Our Advocacy - United Way Centraide Canada

As the national voice for the United Way Centraide movement, United Way Centraide Canada advocates for the needs of our members nationwide, those they serve, and the sector as a whole.

How We Advocate

We work for policy change, highlight the need for improved data and research, and call for enhanced or new government funding to build the strength and resilience of community service organizations nationwide.

Strengthening the Sector

We believe that a strong and resilient social services sector is critical in driving systemic change. Our advocacy work focuses on policy solutions rooted in data, evidence and the guidance of national subject matter experts. Our team convenes and participates in community services and sector roundtables, collaborations and partnerships with sector allies, focused on sector sustainability as well as developing briefs and submissions to government at all levels.

Driving Research and Funding

We believe that a strong and resilient social services sector is critical in driving systemic change. Our advocacy work focuses on policy solutions rooted in data, evidence and the guidance of national subject matter experts. Our team convenes and participates in community services and sector roundtables, collaborations and partnerships with sector allies, focused on sector sustainability as well as developing briefs and submissions to government at all levels.

Advocacy Updates

2022

Advocating for sector change

In April, we submitted a brief to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Part of our ongoing efforts to advocate for systemic change to support a more stable, resilient sector, the brief highlighted the important care work of community services organizations, long-standing challenges caused by short-term funding and precarious work, and the pandemic’s toll on workers’ mental health and staff recruitment.

Leading the way to support mental health of front-line community service workers

In 2022, we led a collaboration of federations, a roundtable with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, and the development of a two-year $100 million federal budget proposal to support front-line community service workers. Responding to the need for support among front-line community services workers, Caring for Carers is a suite of evidence-based mental health supports through which the Government of Canada would support this dedicated workforce within Canada’s care economy, ensure better outcomes for individuals using services, and stabilize the organizations for which they work.

Building knowledge to reduce 2SLGBTQ+ poverty in Canada

We are proud to serve as a community partner on the first national study looking at poverty in 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada. 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada: Improving Livelihood and Social Wellbeing is a six-year $2.5 million study funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada is being led by activist-scholar Nick Mulé, PhD of York University. A Community Advisory Board will advise the study, through which a cross-sectoral community-based action plan will be developed to reduce 2SLGBTQ+ poverty in Canada.

2021

Taking action for a Canada free from gender-based violence

In early 2021, United Way Centraide Canada was invited to participate in a project led by Women’s Shelters Canada (WSC) to advance Canada’s National Action Plan (NAP) on violence against women (VAW) and gender-based violence (GBV). As part of WSC’s efforts to create an actionable blueprint for a NAP designed to fully meet the needs of survivors of VAW and GBV and create a future free from violence, we actively participated in a working group focused on creating supportive social infrastructure and an enabling environment.

We also promoted the advocacy priorities set out by WSC and amplified the final report developed by the action group via our social media channels and network.

Investing in sector strength with the Coalition of Canadian Federations

In response to the unprecedented demand for supports and services at the start of the pandemic, combined with major reductions in revenues faced by organizations across Canada, United Way Centraide Canada co-convened several national service federations to formulate solutions to the serious financial threat COVID-19 posed to our operations and ability to serve vulnerable community members. Together, this coalition of national organizations engaged in advocacy at the federal level and co-authored a proposal to support the sector through COVID-19 and invest in its long-term strength and transformation.

Ultimately, this work contributed to the inclusion of the Community Services Recovery Fund in the 2021 federal budget –– a $400 million program to help charities and non-profits adapt and modernize as they help communities nationwide recover from the pandemic.