (PDF file - 57K, 7 pages)
August 15, 2005
From: Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator

Related Link:

Federal Labour Standards Review Commission

Child poverty: setting new goals
November 24, 2004
CAROL GOAR
"Giving up is not an option. But clinging to a faded dream is not a solution.
So today, on the 15th anniversary of his parliamentary resolution to end child poverty by 2000, Ed Broadbent will set a new goal. He will challenge Canadians to reduce the child poverty rate to 5 per cent within 10 years. His new target lacks the tidy finality of the one he persuaded all MPs to endorse on Nov. 24, 1989, shortly before his retirement as leader of the New Democratic Party. It is less ambitious, less appealing.But Broadbent, who returned to active politics this year, believes it is realistic and achievable. He calls it 'a new agenda for a new time.'
The child poverty rate currently stands at 15 per cent. It was 15.2 per cent when Broadbent issued his clarion call 15 years ago."
Source:
The Toronto Star

Fifteenth Anniversary Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada - 2004
On November 24, 2004, the 15th anniversary of the all-party resolution to end child poverty in Canada, Campaign 2000 released its annual Report Card

Complete report:

English version:
One million too many: Implementing solutions to child poverty in Canada
2004 report card on child poverty in Canada [pdf, 12pp, 186KB]

Version française:
Un million de trop : mettre en oeuvre des solutions pour s'attaquer à la pauvreté des enfants au Canada
Rapport 2004 sur la pauvreté des enfants au Canada [pdf, 12pp, 193KB]

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NOTE: Campaign 2000 focuses on child poverty and other child-related issues.
You'll find many more links to Campaign 2000 site content on these Canadian Social Research Links pages (especially the first):
Canadian Social Children, Families and Youth Links (NGO) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/chnngo.htm
Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd.htm
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Campaign 2000 Provincial Child Poverty Report Cards: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia
NOTE: click the link above to access current and historical poverty reports for all six provinces

Canadaimmigrants.com "provides information about immigration, minorities and jobs in Canada including migration policy, immigrant associations, forum, statistics, free job wanted postings, research papers, news, consulting. English and Spanish version."
- incl. links to : About Us | Products & Services | Donations | Statistics | Forum | Monthly News Perspectives | Glossary | Jobs | Job Wanted Postings | Submit your Resume | Volunteer Opportunities Policies | Support Resources | Gallery | Archives | Site Map | Home

Related Links:

Settlement.Org
"The Settlement.Org Web site helps immigrants and refugees to find the help and information they need to start a new life in Ontario."
[...and it also includes a wealth of social program information!]
Source:
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants

CanadaInternational.gc.ca (Government of Canada)
"...the best links to government services, information and resources, for citizens of other countries"

Canada Matters
By Canbyte, a Progressive Blogger
http://www.canbyte.ca
- blog entries and links to online resources on a number of themes, from Bad Canada and Childcare to Poverty and Well Being

Source:
Canada Matters Globally

[ see also: Canbyte's Cosmos ]

Canada-U.S Human Rights Information and Documentation Network (CUSHRID Net)
CUSHRID Net was developed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information between human rights organizations; establishment of uniform standards for human rights documentation, information management and exchange; development of co-operative projects in the areas of documentation and information management to avoid duplication; training in various aspects of documentation and information management; and contacts and exchanges with information and documentation networks in other parts of the world.
See Links to Members' Websites for links to two dozen related sites

Canada Without Poverty
On Tuesday February 3rd 2009, at an evening event in Ottawa, the National Anti-Poverty Organization unveiled our new name - Canada Without Poverty - and logo. These changes are part of our repositioning for the strongest possible contribution to combating poverty, inequality and social exclusion in Canada. Our new name is meant to keep our focus squarely on the ultimate goal, and to inspire others. (...) "National Anti-Poverty Organization" remains our formal name until it can be legally changed to Canada Without Poverty, per amendment procedures as stated in our by-laws (in progress).

Speech on the Occasion of the Name Change from the
National Anti-Poverty Organization to Canada Without Poverty (PDF - 51K, 5 pages)
By Rob Rainer, Executive Director
February 3, 2009
This speech provides historical context leading up to this moment, and introduces the new Dignity for All Campaign - of which more information will shortly be posted on this site.Any contributions to our work, made by cheque, are to be made in the name of the National Anti-Poverty Organization.

Canadian Alternative Investment Cooperative (CAIC)
CAIC was formed in the early 1980’s by a number of religious communities who wanted to pool their resources in order to make investments that support positive social change and promote alternative economic structures. CAIC has since grown to 51 members with a lending pool of $6.5 million invested in worthwhile projects across Canada.

Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
"CAEFS is a federation of autonomous societies which works with, and on behalf of, women involved with the justice system, particularly women in conflict with the law. Elizabeth Fry Societies are community based agencies dedicated to offering services and programs to marginalized women, advocating for legislative and administrative reform and offering fora within which the public may be informed about, and participate in, aspects of the justice system which affect women."
-large site, easy to navigate, incl. information about CAEFS, programs and services, , conferences, fact sheets, annual reports, issue papers (Human Rights - Battered Women - Women’s Prisons - Young Women - Restorative Justice - Literacy), responses to proposed legislative changes - related Internet sources on prison issues and violence against women

  Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (CCP) - "We're on your Side"
"The Canadian Centre for Philanthropy is a national, charitable organization with a mandate to advance the role and interests of the charitable sector for the benefit of Canadian communities. The Centre accomplishes this mission through various programs, including Public Affairs, Research, Imagine, and Membership. Information about these programs as well as resources, tools and information are available on this site."
"We're on your side" --- for a fee...
I guess even philanthropy is big business these days - membership is a must to see any of the real content of this site, and that'll run you at least $225 per year for a small organization ($495 for a consultant or a government)...
...and then you have to pay $200 for their "Canadian Directory to Foundations & Grants" (16th Printed Edition, 2002) --- (Non-Member price is $300.00). If you want the regularly-updated online version, that's $350 for members and $ 450 for non-members.
BUT WAIT - here's some free stuff --- and it's good, too...
CCP Voluntary Sector Links - 100+ links divided into 4 categories: Nonprofit organizations(Canada), Resources and Tools, Nonprofit Management Education, and U.S. and International sites.
CCP Resource Centre - info and articles about : Board & Governance - Nonprofit Management - Fundraising - Legal & Regulatory - Volunteering - Trends & Statistics - Foundations/Corporate - Article Index
"Please also visit other sites in the CCP family for additional information on research (www.givingandvolunteering.ca and www.nonprofitscan.ca) and corporate social responsibility (www.imagine.ca)."

Canadian Civil Liberties Association(CCLA)
The CCLA is a lobbying and law-reform, non-profit, non-government organization dealing with issues of fundamental civil liberties and human rights that affect those who live all across Canada.

 Canadian Community Reinvestment Coalition - The Canadian Community Reinvestment Coalition is a coalition of over 100 anti-poverty, consumer, community economic development, labour and small business groups representing over three million people from every province and the Northwest Territories that advocates for bank accountability in Canada.

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Social Affairs Office

Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC)
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation  is a coalition of over 100 Canadian organizations seeking to change the course of human development in ways that favor social and economic equity, democratic participation, environmental integrity and respect for human rights.
"...working on the frontlines of social justice, humanitarian aid, economic and democratic development in the world"

Canadian Council of Churches

 Canadian Council on Social Development
- See the CCSD listing on the Canadian Social Research Organizations page of this site or go directly to the CCSD website

Canadian Economics Association / Association Canadienne d'Économique

Canadian Labour and Business Centre

Canadian Non-Profit Resource Network (C.N.R.N.)

The Canadian Abolition Project - Canadians working together to end the death penalty
"The Canadian Abolition Project was founded to campaign in support of Canadian government policies that will ensure consistency with Canada's position as a completely abolitionist nation. We will encourage and support interventions by the Canadian government in defence of Canadians facing the death penalty abroad. We are dedicated to achieving abolition of the death penalty for all, in all countries of the World and particularly in the United States of America. ."
- incl. links to : Canadian Abolition Sign Up Page - Canadian Abolition Email Archives - Canadian Resources [contact info for Canadian Senators, MPs and committees] - Invitation to the 1st Annual Peaceful Presence and Public Awareness Day in Toronto
Source:
Stop Capital Punishment Now!
"Stop Capital Punishment Now! is an Internet based initiative attempting to achieve total abolition of the death penalty in all countries of the world and particularly in the United States of America. We believe that the taking of a human life is morally and ethically wrong. We believe that the premeditated killing by the state of its own citizens is barbaric and reprehensible."
Abolition Organizations and Web Sites - links to 40+ sites, mainly American...

Canadian Taxpayers Federation - studies, reports, news releases and links. A site worth the visit.

Centre for the Study of Living Standards - Centre d'étude de niveau de vie

Charity Village
Megasite for the Non-profit sector
"Charity Village®, Canada's supersite for the nonprofit sector --- 3,000 pages of news, jobs, information and resources for executives, staffers, donors, and volunteers. If philanthropy and volunteerism are part of your world, this is your place."
- incl. links to : News/Events | Jobs | Suppliers Organizations | Volunteer Opportunities | QuickGuides | | Professional Associations | Online Resources | Online Publications | Online Discussions | Online Tools | Sources of Funding | How-to Articles | The Book Store | Book Reviews | FAQ | The Webmasters Club | Other Resources | Search | About CharityVillage Ltd. | Contact Us | Information for Advertisers | Help

Childcare Resource and Research Unit - CRRU (University of Toronto)
- The Childcare Resource and Research Unit focuses on early childhood care and education research and policy.  Its mandate is to advance the idea of a publicly-funded, universally accessible, comprehensive, high quality, not-for-profit system of early childhood care and education in Canada.  The Childcare Resource and Research Unit is part of the Centre for Urban and Community Studies, University of Toronto.

What's New? - Canadian, U.S. and international resources
Child Care in the News - media articles
ISSUE files - theme pages, each filled with contextual information and links to further info
Links to child care sites in Canada and elsewhere
CRRU Publications - briefing notes, factsheets, occasional papers and other publications

You'll find many more links to CRRU content on the Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd.htm

Church Council on Justice and Corrections (Canada)
"We are a national faith-based coalition of eleven founding churches, created in 1974, to promote a restorative approach to Justice with an emphasis on addressing the needs of victims and offenders, mutual respect, healing, individual accountability, community involvement and crime prevention. We believe there can be no criminal justice without social justice; we can only deal with crime by building a peaceful, safe and just society."
- incl. links to : About Us - The Well - CCJC News - Current Issues - Archives - Legislation - Links - Site Map - Contact - Discussion Board - Justice for the Soul - Video & Bookstore - Donation / Membership - Resources / Presentations
Related Link:
Conflict Resolution Network

Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) (national group based in Toronto)

Our mission is to promote public justice in Canada by shaping key public policy debates through research and analysis, publishing and public dialogue. CPJ encourages citizens, leaders in society and governments to support policies and practices which reflect God’s call for love, justice and stewardship.

Selected reports:

Ola! April 2009
E-newsletter of Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ)
Table of Contents:
* Edmonton – a cradle of CPJ
* Covenantal economics and poverty
* CPJ in Quebec
+ New CPJ resources on electoral reform
* CPJ staff to participate in the Canadian Social Forum
* Web features
* Earth Day 2009 – Going deeper green
* What’s God got to do with it? Faith and politics at the cabinet table
* Language requirements counter to public justice values
* Human Trafficking: the modern-day slave trade
* CPJ Annual General Meeting – May 7, 2009
* The end of the world as we know it ...Thank God! KAIROS Gathering 2009
* Earth Day – April 22
* A Prayer of Healing

View all issues of Ola!

Subscribe to Ola!

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Poverty Reduction Strategy needed in Budget 2009
December 17, 2008
In a letter to Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty (PDF - 207K, 4 pages), CPJ calls on the government to present a "visionary stimulus package" as part of the Federal Budget anticipated for January 27, 2009.

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Vision to Action: Canada Without Poverty
Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance (PDF - 329K, 7 pages)
Pre-Budget Consultations
August, 2008

Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations
The Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations (NVO) is a not-for-profit organization which promotes volunteerism and enhances the profile of Canada's voluntary and charitable sector. NVO is an umbrella coalition that has as its members 130 national voluntary charities active in a variety of fields ranging from health and social services to the environment, justice, education and international development.
Great resource site for people working in or with the voluntary sector...
Voluntary Sector Task Force (Privy Council Office version)
- see also Volunteer Canada

Community Foundations of Canada

Community Economic Development (CED)

CED Learning Network
"Community economic development (CED) involves initiatives that attempt to strengthen the community by building equitable and inclusive economies. (...) The Toronto CED Learning Network is a group of over 350 organizations and individuals who are interested in CED in the Toronto area. Its membership reflects an exciting range of perspectives and approaches. Its main goal is to provide a space where members can learn from each other, share their resources and work together to develop healthy, equitable and sustainable business activity in Toronto."

CED Learning Network Links - over 1,000 links to free international resources and information on the web

CEDTAP - The Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program
"CEDTAP is a five-year, Canada-wide initiative that aims to assist 500 communities by 2006. CEDTAP helps community-based organizations engaged in CED by supporting technical assistance, study tours, target group initiatives and requests for computer hardware and software. CEDTAP is also committed to strengthening the CED sector as a whole by disseminating innovative models, funding the development of tools and resources, and organizing learning events.
- incl. links to : About CEDTAP - News - Approved Initiatives - Application Guidelines - Application Form - Directory of Technical Assistance Providers - CEDTAP Forum - Gender and CED - Resources and Links - Contact Information

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Canadian Community Economic Development Network
"(CCEDNet is a national member-based, democratic organization. We are a registered charitable non-profit organization. The membership of CCEDNet is made up of Community Economic Development (CED) community-based organizations and practitioners from every region of Canada. CED can be defined as action by people locally to create economic opportunities and enhance social conditions in their communities on a sustainable and inclusive basis, particularly with those who are most disadvantaged."

Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP)

Conflict Resolution Network
"For almost two decades, Conflict Resolution Network Canada has been drawing people together to grapple with conflict, share insights and ideas, and act on the latest developments in conflict resolution theory and practice. Through our national conferences, comprehensive collection of conflict resolution books, content-rich Web site, cutting-edge programs and flagship quarterly newsletter, we have helped thousands of Canadians to build constructive approaches to conflict in every sphere of Canadian society."
Directory of Restorative Justice Programs in Canada (Adults)
Youth Restorative Justice Directory
Neighbourhood Conflict Resolution Programs in Canada

National Consultation on Basic Principles for the Use of Restorative Justice in Canada
"The United Nations recently endorsed Basic Principles for the Use of Restorative Justice Programmes in Criminal Matters, and Conflict Resolution Network Canada has undertaken a national consultation to explore what impact these principles might have here. An electronic Dialogue Group will be a vital part of the consultation, and we hope you will join it. (...) The Dialogue Group will begin discussions on Monday, June 10, and continue until mid-September."
The Conflict Resolution Network's seven distinct program areas are : Community and Restorative Justice - Schools and Youth - Organizational and Workplace - Environment and Public Policy - International - Media and Conflict Portrayal - Conflict Resolution Teaching and Training Support
To register for the Dialogue Group, or to review the Principles first, go to the Restorative Justice Consultation Web site (the link above) and follow the links to Registration or to Basic Principles.

Related Link:

Family Mediation Canada

Council of Canadians  

- Surgery by Social Union: Social Union could end up killing off what the federal budget was supposed to save (1999) 
- Health and Social Union Agreement Raises More Questions Than it Answers
February 1999 
- Social Union Could Pull Provinces Into a Race to the Bottom, Warns Council of Canadians
January 1999 
- Social Union a Platform For The Right, Says Council of Canadians
January 1999

Court Challenges Program
Court Challenges Program of Canada is a national non-profit organization which was set up in 1994 to provide financial assistance for important court cases that advance language and equality rights guaranteed under Canada's Constitution.
Check the Site Guide for an overview of the site - includes a great database of links in almost two dozen areas of social policy research, including : Aboriginal - Colour, Race, National Origin, Ethnicity - Disability - Education Rights - Government - Human Rights - Immigration - Poverty Sexual Orientation - Womens Rights, and more...

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Coalition to Save Court Challenges
The Coalition to Save Court Challenges is a broad coalition of concerned organizations and individuals committed to ensuring the continuation of funding for the Court Challenges Program of Canada. New organizations and individuals are signing onto our campaign every day.

List of participating organizations

Related Link:

Faces of the Cuts: The Impact of Federal Program Cuts on Communities in Toronto
An Early Look at Selected Areas Slated for Funding Cuts (PDF file - 129K, 31 pages)
Forum Convened by
Community Social Planning Council of Toronto
Held at the Ontario Bar Association
Toronto
October 11
"On September 25, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Treasury Board President John Baird announced $1 billion in federal program cuts to be implemented over two years. At the same time that cuts to youth employment, literacy organizations, women’s groups, Aboriginal health initiatives, and other equity-relevant programs were announced, the federal government also reported a staggering $13.2 billion surplus.(...) The Community Social Planning Council of Toronto convened a forum to bring together local communities and organizations across sectors and issues to share information, and discuss and strategize around the proposed cuts and related federal actions. (...) Focusing on selected areas, the report paints only part of the picture of the cuts and its impact on Toronto communities."
Source:
Community Social Planning Council of Toronto

CUSO

DAWN - DisAbled Women's Network Canada
"DAWN Canada is a national organization controlled by and comprised of women with disabilities. We are from all backgrounds and all disabilities. We are a feminist organization working to achieve control over our lives and end the stereotype that labels us dependent burdens on society."
- incl. links to : Our National Network - Our Mission Statement - Our History - Profiles of Women - Special Initiatives - DAWNing Groups - Related Links - Guestbook - DAWN Canada's Email Discussion

Democracy Watch
Democracy Watch is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan Canadian citizen advocacy organization that opened its doors in October 1993. Democracy Watch works with Canadian citizens and organizations in pushing Canadian governments and businesses to empower Canadians in their roles as voters,citizens, taxpayers, consumers and shareholders. Our aim is to help reform Canadian government and business institutions to bring them into line with the realities of a modern, working democracy.
20 Steps towards a Modern, Working Democracy
Democracy Watch's campaign mandate, 20 Steps towards a Modern, Working Democracy, sets out changes that all governments in Canada should enact (according to their respective powers) to ensure that Canadian citizens have a greater and more meaningful role in government and business decision-making in Canada.

Directory of Development Organizations 2003
Guide to 29,500 contacts in International Organizations, Governments, Private Sector Institutions, Development Agencies, Universities, Research and Training Institutes, NGOs/PDOs, Grantmakers, Banks, Microfinance Institutions and Development Consulting Firms.
- incl. names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and website URLs of organizations that offer support, market access, information and advice to the enterprise and poverty-reducing sectors in low-income countries. Click on a region of the world in the left-hand margin on the home page, then choose whether to read a single large file for the entire region or to select a specific country, such as...
Canada (PDF file - 258K, 36 pages) - 200+ organizations, from Aboriginal Business Canada to Young Entrepreneurs Association (Canada)

Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) - See links to some ESPC reports on the Alberta page of this site

Electronic Commons: A public network -- [version française]
This national not for profit online web space is dedicated to the exchange of information, opinions and resources by and for all Canadians.

Family Connections

Habitat for Humanity Canada
Habitat for Humanity International

Halifax Initiative
Halifax Initiative is a Canadian coalition of development, environment, faith, rights and labour groups. [It] was formed in the context of an international movement of non-governmental organizations focused on evaluating the role and record of the Bretton Woods Institutions at the time of their 50th Anniversary. Canadian NGOs formed the Halifax Initiative in December 1994 to ensure that demands for fundamental reform of the international financial institutions were high on the agenda of the G7's 1995 Halifax Summit.
- incl. links to : Debt - Export Credit Agencies - International Monetary Fund - Tobin Tax - World Bank - G-20 - Finance for Development - Publications - Media - Events - Links
Related Links : See the Canadian Social Research Links Globalization page

Inter-Church Coalition on Africa
Inter-Church Committee for Human Rights in Latin America

idealist.org

Idealist, a project of Action Without Borders. In this site you will find 20,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 150 countries, which you can search or browse by name, location or mission. Includes tons of links to Canadian sites - organizations, resources, volunteering, services, and much more.
Includes 700+ Canadian NGOs and 400+ Canadian services, just to whet your appetite...

In Common - "Global action against poverty"
Led by the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC), 100+ Canadian organizations have joined in common -- a campaign to make action against poverty a public and political priority.

Internet Nonprofit Center - Information For and About Nonprofit Organizations (U.S)

Laidlaw Foundation (Toronto)
"The Laidlaw Foundation uses its human and financial resources in innovative ways to strengthen the environment for children, youth and families, to enhance opportunities for human development and creativity and to sustain healthy communities and ecosystems."

National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO)

Name changed Feb. 3, 2009 - see Canada Without Poverty (higher up on the page you're now reading)

National Citizens' Coalition

National Council of Welfare

- See the Canadian Social Research Links Social Research Organizations (I) in Canada page)

North-South Institute

Oxfam Canada

Progressive Economics Forum
The Progressive Economics Forum aims to promote the development of a progressive economics community in Canada. The PEF brings together over 125 progressive economists, working in universities, the labour movement, and activist research organizations.

Blog : Relentlessly Progressive Economics
Authors : Andrew Jackson - Arun DuBois - Erin Weir - Iglika Ivanova - Jim Stanford - Marc Lee - Mathieu Dufour - Toby Sanger - Wenonah Bradshaw

Radically Canadian

Research Forum on Children, Families and the New Federalism
 (U.S. site hosted by the National Center for Children in Poverty)
- the Research Forum database includes 41 reviewed and 28 unreviewed research projects dealing with issues of welfare reform in the U.S. and its effects.
- includes the Canadian Self-Sufficiency Project page (a welfare research and demonstration project in New Brunswick and British Columbia) - more info about SSP

RESULTS Canada

Rights & Democracy - The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
This site works best in Internet Explorer. (I'm being polite here - actually, this site works like crap in Netscape 4.75)
Incl. Globalization and Human Rights - Indigenous Peoples' Rights -International Human Rights Advocacy -Women's Rights
Rights & Democracy - The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is a non-partisan organization with an international mandate. It was created by Canada's Parliament in 1988 to encourage and support the universal values of human rights and the promotion of democratic institutions and practices around the world.
President : Warren Allmand
- Don't miss the excellent collection of links to Canadian and international directories and databases - but I can't offer you a link to it because this site uses frames.
You'll have to go there, using Internet Explorer.

Royal Canadian Legion
The Legion is Canada's largest veterans', ex-service persons' and community service organization with more than 500,000 members and more than 1,600 branches in Canada, the USA (21) and Germany (3). The Legion  puts more than $300 million into our communities each year and provide services to veterans, ex-service persons, seniors, youth and numerous community-based charities. Visit this site for a wealth of information on the Legion and its activities. Sections include About Us - Remembrance and Poppy - Dominion Convention - Legion Sports - Membership - Ladies Auxiliaries - Veterans and Ex-Service Persons Service - Links - Leadership and Development. You'll also find links to all Legion Commands across Canada, a number of issues of Reveille, the newsletter of the Dominion Command, and much more.

Social Justice Committee of Montreal
World Interaction Mondiale

Social Policy Café - launched April 12, 2007
The Social Policy Café , once a free electronic bulletin designed with the social policy community in mind, is now a blog! Hosted by Havi Echenberg, it will provide more timely information, and opens up the possiblity of guest contributors, interaction through commenting on entries, and more frequent updating. In addition to a welcoming entry, the first post compares Dublin's and Toronto's urban renewal efforts in low-income communities.
You can find it at www.socialpolicycafe.ca

The Social Policy Shop  (Havi Echenberg - Ottawa)
  - includes information on federal, provincial/territorial and international social programs, an online newsletter with links to more detailed information, links to social policy shops in the government, in Canadian NGOs and outside Canada. You'll even find a list of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for social policy, along with their mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers and their e-mail addresses.

Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI)
"SEDI stands for Social and Enterprise Development Innovations. (...)We are a national charitable organization dedicated to enabling poor, unemployed and under-employed people to become self-sufficient. We take a variety of leading-edge social and economic approaches to this goal in areas such as policy development, program management, information exchange, capacity building, public education and research. Above all, SEDI is a catalyst..."

Learn$ave
"One of the most important assets is education. SEDI is offering an exciting chance for over 3,000 low-income earners to boost their savings so that they can afford skills training, schooling or to start-up a small business:will match the savings each participant puts aside in an Individual Development Account (IDA), dollar for dollar, paid directly to the school or institution . Through the IDA account, participants can build their personal savings and earn a credit for a matching amount by saving as little as $10 a month over 1 to 3 years. In most areas, the personal savings will be matched at $3 for every dollar saved up to the first $1,500. This matching contribution puts low-income Canadians on an equal footing with higher income Canadians who can afford to put away more of their own money. Between 2001 and 2003, partner organizations recruited candidates in 10 communities across the country. Recruitment is now complete in 9 of the 10 sites. Vancouver will be recruiting until December 2003. This project is the largest of its kind in the world. It’s delivered in partnership with the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) and is funded by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)."
Learn$ave FAQs

Related Links (U.S./ International):

Individual Development Accounts - from the Economic Success Clearinghouse (formerly Welfare Information Network) (links to 100+ online resources!)
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) - from TrickleUp (U.S. and International seed capital and business training for microenterprise)
IDAnetwork - "Exchanging Ideas about Individual Development Accounts"
Individual Development Accounts - from the Corporation for Enterprise Development
Individual Development Accounts - from the Administration for Children and Families (U.S. Government)
Individual Development Accounts - from Alternatives.org
Work, Welfare and Savings : Modernisation of Tax and Benefits (U.K.) - from H.M. Treasury
[see esp. files #7-8-9 - also includes info about the U.K.'s child and working credits]

Tamarack - An Institute for Community Engagement
"Tamarack is a charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadian communities take ownership of local issues by making use of proven strategies for community engagement. Community Engagement is commonly defined as citizens from different sectors of a community joining together taking leadership, to address issues that affect them all. Tamarack was founded as a partnership between Alan Broadbent of the Maytree Foundation, and Paul Born. Designed to promote community building across Canada, the institute's mission is to develop a process to help people create bold visions for the future of their communities, and work together to achieve those visions more easily and effectively."

Gender analysis in community-based poverty reduction
by Lang, Catherine & Goldberg Leong, Toby
March 2004
Final report of the Gender and Poverty Project
"...explores the gender dimensions of poverty; recognizes the lack of child care policy as a significant barrier to poor women."
"The Pan-Canadian Vibrant Communities Gender and Poverty Project was a unique partnership with and between six local communities, Vibrant Communities sponsors, and project facilitators to apply gender analysis to community-based, comprehensive poverty reduction work."
Source:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU)

Related Links:

Gender and Poverty Project [ funded by Status of Women Canada ]
The Gender and Poverty project provides communities participating in Vibrant Communities with support to build on their capacity to create inclusive communities through engagement in gender related analysis, strategies, and action at the local and national levels. The project is funded by Status of Women Canada.

Vibrant Communities
"In order to reduce poverty and enhance the quality of life in households throughout Canada, Vibrant Communities provides a process and a working environment where diverse community leaders from across the country work together to share ideas, practices and policies that strengthen their community-based poverty reduction initiatives."
- incl. links to : Partners - Poverty Reduction - Community Updates - Resources - Tools - Research & Policy - Coaching - Evaluation & Learning - Face-to-Face Forum - Learning Themes - Gender & Poverty - Sustainable Incomes - Additional resources - Related links

Related Links ---- go to the the Canadian Non-Governmental Sites about Women's Social Issues page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/womencanngo.htm

the anarchy organization (tao)
This is a large Canadian Site maintained by a team of volunteers.
See the tao site index for an overview of the extensive and current Canadian content, along with links to international tao affiliates.
tao communications is a regional federation of local autonomous collectives and individuals involved in communications and media, radical activism and social work.
organized tao locals:
- tao vancouver
- tao edmonton
- tao toronto
- tao montreal
- tao olympia
In addition, tao collectives  are forming in Northern Ontario and Ottawa. Groups in Guelph, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton, as well as various other world locales also participate within the federation.
Check out events.tao.ca- tao's online interactive calendar - demonstrations, meetings, events. Very active. Click on the date of any event for more information - and be sure to check previous and coming months.

This is Our Place - Resources for Low-Income People by Province

Tristat Resources (Richard Shillington) - "Data analysis is an aid to thinking not a replacement for"

Richard Shillington, Ph.D., is a statistician with a difference - he delights in poking a finger in the federal government's ribs when he feels they've been less than forthright or honest about health, social or economic policy. He's appeared before many Parliamentary Committees, and he frequently provides commentaries for television, radio and newspapers on issues of taxation, human rights and social policy.
-incl. links to Richard's work in the following areas : St. Christopher House Report - Social Conditions & Human Rights - Tax Policy & Income Tested Benefits - The GIS Story - The Debate over Poverty Lines - The National Child Tax Benefit - Information about the Child Tax Benefit Changes Proposed in the 1997 Federal budget - Honesty in Government.

Retirement Planning for the "Rest of Us"
Introduction
"This web-site is designed to give Retirement Planning advice for those Canadians, half the population, who do not have an employer pension plan and will not save hundreds of thousands of dollars in their RRSP. Only about 40% of the labour force have an employer pension plan. Jobs with pension plan coverage usually come with benefits like health benefits, maternity benefits etc. By retirement about half of families have no employer pension plan to speak of and must rely on public plans (OAS, GIS & CPP) and a modest retirement savings, mostly RRSP (on average about $40,000). This web-site is designed for those without an employer pension plan or large RRSP. This web-site is about retirement planning for the "Rest of Us."

Retirement Planning Resources
for the "Rest of Us"
- includes links to the following useful resources:
* Why listen to me? * What is wrong with most Financial Advice * Recommended Reading for the "Rest of Us" * Are you GIS Destined? * What you need to know about GIS and Spouses and Widows Allowance * RRSPs don't work well for you * Why you should probably take early CPP * Early CPP: Individual Calculator * Credit Cards * Home Ownership * Your income at retirement

NOTE: Richard is the person who helped the federal government to find a few hundred thousand seniors who were entitled to, but not receiving, the Guaranteed Income Supplement under the Old Age Security Program.

Maternity Benefits
September 24, 2002
"About half of new moms don't get EI Maternity Benefits many despite their contributions to EI. Those least likely to get EI Maternity Benefits are single moms, work part-time for low-wages, in non-union jobs in the private sector."
- links to an op-ed piece and a longer paper on who gets maternity benefits
Source : Tristat Resources (Richard Shillington)

Things Which Could Be Changed - list of 14 flaws, problems and screw-ups in the design of support programs that governments could fix.

The GIS Story - "How 300,000 seniors got half a billion dollars"

Two Casualities of the Child Tax Benefit: Truth and the Poor (PDF file -, 60K, 6 pages)
This article was published in Policy Options by the Institute for Research in Public Policy (IRPP), in November 2000

Analyse This - Richard's column for Straight Goods (Canada's alternative media link)
Here are some sample articles that you'll find here (over 20 articles in all):
- Newspeak on poverty
- Why I reject our voting system and rejected my ballot
- Canada's "Brain Drain" a trickle not a flood
- What happened to representing the middle class?
- Flat tax no help to average taxpayer
- Brilliant spinning places welfare recipients in cottages
- A poor measure of poverty

Vanier Institute of the Family (VIF)
Established in 1965, the Vanier Institute of the Family is a national charitable organization dedicated to promoting the well-being of Canadian families. It is governed by a volunteer board with regional representation from across Canada. The programs of the Institute generally fall into four categories: Research - Public education - Consultation - Advocacy

A recent sample of the reports you'll find here:

Hallmarks of a Compassionate, Civil Society
Press Release
March 27, 2007
Ottawa—Love, sympathy, reason and morality – all evolutionary imperatives according to Darwin – are the hallmarks of a compassionate, civil society. Sadly, our collective reading of Darwin’s theories of human development emphasizes an almost universally accepted notion of human nature as predominantly aggressive, violent, selfish and competitive.

Complete report:

Building Emotional Intelligence: Darwin Reconsidered
by Jenni Tipper
2006
HTML version
PDF version (303K, 36 pages)

Vanier Institute of the Family (VIF)

More links to content from the VIF website: (on the Canadian Children's Non-Governmental Organizations page)

The Virtual Activist  A training course presented by WomensWork

Voices for Children

Volunteer Canada
Volunteer Canada is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. Since 1977, Volunteer Canada has been committed to supporting volunteerism and civic participation through ongoing programs and special projects.
National in scope, Volunteer Canada's board members, partners and members represent hundreds of different communities across Canada. Our membership includes 86 volunteer centres in nine provinces, including the federation of 109 volunteer centres in Quebec. Managers and directors of volunteers represent a vital aspect of volunteerism in Canada and make up an important aspect of our organization's community.

Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

Check out the latest SPC releases

The Reference page offers links to recent SPC reports, including: 
- Manitoba 2000 Budget Response Campaign 2000/Social Planning Council (May 2000)
- The Manitoba 1999 Child Poverty Report Card: An Agenda for Action
  November 24, 1999 - PDF file (1019K), 36 pages 
- Child Poverty in Manitoba: 1998 Report Card
- 1999 Manitoba Provincial Election Platform Paper
- An Integrated Community Approach to Health Action (spring 1998)
- Presentation to the Minimum Wage Review Board on Manitoba's Minimum Wage (summer 1998)

Youth for Social Justice - Atlantic Canada

World Socialist Website
The World Socialist Web Site is the Internet center of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). It provides analysis of major world events, comments on political, cultural, historical and philosophical issues, and valuable documents and studies from the heritage of the socialist movement.

Go to the Canadian Social Research Organizations page for links to websites of Canadian think tanks and research organizations.

There are many more links to Canadian NGOs scattered throughout this site.
Try Ontario NGOs and British Columbia NGOs (those are on separate pages)
For international NGOs, see the International NGO Links  - Human Rights Links - U.S. Links pages

 

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