Co-operative Sector Development in British Columbia The Co-operative Advantage

The Co-operative Advantage As democratically owned and governed enterprises that seek to address the common needs and aspirations of their members, co-operatives deliver economic and social impact to their communities by: • creating a democratic and participatory forum to build reciprocity, trust, and civic cohesion; • providing fundamental goods and services, such as access to food, financial ser. [...] The Issue Despite the social and economic benefits, there are challenges associated with the co-op model that hinder its uptake by communities and undermine their potential impact; these challenges include: • general lack of familiarity with the model and its development and incorporation process; • gaps in the entrepreneurial, financial and social capacities of groups to develop, launch and susta. [...] This allocation aligns with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, in particular, Article 3 (the right to freely pursue economic, social and cultural development), Article 20 (the right to maintain and develop political, economic and social systems or institutions), and Article 21 (the right to the improvement of economic and social conditions). [...] Impact Research ($100,000 per year): seed research efforts to assess the return on the investment and define opportunities to further bolster the impact of the sector, including: • Metrics such as new co-ops created, new employment created, and the economic impact on communities; • Storytelling to assess the benefit to individuals, communities, and the redress of social concerns; • Possible legisl. [...] To bolster the impact of Recommendation 1, and in keeping with the BCCA’s submission to the provincial Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the Province should name an executive lead for the sector, to champion policies that will make B.