Join us in Montreal for a movement building conference with Québec, First Nations and Canadian organizations

Dear friends,

The Council of Canadians and a number of Québec and First Nations organizations, student and labour groups, are holding a major conference in Montréal, October 21-22, 2011. INDIGNEZ-VOUS! HOPE IN RESISTANCE was inspired by the title of Stéphane Hessel’s recent book “Indignez-vous!” Mr. Hessel has been invited to talk about the “Indignant” movement his book has sparked in Europe. The movement is an expression of outrage, particularly on the part of youth, against the growing gap between the very rich and the very poor. People are coming together to defend democratic rights and to protect the environment in the face of the complicity of politicians and the economic elite.

Access important information from the 2011 CIVICUS World Assembly

During this year's CIVICUS World Assembly we saw a convergence of themes - from climate justice to development effectiveness to democratic space - with different movements from around the world coming together towards a common dialogue of sustainable, inclusive development based on human rights.

Civil society is starting to make progress in breaking down silos across sectors, themes and regions. The energy and motivation to find sustainable solutions for a more just world was palpable at this 10th edition of the Assembly held from 10-12 September in Montreal and attended by over 800 delegates from 100 countries.

BY ARMINE YALNIZYAN, GLOBE AND MAIL BLOG

The world is marking the third anniversary of the biggest global economic crisis since the 1930s by staring down the imminent possibility of a second global downturn. Virtually none of the conditions that triggered the first one have been addressed.

As nations steel themselves to provide more taxpayer-funded cash to stave off a new round of defaults while cutting supports for taxpayers, policy makers are pointing to rising income inequality as cause for concern in a climate of growing instability.

Notably, it’s not the usual voices of the left sounding the alarms, but pro-market heavyweights like the Conference Board of Canada and the International Monetary Fund.

That such groups are worried should be a signal to Canada’s private sector leaders: pay attention to the compensation gap between your lowest paid worker and that of the CEO, because those differences may tell us a lot about the mess we’re in. After all, businesses rely on the rising purchasing power of the many, not the few, to deliver growth and profits.

BY HEATHER SCOFFIELD, THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA—The federal government cancelled the long-form census with little heed to the consequences of its decision, according to a new first-hand account of the drama that unfolded a year ago.

An essay by former chief statistician Munir Sheikh says the census decision has shaken Statistics Canada’s neutrality and independence, and put at risk the government’s own work in many areas.

READ: Sheikh’s essay in full.

In the essay, Sheikh warns statisticians working at the federal agency to “guard against political intervention” until better solutions are found.

Sheikh also raises concerns over poor data on aboriginal populations, especially housing on reserves, and about the government making key decisions on pension reform without having reliable information on wealth in Canadian households.

BY TAVIA GRANT, GLOBE AND MAIL

The gap between the rich and the rest is growing ever wider -- with the chasm increasing at a faster pace in Canada than in the United States.

That’s the conclusion of a Conference Board of Canada study Tuesday, which says income inequality has been rising more rapidly in Canada than in the U.S. since the mid-1990s.

Its global analysis found that Canada has had the fourth-largest increase in income inequality among its peers. Between the mid-nineties and late 2000s, income inequality rose in 10 of 17 peer countries -- including Canada. It remained unchanged in Japan and Norway, and declined in five countries.

Conference Board of Canada: World Income Inequality Report

National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector
Strengthened connections. Enhanced collaboration. Collective impact.

Sector influencers and opinion-leaders will come together from across the country and across the sector to be part of the National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector at theDelta Hotel Ottawa City Centre on November 28 to 30, 2011. The National Summit is hosted by Imagine Canada with partners Community Foundations of Canada and United Way of Canada. The National Summit is a key component of the National Engagement Strategywhich is about strengthening collective action on issues that matter to us all and that will help charities and nonprofits better serve Canadians and communities locally and around the world.

National Summit Priorities
Solidifying the financing of charities and nonprofits, attracting and retaining the best and the brightest to work in our sector, strengthening volunteerism and finding new ways to talk to Canadians about our contributions to society and the economy are all priorities for discussion and debate at the National Summit.

Expectations and Outcomes
The National Summit is a working session. Participants will be expected to prepare in advance of the meetings and roll up their sleeves once there to advance the work in the identified priority areas. The outcomes of the National Summit will feed into the continued work of the National Engagement Strategy.

Registration now open! For full details, visit the National Summit website at www.nationalsummit.ca

This is about the future of our sector. Be part of it!

Join us at the 2011 CIVICUS World Assembly

Does Global Decision-Making can be influenced by Civil Society?

At a time when conflicts between governments and people trying to assert their basic rights are raging in several countries around the world, a major conference on the role of civil society in global governance is being prepared in Montreal. Two key challenges will be at the heart of the next CIVICUS World Assembly: Ensuring that the voice of local populations is heard worldwide and increasing the influence of civil society to decision-makers.

Organised by both the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the 10^th edition of CIVICUS World Assembly will be held at the Palais des Congrès de Montreal. Under the overarching theme of “Acting Together for a Just World” the assembly will bring together over 800 delegates from civil society, governments, donors and businesses from all around the world.