IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCORD AND CODES IN CANADA

1. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCORD AND CODES IN CANADA International Seminar on Strategies and Agreements between the Public Sector and the Nonprofit Sector Estonia March 2005 Susan Carter Voluntary Sector Advisor

2. Canada: Implementation Accord and Codes • between national government and organizations to which it relates • Accord as recognition/validation, guide/roadmap to how relationship should work • two codes on how guide could apply to key areas of financing and policy dialogue • implementation decentralized: each party responsible for implementing its commitments in the Accord

3. Canada: Implementation Structures and Processes • 3 phases planned: commitment, consolidation, construction • Separate government and sector implementation with coordination on reporting • Government • Lead Minister • Ministerial Consultative Committee • Champions in each dept • Formal accountability at senior level • Sector - Voluntary Sector Forum - Umbrella organizations and coalitions • Coordination: Joint Steering Committee

4. Canada: Implementation Approaches Awareness • Information out – distribution, speeches, conferences, various media forms • Training and orientation – training tools, train-the-trainer sessions across country Application • Collection and dissemination of examples of Accord and Codes in practice Reporting • Annual report on progress

5. Canada: Monitoring and Reporting • Implementation tracked through annual survey/questionnaire across government departments and sector • Annual joint public report, with separate background papers • Review survey findings • Review progress over past year • Identify issues and set priorities for coming year

6. Canada: Assessment of Implementation • Increased profile and understanding within both parties • Some cases of Accord making a difference in sector-government interaction • Knowledge of documents - Accord and Codes - still moderate in government and in sector • Annual reports say minority of C.S organizations see improvements in relationship • Uneven incorporation of Accord into government departments’ planning and operations

7. Canada: Implementation Achievements • Greater awareness and linkages across sector • Development of communications tools to promote Accord and Codes • Structural innovations in some departments (dedicated units, sector lens) • Progress on key sector issues (Accord in practice): financing and funding processes, regulatory framework, treatment of advocacy, liability insurance

8. Canada: Implementation Challenges • Changing government priorities • Continuity of leadership • Measurable guidelines or indicators • Compliance mechanisms • Horizontality • Absence of recognized “dome” organization in sector • Persistence of continuing problem areas (notably funding processes)

9. Canada: Upcoming Priorities/Next Steps • Increase integration of Accord and Code principles into “the way we do business” • Increase documenting/sharing good practices • Develop measurable indicators and reporting • Develop a mechanism for resolving disputes • Evaluations of VSI including Accord/ Codes • Keep sector and importance on the agenda • Apply new relationships into new public issues