As part of the Government of Canada’s Pre-Budget Consultations in advance of releasing the next Federal Budget, Buy Social Canada and Social Enterprise Council of Canada (SECC) have co-submitted recommendations to leverage social procurement, community benefit agreements, and social enterprise to support healthy, vibrant and resilient communities across Canada.

This government can use existing government infrastructure including policies, programs, and strategic partnerships to spend less, and invest more into the people and businesses that will build an inclusive and resilient Canadian economy.

Buy Social Canada and SECC have four key recommendations for the upcoming budget:

Recommendation 1

Recommend that all Federal Ministries, especially the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) and all regional economic agencies, recognize the non-profit social enterprise business model as a strategic means for government to meet its economic, social, and environmental goals, and expand and fund government support for non-profit social enterprise business capacity including in relation to start-up, succession, scaling, and access to finance.

Recommendation 2

Recommend Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) ensure the inclusion of social enterprises in the implementation of the Federal Social Procurement Policy as a strategic means for government to meet the policy’s objective of enhancing best value in procurement.

Recommendation 3

Recommend that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) support and fund the implementation of the entire Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy Recommendations, to invest in the people and businesses that will build one Canadian economy and scale community-driven, outcomes-focused solutions. 

Recommendation 4

Recommend that Infrastructure Canada require the implementation of the existing Community Employment Benefit Initiative or Community Benefit Agreements on all federally funded infrastructure and construction projects to ensure investment into infrastructure projects build resilient and connected communities and build a strong economy that works for everyone.

Read our full Pre-Budget Consultation Written Submission for more details.