Government of Alberta Budget 2022 Analysis
The budget projects total revenue of approximately $62.6 billion while total expenses, including the COVID-19 Recovery fund, will equal approximately $62,096 billion, leaving a surplus of $511 million. While this budget represents a projected surplus, it does not recognize the importance of community recovery or identify the nonprofit sector as a leader in that effort with any major new investments to support community recovery. In terms of the sector, the focus is on debt elimination and maintaining status quo, stating “until the debt is eliminated, resources will continue to be used to pay interest costs rather than being directed to delivering the important government programs and services that Albertans rely on”.
Budget 2022 and Community Prosperity in Alberta: Initial Analysis from CCVO
Budget 2022-23 in Alberta was tabled Thursday, February 24th, 2022. Under the theme of “moving forward”, a fiscal plan was outlined for the next three years (2022-2025) with the focus on economic recovery in Alberta. Alberta Budget 2022-23 is overall a maintenance budget of the province’s investment in the work of Alberta’s community nonprofits. It is not a budget that supports community recovery or that recognizes investment in community prosperity as an important and necessary element of Alberta’s economic recovery, which CCVO outlined in our 2022 budget submission.
Creating Community Prosperity in Alberta’s Recovery: CCVO Alberta Pre-Budget 2022 Submission
This post covers CCVO’s recent Alberta 2022 pre-budget submission, focused on the recommendation to invest a portion of unallocated Recovery Plan contingency dollars through a strategic Community Recovery Fund. This fund would support community-focused recovery through investment in social infrastructure that will create jobs and spur economic stimulus. The recommendation contained within this submission outlines a role for the Government of Alberta in working collaboratively with nonprofits to meet the Government’s economic recovery goals while supporting efforts for solutions to pressing social issues.
Impacts of the Pandemic on Women: Input to the Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society
The Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society recently requested that CCVO complete a questionnaire designed “to gather input on the nature of challenges facing women and inform the Council’s advice to government”, particularly “how Alberta’s civil society can help ensure the recovery is inclusive and acknowledges the experiences and challenges women face during the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic”. While CCVO does not hold expertise specifically on this issue, we have completed the survey to represent what our own research on the impacts of COVID has revealed, to highlight for the Council the great work that many nonprofits are already doing in these areas, and to note that further consultation is encouraged to ensure that the perspective, expertise, and experience of those organizations is captured in the Council’s advice to the Government of Alberta. You can find the full questionnaire and our responses in this post.
Coming Soon! Community Prosperity Now: A Blueprint
In addressing the challenges that the nonprofit sector is facing due to the pandemic, CCVO’s first order of priority is to centre community in Alberta’s recovery and address the gap in Alberta's recovery plan and recent budget. CCVO made a submission to the provincial government pre-budget with a request for a $350 million investment into a Social Infrastructure Fund. Social infrastructure are assets to society that support the quality of life of a nation, region, city, or neighbourhood. In consultations around our Social Infrastructure Fund ask, we heard that it was a bold ask, but needed. Based on the rich feedback we have received, we have updated that ask and the revised report will be released by the end of June 2021.
2021 Update on Government Subsidy Programs Available for Non-Profits During COVID-19
It’s been a year of change and uncertainty. As we all navigate the impacts of COVID-19, it’s important to utilize the programs available if your Not-for-Profit is struggling. In this blog post, CCVO Guest Blogger Robin Butler provides an update from her December 2020 blog post.
A Community Prosperity Strategy for a COVID-19 Recovery
Over the last few months, CCVO has drafted several recommendations and released them in a blog series. These recommendations built on the report we released this summer where CCVO committed to supporting the nonprofit sector in making the COVID-19 crisis an opportunity. This final blog post revisits the importance of a community prosperity strategy and the recommendations that we have drafted for each set of stakeholders.