*Originally published in the Hill Times

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the devastating impacts of poverty and exclusion on individuals and families across the country in no uncertain terms. This pandemic has affected everyone, but it has taken the heaviest toll on low income, precariously employed and racialized people. The impact is unignorable. Equity and an inclusive recovery from the pandemic must be prioritized by the next government. A key part of this must include formalizing its relationship with Canada’s charitable and non-profit sector.

This sector creates opportunities for 13 million Canadians a year to volunteer their time. Canadians also generously invest over $14 billion annually in charitable giving. With their help, the sector provides essential services to the most vulnerable Canadians, particularly in times of crisis, like the post-pandemic recovery period in which we now find ourselves.

All federal parties have expressed support for the sector’s work on the ground, recognizing our collective progress to address social issues and our economic contributions to the country. However, substantial action to address enduring inequities that limit opportunities for individual Canadians and our collective potential is long overdue. The Senate Report Catalyst for Change detailed an ambitious plan for all parties to follow. Making progress will require building on the cross-sector, cross-governmental and cross-party collaboration that mobilized effectively through the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the devastating impacts of poverty and exclusion on individuals and families across the country in no uncertain terms. This pandemic has affected everyone, but it has taken the heaviest toll on low income, precariously employed and racialized people. The impact is unignorable. Equity and an inclusive recovery from the pandemic must be prioritized by the next government. A key part of this must include formalizing its relationship with Canada’s charitable and non-profit sector.”

-Dan Clement, President & CEO, United Way Canada Centraide-

United Ways and Centraides across Canada were at the forefront of this collaboration, in partnership with governments, community agencies, corporations, and individual donors, to mobilize care and support for our most vulnerable communities within days of the WHO declaring the global pandemic. Our national 211 service provided critical access to Canada’s essential community services to hundreds of thousands of individuals and families.

There are hundreds of stories I could tell about how the charity sector stepped up to fill the gaps eft by COVID-19 restrictions this year, but this one stands out to me:

The Gitga’at [GIT-gat] Nation is a part of the Tsimshian [Sim-SHE-an] peoples, who have occupied the lands and waters around Hartley Bay for millennia. Today, 158 people live in Hartley Bay. The small, isolated community closed their marina from March 22, 2020 till May of this year, in order to protect themselves from COVID-19 infecting their people. Food security quickly became a significant issue due to community closure as the services that support the community ceased, instantly cutting them off from outside provisions.

Through a grant from the Emergency Community Support Fund, administered by United Way Centraide Canada, agencies in the community were able to hire barges and coordinate volunteers to get basic needs to these very vulnerable families. Forty-seven families (158 individuals) received food, toiletries, and other necessities over a number of scheduled deliveries. Without charities and the community coming together in this way, many would have gone hungry.

A coalition of charities and non-profits has called on the federal government for a clear agenda to build a strong, resilient charitable sector, including a home in government. We have asked the government to improve access to capital and stable funding, enhance the use of data to inform public policy, create high quality and fulfilling employment in the service of communities, and build a modern charitable sector by investing in talent, technology and digital transformation to help charities and non-profits connect and engage Canadians in their communities. This call for a home in government was made in the 2019 Senate Report. Senator Ratna Omidvar continues to highlight the need for action in this area and many other critical changes.

A bolstered charitable and non-profit sector can help Canada achieve an equitable and inclusive recovery from the pandemic. With a focus on meeting basic needs, a commitment to adequate and affordable housing for all, a focus to end homelessness, quality community-based childcare, a national strategy on mental health and addictions, and access to flexible funding and resources for those communities most affected by the pandemic, we can ensure access to a strong and resilient future for everyone in every community.
We can’t address these needs and build inclusive communities without a strong charitable and non-profit sector and a committed partnership with the next federal government.

Dan Clement
President and CEO, United Way Centraide Canada