NETWORK NEWS

ONN was a partner on a series of Community Wealth Building webinars and case studies led by Buy Social Canada. The purpose was to strengthen and connect the social enterprise ecosystems across Ontario and explore community wealth building opportunities through social procurement. The webinar series resulted in case studies and a final report that are now available.

New Mini Webinar Series
In August ONN will be hosting two webinars, the first one will cover what nonprofits should consider when thinking about a vaccination policy and the second will discuss how to reopen your space safely. We know you may have lots of questions around these topics so there will be time for a live Q&A with the experts.

*ONN Members receive complimentary tickets to all ONN webinars. If you need your discount code, please email our Communications Coordinator, Rishit at rishit@theonn.ca.

We’re hiring! For positions at ONN and at a variety of nonprofits, visit ConnectJobs.

Provincial Policy Updates

Debate over vaccine certificates continues
The Ontario science table has issued a new brief supporting the implementation of a vaccine passport system and laying out considerations. The publication follows advocacy by many health care professional groups and business groups for a vaccine confirmation system or “vaccine passport.” So far, the Ontario government has stated that it is not interested in developing a passport, pointing to the federal government’s role and the availability of downloadable receipts for those who have received their shots. The federal government has punted the responsibility back to the provinces, and Manitoba and Quebec have announced plans. According to Queens Park Today, the Ontario government did focus group the idea with business owners in January. In the absence of a provincial policy on vaccination certificates in workplaces and community spaces, nonprofits are encouraged to keep in mind their obligations to have a safety plan and the requirement to protect the privacy of health information.

Transfer Payment Ontario - modernization progress update
ONN continues to work with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services on streamlining processes related to transfer payment agreements. Check out the latest updates provided to our June 2021 convening. 

Tribunals Ontario launches new digital services to improve access to justice
Housing advocates have long been concerned with the lengthy delays associated with the Landlord and Tenant Board in Ontario. Here’s hoping the new Navigate Tribunals Ontario (NTO) site will promote faster resolutions. Designed with plain language supports, NTO will include information about co-operative housing and care homes in September. Other tribunals will be onboarded to the NTO site over three years. 

Add Your Voice

• Join the Ontario Youth Environmental Council. 
• Bill 276 regulatory changes proposed under the Planning Act (affects land division provisions).
• DEADLINE EXTENDED on provincial privacy legislation consultation. Please share your submissions (or perspectives to include) with ONN at info@theonn.ca. 

Federal Policy Updates

Oops! Correction on Canada Digital Adoption Program
We were mistaken in reporting in the last e-bulletin that nonprofits were eligible for the federal Canada Digital Adoption Program. Nonprofits may only apply for the Grow Your Business Online stream if they support small businesses and/or provide training and placement for youth digital advisors. We regret the error and will continue to support federal coalition efforts to ensure that nonprofits receive the tools and support they need to be successful in the digital economy. 

New Wellbeing Economy hub for Canada and sovereign Indigenous nations
As a member of the Well-Being Economy Alliance (WEAll), ONN is pleased to share the launch of a WEAll hub for Canada and sovereign Indigenous Nations, led by the David Suzuki Foundation. WEAll Can will work to co-create an economic model and supportive systems that nurture wellbeing for people and the planet, informed by long-standing Indigenous well-being economics. WEAll Can will also begin to track for the first time Canada’s progress toward a wellbeing economy. 

ZooShare co-op hits $7 million community bond milestone
ZooShare Biogas Co-operative was one of the first nonprofits in Canada to issue community bonds. Seven million dollars later, they are diverting 15,000 tons of food waste and producing 500kW of renewable energy annually. A Tapestry profile of the news includes some great community finance tips at the end. 

Long-term care homes not a solution for younger adults with disabilities
Community Living Ontario has a brief on the longstanding practice in Ontario of using long-term care as a substitute for supporting an overburdened and waitlisted disability support system. Contact Shawn Pegg at shawn@communitylivingontario.ca to get involved. 

New report: Using disaggregated data & equity in long-term care 
The Wellesley Institute has released a report on using disaggregated data in the service of equity in the long-term care sector. Lessons like “ensure clarity exists about the purposes of data collection” and “ensure a commitment to appropriate use” have broader applicability as we develop our skills in data justice in the nonprofit sector. 

United Way Greater Toronto releases social capital studies for Peel and York
United Way has released a pair of reports that assess pre-pandemic baselines of trust, social connections, civic engagement, and perceptions of safety and services in Peel Region and York Region. 

National race-based data collection project seeking community input
Federation of Black Canadians and the University of Toronto are moving forward with a national race-based data collection project. This community based project is currently seeking community input on the tools and research practices to be used. There are five sessions to choose from between July 26 and Aug 1 to learn about the project and to provide feedback. Register here.​

Program Development and Grant Writing Workshop
The Network for the Advancement of Black communities has partnered with Youth Opportunities Fund to deliver a workshop on program development and grant writing. Register here.

Free Policy Engagement coaching available to nonprofits
Innoweave at the McConnell Foundation is offering a Policy Engagement coaching stream, which supports organizations looking to advance policy goals and to engage decision makers across sectors. The next Expression of Interest round is coming up in August.

Free Community research opportunity to nonprofits
If your organization needs research or if you have an idea for a project to help your community, applications are open to Community Researchers’ Community Improvement Research stream.

Funding Opportunities

National call for applications focuses on community land trusts and land assembly solutions
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has issued a call for applications that will focus on projects aiming to demonstrate community land trust and land assembly solutions for affordable housing. Closes August 27. 

Federal Tourism Relief Fund
Not-for-profit incorporated organizations and nonprofit co-operatives are eligible for the Tourism Relief Fund to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate future growth. (No deadline provided.)

Additional funding opportunities, ranging from grants to advance access to justice to loan financing for nonprofit social enterprises, can be found in the ONN Resource Centre.

Pandemic Recovery Uncertainty: What’s Keeping CEOs/EDs and Finance Staff Up At Night? 
The recovery phase of the pandemic is upon us and the economic impact on the nonprofit sector is uncertain. 

Participate in this survey from Goodcasting Academy so that they can learn more about the financial pressures that you and other CEOs and senior finance staff of nonprofit organizations are feeling as a result of the pandemic.

Just 8 questions. Multiple choice. Anonymous.

Join here.