Civil Society, An Important Partner
After learning about cooperation between municipalities and the provincial and federal governments, we turned to the role of civil society in urban policy and governance. During our class discussion we identified that civil society organizations play an important role in shaping policy and delivering key social services.
Canada hosts a large number of refugees and immigrants and as such, it is important to welcome and help these groups integrate into the society. As of September, the number of asylum seekers in Canada for 2022 reached 27,052. While the federal government and provinces share responsibility over immigration policy, many of the services refugees need are delivered at the community level.
Charities and non-profit organizations play a crucial role in filling these gaps and providing newcomers with essential services. For example, New Circles Community Services, a charity organization based in Toronto, provides free clothing, settlement support and employment training to refugees and residents of Toronto’s highest needs neighbourhoods, including Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, Victoria Village, Taylor-Massey and Oakridge.
Providing free clothing complies with UN Declaration of Human Rights, which identifies it as a necessity, along with food and housing, which together constitutes some of the foundations for an adequate standard of living.
As previously noted, non-profit organizations and charities work on a variety of areas. Another example is environmental law and animal rights. For instance, AEL Advocacy, which is a not-for-profit organization providing law services works in these areas. This organization takes into consideration legal and political perspectives and supports individuals and organizations working to protect animals and their environments.
These constitute only two examples of the domains in which non-profits work in. Such organizations provide essential services such as food, shelter, education, healthcare, legal aid, therapy, and training. Their importance is tied with strengthening communities by providing the educational, health, and social services that citizens need and which the government cannot fully provide. Therefore, granting them a seat at the table and hearing their voices is crucial in meeting the needs of citizens, and especially of vulnerable populations.
