Dear AFP Greater Vancouver Members,
Your Government Relations committee is pleased to share with you an update about recent advocacy work on behalf of the membership base.
BC Budget 2023 Written Submission
Earlier this summer, we submitted a written submission to the Select Standing Committee of Finance and Government Services to provide input on Budget 2023. Our recommendation was for the Province to continue its investment in the Recovery and Resiliency Fund, which launched in FY 2022 and is administered by the Vancouver Foundation. Our submission:
Our reasoning behind this recommendation is as follows: The non-profit sector is still experiencing the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the impacts on the global economy from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Organizations in our sector have played a pivotal role in addressing the needs of our many communities across the province, including addressing the ongoing health crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and poisoned drug supply to powerful climate disasters.
Research from Imagine Canada and AFP Canada shows that in the past year, our sector has dealt with unprecedented demand for services paired with a significant decline in revenues. We believe that ongoing investment by the Province through its Recovery and Resiliency Fund will help our sector continue to serve communities throughout British Columbia and will help to make a stronger British Columbia for everyone.
AFP Canada Government Relations Update
On a federal level, AFP Canada is preparing for a busy fall (September 19th to October 13th) with targeted advocacy work. The primary focus is for government to establish a dedicated secretariat for the charitable sector in Canada. This is our number one priority on a federal level. This committee hopes to be able to provide more in-depth information regarding this work later this year. If you personally have a connection to a Member of Parliament and would like to advocate on behalf of AFP Canada, please reach out today. As a sector, we are fortunate to have representation on the provincial level by MLA Niki Sharma, the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits.
AFP Canada Government Relations Training
As a result of AFP Canada’s push for advocacy work later this year, they are offering a free to attend Government Relations training session via zoom. The training session will be held on Thursday September 15th from 11:30 am to 12:30pm. Please find the link to register here.
