• Report on trends in region – “Growing

Prosperity”,” 2012 Social Outlook Report”

• Plan focused responses to generate

solutions: poverty reduction & prevention;

CED; affordable housing; community

sustainability

Role

• Developing social infrastructure –

engines of socio-economic change

• Civil Society Leadership: Kofi Annan:

“The next great world superpower will

be civil society”

Role:

TrendsAffordability Crunch•Affordability challenges from rising housing and other costs. •Real cost of living up by 15% since 2006 in region – average real income declinedSocial Inequality is Growing •Capital Region has one of the highest rates of income inequality in BC. Environmental Crisis•Climate-change and depleted natural resources

But all is not lost!• Communities are finding new ways of

organizing, new forms of economy and new ways of working together —young people are leading this movement across the globe.

• Many of these are being led by social movements …

Community Economic Development

–CED is a solution many around the globe are creating – building a more people centred, community-based and sustainable economy. –CED is a philosophy, a set of tools

and a global movement• part of a global movement for a “social and

solidarity economy”• building on community capacity and

resilience, re-localizing our economies and for social justice and equality

CED is…• action by people locally to create economic

opportunities and better social conditions, particularly for those who are most disadvantaged.

• an approach that recognizes that economic, environmental and social challenges are interdependent, complex and ever-changing.

• …. solutions must be rooted in local knowledge and led by community members.

• promotes holistic approaches, addressing individual, community and regional levels, recognizing that these levels are interconnected.

CED is about: Rebuilding local economies and plugging the leaks, including re-investing local wealth

Local Small businesses are a force to be reckoned with in BC.

• In 2010, there were approximately 391,700 small businesses in British Columbia– this is 98% of all businesses in the province.

• Micro-businesses (those with fewer than five employees) are ~ 82% of small businesses.

• 2 million people are co-op members in BC.• Collectively, these people control more than 48

billion dollars in assets through ownership of their co-ops.

Youth entrepreneurship is a big part of this!

• Young people have unemployment rate double that of the rest of the population.

• An opportunity! People are retiring- 70% of business owners plan to retire in the next 10 yrs

• Why do young people start businesses?– 70% want to start their own business – 73% said their primary motivation is independence (rather

than money) – 68% said it is important for their business to give back to

the community

And its good for your health too!

• A thriving local businesses climate is good for your health!

• Local businesses support the rest of the economy. – Local businesses spend more on local labor, buy

more goods for resale locally and rely much more heavily on local service providers

– This means that much of the money a customer spends at a local store or restaurant is re-spent within the local economy.

CED Principles: Neechi Foods Co-Operative

1. Use of locally produced goods and services 2. Production of goods and services for local use 3. Local re-investment of profits 4. Long-term employment of local residents 5. Local skill development 6. Local decision-making 7. Focus on Public health 8. Physical environment 9. Neighbourhood stability 10. Human dignity 11. Support for other CED initiatives

International Cooperative Principles

1. Voluntary and Open Membership2. Democratic Member Control3. Members' Economic Participation4. Autonomy and Independence5. Education, Training and Information6. Cooperation among Cooperatives7. Concern for Community

Community Economic Development

“Strong communities are the true foundation of economic prosperity and security…street protests are one response to this awakening. Calls for reform of corporate legal structures are another. Less visible but even more important, is a spreading commitment to rebuild local economies and communities from the bottom up” – David Korten, The Great Turning

CED: Driving Community Investment• Community Investment Fund for the Capital

Region – Research in 2011 considered best practices across

country and internationally– In Nova Scotia & Quebec community investment

funds have been used to raise millions for community infrastructure, enterprise and affordable housing development

– In NS, captured 2% of RRSP contributions- here that would translate $8 million/year

CED: Driving Community Investment• In 2012 we have: – Presented to hundreds of local residents & partners

on the idea.– Convened a steering committee that is actively

working to develop a business plan – Considering investment opportunities for 2013 with a

goal of drafting an initial offering in the new year– Making proposals to the BC government regarding

policy tools to support a broader community investment agenda

CED: Economic Empowerment for young people

• Launch! Youth– Partnership with the Community Micro-Lending

Society– Third cohort began this September– Business Development, training, mentoring and

access to micro-credit

• What’s next: An Agenda for Economic Empowerment

SustainabilitySocio-economic | environmental

• Building Neighbourhood Resilience Project• Capital Region Food and Agriculture Roundtable • Moving towards a more integrated and coordinated

approach to service planning in the region– Child, youth and families committee and exploring place-

based models of care– Proposals for a Community-Benefit Model of

Procurement in Community Social Services.

Affordable Housing • Partnership is key to effective response• Recent report looks at policy options for local

governments in supporting affordable housing– Considers range of market and non-market housing

types for middle to low income households – Land values, policy environment, inter-municipal

collaboration and coordination are key factors– Local governments can have an impact

Community Action Plan on Poverty• Collaborative, multi-stakeholder, learning community• Most people want to do something to end poverty• Scaling up existing and creating new and innovative

responses to poverty• Endorsed by over 30 organizations & many individuals

and partners– City of Victoria, District of North Saanich, Accent

Inns and Westshore Chamber of Commerce

www.communitycouncil.cawww.ccednet-rcdec.ca