A Home in Government for the Nonprofit Sector

Show Notes

For years, many nonprofit leaders have been calling for better representation within the federal government. The hope is for a sector that has as great an impact on government policies as it does on the people and causes it serves. In this episode, we delve into the campaign for a federal “Home in Government” for the charitable sector and how, if successful, this could improve nonprofits' influence on policy that affects them directly and indirectly. We’ll also hear from the first Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits in British Columbia to find out more about her work, and how a Home in Government actually looks in practice.

Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance 

• Annika Voltan, Executive Director, Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia (IONS)
• Niki Sharma, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
• The Honourable Ratna Omidvar, Independent Senator for Ontario, Senate of Canada
• Mark Blumberg, Partner, Blumberg Segal LLP
• Cathy Taylor, Executive Director, Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN)

About your Host

Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads.

Resources from this Episode

We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:

• A short history of voluntary sector–government relations in Canada (revisited) (The Philanthropist)
• Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia 2022 State of the Sector Report (PDF)
• Media conference announcing funding for BC nonprofits and featuring Niki Sharma
• Why charities need a home in government (Imagine Canada)
• Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector (Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector, Senate of Canada)
• Black Out Speak Out: Environmental charities protest in the dark (CharityVillage)
• The Politics of Advocacy: Are charities apathetic or afraid? (CharityVillage)
• Ontario Nonprofit Network resources on advocacy and the regulatory environment
• Non-profit sector needs seat at policymaking table, home in federal government (The Hill Times)
• Newly formed coalition of nonprofits launches collective movement seeking a ‘home in government’ (Imagine Canada)

Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.

About Charity Village
CharityVillage is a resource to over 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada. Since 1995, CharityVillage has been the HR partner for recruitment in the Canadian nonprofit sector. Our specialized job and volunteer board for Canadian nonprofit professionals has helped thousands of organizations find exceptional talent. Through our online learning courses, volunteer and event listings, webinars, newsletters, articles, tools and resources, we help nonprofit staff and volunteers do their best work every day.

What is CharityVillage Connects?

Welcome to CharityVillage Connects – a series that highlights topics vital to the nonprofit sector in Canada. CharityVillage is a resource to over 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada. This series, hosted by President Mary Barroll, will provide in-depth conversations with experts in the nonprofit sector. We’ll examine diversity, equity and inclusion, innovations in fundraising, the gap in female representation in leadership and many other subjects crucial to the growth and development of charities throughout Canada.