Building strong organizations for hard times
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, May 2012)
The world is changing. Our former consensus that government was there to protect us is eroding. As we operate community organizations in the face of government retreat, we wonder how we must change. How do we find the sustainable platform on which a progressive future can be built? In this month’s Maytree Opinion, Alan Broadbent offers three areas we need to think about for our organizations to thrive in hard times.
Recent Immigration Changes Deserve Debate
By Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, April 2012)
Immigration policy is shifting almost daily. While media report about proposed changes, there is no meaningful analysis about the actual impact announcements will have on immigrant integration. Immigration policy is too important to be made in this piecemeal manner. It is essential for Canadians to be included in a debate about how we build our nation.
Always Be/Beware of Collaborating
By Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, March 2012)
As part of the budget postscript we expect to hear suggestions of finding service and cost efficiencies through partnerships, merged services, horizontal and vertical alignment and more. We can expect to be asked to continue to do more with less. And we will be told that we can do better through collaboration. For many nonprofits, collaboration has become part of their daily jargon, in part because funding regimes demand demonstration of collaborations and in part because it is the flavor of the day. The term gets easily bandied about, misused and confused. So, what is collaboration?
Democracy and Science, in the National Interest
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, February 2012)
Democrats and scientists have a lot to be concerned about in Canada these days. For those who think the essence of democratic governance lies in a vibrant exchange of views and protection of the rights of minorities, recent developments have been troubling. And at the annual meeting of The American Association for the Advancement of Science in Vancouver recently, a topic of conversation was the muzzling of scientists working in government or funded by government. They are increasingly required to funnel their findings through government public relations channels.
Public Expenditure in a Tough Economy: Spending Smart in Hard Times
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, January 2012)
The great challenge for governments in these hard economic times is reducing spending without doing harm. National, provincial and municipal governments are all considering how to economize, and are looking at cuts to programs and services. As Alan Broadbent writes, there is a frontier of smart public expenditure that can produce bang for the buck.
Sticky Fingers and Social Glue
By Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, December 2011)
It bears remembering. Toronto’s defining feature is its diversity. It is why so many people come here; it is why other countries want us to tell them about our experiences. For the 50% of Torontonians who weren’t born here, Toronto offers an opportunity to give legs to their hopes and dreams. But it’s not all romance. Dark clouds have formed over us. Inequality is growing in Canada. In Toronto, those at the bottom are more likely to be minorities, many of them recent immigrants. Are there solutions?
The Occupy Movement: A Lesson in the Risk of Inequality
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, November 2011)
The Occupy Wall Street movement has puzzled many people. The lack of organization, elaborated message, or visible leaders has left some people asking for more, and the presence of young people with no clear political or social agenda in the tent parks has left others wondering if it is just a dropped-out caravan. The simple message of the 99% facing off against the 1%, the vast majority against the very rich who have corralled the bulk of the wealth created in the last quarter century, seems pretty clear, but is portrayed as not enough of an analysis. But the data doesn’t lie. The gap between the richest and the poorest has been growing, as has the gap between the richest and the rest. And in the developed world the middle class has been disappearing.
Five Good Ideas in the Top Right Drawer!
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, October 2011)
It’s no secret. Managers working in the non-profit sector wear many hats and have to be awfully good at doing many things very well. One day you’re asked to be a communications expert, the next you’re handling the HR duties of your organization, and then, without blinking an eye, you balance the books. But how can you even begin to learn so many things in a time-effective way? In this month’s Maytree Opinion, Alan Broadbent recommends that you consider the just published Five Good Ideas book as your go-to non-profit management handbook. Whether for a deep read, or quick reference, keep it handy in your top right hand desk drawer.
From land grants to tax incentives: investing in Canada’s future
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, September 2011)
Tax credits to support skilled worker employment are a good idea that has been distorted by politics. As Alan Broadbent explains in this month’s opinion, targeted public policy does not pit some residents against others.
Move beyond half-measures and remove the processing fee for refugees
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, August 2011)
Currently, there is a 180-day time limit for inland refugees to apply for permanent residence. The government is proposing to remove this limit. This would be a reprieve for refugees who need more time to save for the processing fee that must accompany their application. But, as Alan Broadbent points out in this month’s Maytree Opinion, it won’t deal with the real issue: the processing fee is unaffordable. It costs a family of four $1,400, which is more than a month’s salary at minimum wage. The obvious step is to remove the time limit and the fee.
Canada’s Population Riddle
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, July 2011)
As the federal government undertakes its annual review of immigration levels, Maytree chairman Alan Broadbent takes a more long-term view. Immigration level discussions, unless they are part of a larger population policy, could be seen as nothing more than twiddling the dials. Alan argues for a dramatic increase in our population – which he insists is feasible and desirable as long as the right processes are in place.
Diversity in Leadership, by Design
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, June 2011)
While we live in one of the most diverse city regions in the world, there remains a curious diversity disconnect at the leadership levels. Diversity in leadership won’t happen by accident. We need to be deliberate and systematic. We need to develop and deploy strategies for making change. Because making sure that there is diversity in leadership is not just important to fuel the region’s prosperity, it’s also the right thing to do.
Stupid Rules
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, May 2011)
One of the first lessons we learn in life is to play by the rules. At home, at school, on the playground, or in the neighbourhood, it is the rules that make the world go round, we are told. If it weren’t for the rules, we’d descend into chaos and confusion. But what about stupid rules? What do we do when we’re faced with rules that not only don’t seem to make sense, but seem to run counter to our best interests? And what do we do when our best interests aren’t just personal to us, but to those who depend on us to deliver services or goods that make their lives better? This is a dilemma that is increasingly facing people working in the community sector, as the cold hands of auditors general, regulators, and public sector funders tighten their grip on the activities in the sector.
When is $500 not $500?
By Ken Battle and Sherri Torjman, president and vice-president, respectively, at the Caledon Institute of Social Policy (Maytree Opinion, April 2011)
Tax credits often are worth less than they appear. In fact, most tax credits are designed as “non-refundable credits.” This design means that recipients of these tax benefits do not receive any direct cash payment. Rather they obtain their benefit in the form of an income tax reduction when they file their taxes. These kinds of tax credits are also of limited value to households with low or no income and do little to alleviate poverty.
Look West!
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, March 2011)
In this month’s Maytree Opinion, Alan Broadbent looks west to the city of Hamilton to find that, unlike most cities, Hamilton has decided that poverty is a major civic concern. With the strong support from the Hamilton Spectator, the city is pressing forward to make poverty visible and force everyone in Hamilton to confront and own it so that action can be taken.
We need a new number
By Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, February 2011)
Canadians love numbers. And for those of us who work on immigration issues, it is no different. We wait patiently for the Citizenship and Immigration’s Facts and Figures document to tell us exactly how many permanent residents arrived the previous year, and how many temporary workers. And lo and behold, we find out that Canada exceeded its targets in almost every category. But wait, in the next breath, the government announces plans to reduce the overall numbers of family members and skilled workers. You’d better believe there will be a reaction.
But there are some numbers we don’t talk much about. And because we don’t talk about them, we don’t quite know how to handle them.
Settlement Funding Cuts: Short-term Vision, Long-term Pain
By Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, January 2011)
In this month’s Maytree Opinion, Ratna Omidvar argues that it seems too early to cut funding to the traditional landing points without making sure that recent immigrants have access to services they still need. This funding will reap us benefits in the future. For one, we face increasing competition. Traditional source countries, including China and India, will have their own growing middle class and increased opportunities for skilled individuals. Other countries, such as Germany, have joined the competition for skilled immigrants. For another, successful immigrants in Toronto (and elsewhere) have access to global networks, new markets and customers to help us grow our economy, if not today, then certainly tomorrow.
Visions of 2011
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, December 2010)
As 2010 winds down, our thoughts at Maytree are turning to what we might hope to see in 2011. The holiday season offers us all some time to reflect on the past, and to begin to think of the things that will make our country and communities better. And thus we each begin to shape our agenda for a new year. Here are some things we see arising from 2010 that we hope to see blossom and flower.
Welcome Mayor-Elect Rob Ford
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, November 2010)
The city does not belong to its political leaders alone, writes Alan Broadbent, as he welcomes Rob Ford to Toronto’s mayoral office. It belongs to all of us, and we all can play a role in city building. In a dynamic city, many actors will continue to play many roles on many stages. This is the fact of life in cities, which must always be in motion and always striving, lest they fall back. Mayor-elect Ford will know that there are many hands extended to help him succeed in the vital job of city building.
Immigration Discourse not just for the Old Elite
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, October 2010)
The last couple of decades in Canada have seen a lively and rich discourse on immigration policy, process and practice, writes Alan Broadbent in this month’s Maytree Opinion. Participating in the debate are a broad range of Canadians, including politicians, academics, advocacy groups from various perspectives, lawyers speaking for their clients, public servants charged with policy and program development and implementation, and citizens. So it is surprising that a new organization, the Centre for Immigration Policy Reform, has hit the ground complaining about the lack of discourse, or at least what they suggest is a lack of honest discourse.
The Problem With Campaigning Against Cities
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, September 2010)
It is hard to believe what a terrible city Toronto has become. One candidate says we can’t take care of the 2.5 million people who live here. Another warns darkly about “more of the same” that has left us in “the current mess.” Only one, the deputy mayor who is carrying the legacy of the incumbent regime, is upbeat on the city, but he gets drowned out in the raucous litany of abuse. Failure lurks around every corner, financial collapse is at hand, dispirit darkens every city street.
Toronto: Crazy, Sexy, Cool?
By Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, August 2010)
In a recent article, the American blogger Laurie Lyons wrote that “Toronto is the hot new destination for all things crazy, sexy, cool”. In particular, she highlights Toronto’s accessible art, our fusion and fresh restaurants and the fact that Toronto is also one of the most diverse cities in North America. Toronto has something else to be proud of. Global cities around the world look to Toronto to understand and learn from our ongoing experiment with diversity. However, as Ratna Omidvar writes in this month’s Maytree Opinion, Toronto has still a long way to go before claiming success. To do so, it must be open to learning from other cities.
The One Summit Benefit
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, July 2010)
Did anything good come out of the G20 meetings? Apart from a luke-warm pledge on maternal health (which is unclear on abortion), and which might turn out like many G8-G20 “pledges” (remember aid to Africa?), was there a benefit?
The “Beautiful Game” Is Toronto’s Game!
By Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, June 2010)
Soccer, or football as most of the world calls it, is very much part of the Canadian identity, writes Ratna Omidvar in this month’s Maytree Opinion. Every four years, it brings us together in a wonderful one-month celebration. Soccer is a defining feature of Toronto’s landscape in other ways too. Soccer helps many immigrants integrate. Recent immigrants search out soccer fields to meet new people. It’s a place where their struggle in a new land can be forgotten for a while, where it does not matter whether they have Canadian work experience, or whether their English is heavily accented. The soccer field becomes the place for new beginnings.
Mixed Messages
By Alan Broadbent and Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, May 2010)
Bill 158, which passed third reading on May 13, sends mixed messages to how open the province is to skilled immigrants. While the Ontario government has made strong commitments to making Ontario a more welcoming place for skilled immigrants, with Bill 158 – an Act to review and update the statutes governing the accounting professions in Ontario – it re-enacts old barriers. The opportunity was lost to modernize the profession and instead restrictions are put in place on how international accounting credentials can be used with a $10,000 fine for anyone displaying their international designations using any portion of the initials CA (chartered accountant), CMA (certified management accountant) or CGA (certified general accountant). Does the right hand know what the left is doing? It seems it does not.
What Makes a Safe Country and Who Decides?
By Alan Broadbent and Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Opinion, April 2010)
The recently tabled reforms to the refugee system are a realistic response to the problems that have existed for some years. Under the proposed reforms, claimants will receive a full hearing from public servant decision-makers assigned to the Immigration and Refugee Board, with an appeals process for some, though not all refused claimants. They promise speed and efficiency and they address the long time frames between the arrival of a refugee and the final disposition of their claim. Like all potentially good reforms, the devil will be in the details. One such detail is the so-called “safe country list” or the Safe Country of Origin list.
Lessons in Finance: Pay Your Bills!
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, March 2010)
As we go through another budget season, it is important that governments focus not only on the big expenditures, but also on the much smaller financial arrangements they have with community organizations. However, because of a growing concern over accountability, many governments delay the payout of funding. This can lead to unnecessary organizational hardships. As Maytree chair Alan Broadbent writes in the latest Maytree Opinion, it is time for governments to revise funding procedures and to pay their bills on time.
Watch Out! Risk of “Downloading”!!
By Alan Broadbent (Maytree Opinion, February 2010)
Canada’s federal government is expected to have a deficit of over $50 billion this year. The Ontario government deficit will be over $14 billion. Neither of these governments expects to balance their budget before 2015, and most experts think it will take much longer. Even Alberta and B.C. will have deficits of $4 and $2 billion respectively.
Good Government Should Trump Clever Politics
(Maytree Opinion, January 2010)
On January 4 most Canadians went back to work, some albeit reluctantly. Not so our parliamentarians in Ottawa, who were given an extended prorogated break. Governments, regardless of which level or which party, are the servants of the people. We elect them, pay for them, work with them in the belief that they will go about the business of governing in an efficient, effective and accountable manner.