Project 33
A Comparison of Policy Frameworks for Social Enterprises and Non-Profits in Ontario and Quebec

Description

The purpose of this study is to identify and to assess policy frameworks and instruments which exist in Quebec which may be of assistant to Social Enterprises and Non-Profits in Ontario. In order to make such an assessment, an updated profile of the policy frameworks for social enterprises and non-profits in Quebec will be undertaken. This will include policy frameworks and instruments within both the state (the Quebec government) and social economy network at the provincial level. Given that the that legislation governing nonprofit organizations in Ontario is under review and the asset base for social enterprises could alter within the next six months, the research will start with Quebec and then move to Ontario.

The significance of this study is that it will provide concrete evidence of policy frameworks (institutionalized policy structures in government) and policy tools (provincial incentives and programs) which support the evolution and growth of these social economy organizations. In collaboration with project 34, research methodologies and results will be exchanged and combined where and when it is feasible to do so.

Significant cultural and historical variations which relate to policy variations will be noted as they may significantly influence the success of the policy outcomes and cannot be replicated. The study will not address sub-sector specific support programs unless they provide a clear example of what is being done at a broader horizontal (i.e. across department) policy level.

The study will take into consideration existing research reports generated by the Social Economy nodes (e.g. Becoming a Social Entrepreneur in Canada, Jean-Marc Fontan - 2008); the work of other nonprofit and social economy researchers in Quebec and Ontario; and government reports and documents in these two provinces and other jurisdictions where appropriate. Specific policy instruments will be identified and applied to the two provinces as well as their impact on nonprofits and social enterprises. This research will update and expand the analysis of policies and policy instruments in Quebec and Ontario and will develop a comparative review of regulations and policy instruments.

This policy review will include, but will not necessarily be limited to: 1) governance and representation within and outside government; start-up and registration policies and instruments; 2) financing policy instruments; 2) political/social economy representational forms and advocacy/ public policy regulations and instruments. A policy framework will be developed to provide a basis for comparison across these provinces which will be followed by an analysis of the broader historical and contextual circumstances which influenced the development of these regulations and the implications for future regulatory relations.

The results of this study will then be made available to representative organizations in these and other provinces to assist them in establishing a sector-specific regulatory policy agenda.

Community Research Reports

Elson, Peter R., Andres Gouldsborough & Robert Jones (2009). Building Capital, Building Community: A Comparative Analysis of Access to Capital for Social Enterprises and Nonprofits in Ontario and Quebec. Community Research Report No. 1. Toronto: Social Economy Centre.

Elson, Peter R., Andres Gouldsborough, Whitney Manfro & Francois Brouard (2009). Renovating the House that Law Built: A Comparative Analysis of Proposed Changes to the Governance of Nonprofits and Social Economy Enterprises in Ontario and Quebec. Community Research Report No. 2. Toronto: Social Economy Centre.

Elson, Peter R. & Dustin Rogers (2010). Voices of Community: Social Enterprises in Ontario and Quebec. Community Research Report No. 3. Toronto: Social Economy Centre.

Report of the Month

January 2009: In November, 2008 the Quebec Government released a five-year action plan in support of collective entrepreneurship. This translation of the summary of the plan has been completed with the purpose of bringing this important document to the attention to social enterprises and nonprofits in Ontario. This the first Report of the Month for this research project.

February 2009: Although the vocabulary is new, the social economy has been well established in Quebec for more than a century. Its development has been an integral part of Quebec’s social and economic history. Read Marguerite Mendell and Nancy Neamtam's latest chapter on 'The Social Economy in Quebec: Towards a Political Economy'.

March 2009: This month's report presents a paper by Francois Brouard, Tessa Hebb and Judith Madill entitled, 'Development of a Social Enterprise Typology in a Canadian Context.' It evaluates 60 Canadian social enterprises in three dimensions: (1) extent of financial self-sufficieny; (2) extent of innovation; and (3) extent of social transformation.

April 2009: Tessa Hebb, Arlene Wortsman, Margie Mendell, Nancy Neamtam and Ralph Rousier with the assistance of Russell LaPointe present a comprehensive literature review of programs and mechanisms to finance social economy enterprises in Canada as of 2005. This paper was published by the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation in 2006.

May 2009: As the economic recession began to take hold, the Wellesley Institute asked Lynn Eakin and Associates to do a detailed scan of the sector, and speak with experts, including charity law lawyers and sector leaders and thinkers from across the non-profit and charitable spectrum of organizations. Here is their report.

June 2009: June's report presents a research project by Roger Spear, Chris Cornfoth and Mike Aitken of the Open University in the UK which set out to identify characteristics of governance practices specific or distinctive to social enterprises. Called 'For Love & Money: Governance and Social Enterprise', and published by the National Council for Voluntary Organizations (NCVO), the research suggests that despite the apparent diversity of the different types of social enterprise, there are some similarities in the governance challenges they face.

January/February 2010: Charities and social enterprises - the debate continues. These two briefing papers, recently prepared by Stacy Corriveau (The Fine Print) and together with charity lawyer Richard Bridge (Legislative Innovations and Social Enterprise: Structural Lessons for Canada) for the BC Centre for Social Enterprise, reveals the tough reality facing charities and nonprofits when engaging in social enterprise activities. These papers are important background reading for any organization interested in or currently engaged in social enterprise activies within a nonprofit or charity structure.

March 2010: MaRS has recently launched a White Paper on Legislative Innovation that is proposing that Ontario create a new legal form to hold activities that would be undertaken by what we would call a social enterprise or perhaps a social purpose business. The White Paper uses the term Community Enterprise. This is builds on Stacey Corriveau and Richard Bridge's earlier report on Legislative Innovation for Canada (see January/ February Report of the Month). You are invited to read both the White Paper and a response by Tonya Surman, Executive Director, Centre for Social Innovation.

April 2010: April's report is Capital for Communities, a special and final edition of Making Waves Magazine.