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Government Relations Peer Working Group

by | Mar 4, 2025 | News

On February 19, 2005 CMC hosted a Government Relations Peer Group meeting, providing an opportunity to bring together new members, share updates on 2025 priorities, and exchange insights on how organizations are navigating Canada’s evolving political and economic landscape.

Eighteen CMC members attended, and the meeting served as a reminder of the CMC website’s value as a resource, offering detailed information on public policy priorities. It also allowed CMC to hear directly from members about their key concerns.

Below is a high-level summary of the key themes and recurring priorities discussed during the meeting:

Advancing the Co-operative Model 

  1. Economic & Business Growth 
    • Supporting co-operative entrepreneurs through funding, resources, and policy initiatives. 
    • Addressing cross-border economic challenges, such as US-Canada trade issues. 
  1. Housing & Social Economy 
    • Mobilizing stakeholders to expand affordable housing and co-op housing. 
    • Leveraging the renewal of Quebec’s Social Economy Action Plan (2025-2030). 
  1. Sector-Specific Growth & Sustainability 
    • Strengthening agricultural co-operatives by improving economic corridors and policy supports. 
    • Supporting Indigenous co-operatives, focusing on sovereignty and economic self-determination. 
    • Promoting worker co-op conversions to address business succession challenges. 
  1. Education & Awareness 
    • Advocating for co-op education and awareness. 

Government Relations & Policy Advocacy 

  1. Strengthening Government Engagement 
    • Ensuring favorable policies for co-op businesses at federal and provincial levels. 
    • Strengthening relationships with elected officials and government agencies. 
  1. Legislative & Policy Priorities 
    • Advocating for access to government financing (e.g., BDC) and the Small Business Deduction etc. 
    • Promoting regulatory harmonization, particularly for interprovincial licensing and insurance. 
  1. Strategic Advocacy & Positioning 
    • Leveraging the International Year of Cooperatives to enhance visibility and influence. 

To learn more about this working group, email Nancy Wayne.