The Nonprofit Vote Hosts a Day on the Legislature 2024
By Mimi Ahmed - Policy Coordinator
On November 20, 2024, The Nonprofit Vote hosted its Day on the Legislature at Alberta’s provincial legislature in Edmonton. Supported by The Nonprofit Vote partners (FuseSocial, Volunteer Lethbridge, Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, and the Nonprofit Chamber) the day brought together nonprofit sector and provincial leaders and policymakers to discuss the vital role of Alberta’s nonprofit sector in building vibrant communities and how we can work together to advance our shared goals.
The day’s underlying theme—the significance of the nonprofit sector in Alberta—simply could not be overstated. Not only is the nonprofit sector an important contributor to vibrant and thriving communities in the province, but it also currently employs nearly 300,000 people and contributes a staggering $5.5 billion annually to Alberta’s economy.
Throughout the day, The Nonprofit Vote presented five key policy priorities to provincial ministers and MLAs designed to strengthen and empower the nonprofit sector:
A Workforce Strategy
Better Data Collection
A Door to Government
Appropriate Funding
An Empowered Sector
The day’s events began with a conversation with the Minister of Tourism and Sport, Joseph Schow, where discussion centered on empowering volunteerism in the nonprofit sector, the impacts of a strong nonprofit workforce strategy, and potential future multisport bids to help bolster overall volunteerism and community engagement. The Minister emphasized the value of volunteer work in the province and welcomed feedback from the nonprofit sector to help shape future strategies.
A meeting with the office of Minister Dale Nally of Service Alberta provided thoughtful discussion on improving data collections for Alberta’s nonprofit sector – an issue here in Alberta and across the country. Encouragingly, Alberta is making huge strides on addressing this data deficit (more to come soon!) We are excited to see this work continue in collaboration with Service Alberta and Arts, Culture and Status of Women.
The Nonprofit Vote also emphasized the importance of gaming revenue on nonprofits. Nonprofits have historically been included in charitable gaming related reviews, and Service Alberta affirmed that nonprofits would continue to have a voice in these discussions.
Another pressing issue highlighted by The Nonprofit Vote was the challenge of staff recruitment and retention. The Nonprofit Vote had the opportunity to discuss this with Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Tanya Fir, and the office of Minister of Children and Family Services, Searle Turton.
These conversations underscore the importance of a workforce strategy priority-specific to the nonprofit sector. We were grateful for the opportunity to thank Minister Fir for the support her Ministry has given to a nonprofit workforce feasibility study, which will lay important groundwork on creating a clear, data-informed workforce strategy. Additionally, The Nonprofit Vote’s meetings with the Official Opposition Critic for Arts and Culture, MLA Joe Ceci and Official Opposition Deputy House Leader and Critic for Justice, Public Safety & Emergency Services, MLA Irfan Sabir indicated the importance of having a clear door to government for the nonprofit sector, fostering meaningful connections throughout the Alberta provincial government.
The Day on the Legislature included meaningful discussions with top government decisionmakers in support of our shared advocacy for Alberta’s nonprofit sector. The day’s activities highlighted the incredible contributions of Alberta’s nonprofit sector while underscoring the urgent need for stronger partnerships within government to tackle critical challenges. We strive to continue advancing these priorities to ensure a thriving nonprofit sector serving all Albertans. The Nonprofit Vote will soon be providing an opportunity for membership, more resources for nonprofits to engage in policy advocacy, and regular political commentary – watch for news in the New Year! Sign up for the Nonprofit Chamber newsletter or The Nonprofit Vote newsletter to stay in the loop.
