LIBERAL BILL TO PROVIDE MULTI-YEAR FUNDING FORNON-PROFITS
Date: Monday October 19, 2009

(Halifax, NS) Liberal community services critic Manning MacDonald
today introduced a bill that would establish multi-year support for
non-profit organizations funded by the Department of Community Services
in the province.

“Multi-year funding is an important step in maintaining the high
level of service and exceptional work provided by Nova Scotia’s
not-for-profit sector,” MacDonald said. “Non-profits are an
invaluable resource for the people of our province and this government
needs to do more to ensure those community resources remain viable.”

While the Liberal legislation initially focuses on the Department of
Community Service exclusively, there is a clause that grants cabinet the
authority to expand multi-year funding across other departments as it
sees fit.

“We wanted to take a responsible first step with this piece of
legislation and the bill accomplishes this,” states MacDonald. “This
financial stability would enable organizations such as transition houses
and women’s centres to plan, grow and innovate.”

Multi-year funding for non-profits was introduced in New Brunswick in
June. That province has extended the framework across eight government
departments. Funding agreements could range from three to five year and
MacDonald says there are criteria organizations must meet in order to
qualify multi-year funding.

“A non-profit must have received funding in the past and must
demonstrate stability, financial accountability, responsible fiscal
management and good governance,” explains the MLA for Cape Breton
South. “Audits or reviews may be requested and organizations must file
basic annual reports to government.”

“Organizations will be able to count on government support from year
to year - that kind of stability means non-profits can make an even
greater impact on our province.”

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