Provincial Government Releases Social Enterprise Action Plan

  • Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

May 30, 2018

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today released the Social Enterprise Action Plan to increase the number of social enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador and enhance services for existing social enterprises in the province. Minister Mitchelmore was joined by Lisa Browne, CEO, Stella’s Circle; Sheldon Pollett, CEO, Choices for Youth; and Penny Rowe, CEO, Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

Social enterprises use innovative business models to contribute to the economy by advancing social, community economic, cultural, and/or environmental needs. Operating in sectors such as tourism, construction, the arts, culture, fisheries, homecare and social housing; social enterprises successfully operate in all regions of the province helping to create employment, reduce poverty, and develop entrepreneurial skills.

To support the development of the Social Enterprise Action Plan, engagement sessions were completed as well as a public online questionnaire. During this process, the Provincial Government heard views and perspectives from individuals and organizations about the direction government should take to support social enterprise development.

The five pillars that form the basis of the Social Enterprise Action Plan include:

  • Policy Development;
  • Business Skills and Organizational Development;
  • Research and Opportunity Identification;
  • Promotion and Awareness; and
  • Access to Financing and Capital.

The action plan outlines 25 actions to be implemented over the next three years. One of the actions include an ongoing engagement approach where leaders who work in the social enterprise sector will be invited to participate in determining how things continuously move forward.

Increasing the number of social enterprises and enhancing services for existing social enterprises delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quotes
“The Social Enterprise Action Plan represents an opportunity for government to focus our work on key areas of development while complementing our partners’ work and our government’s programs and services. Government recognizes the innovative efforts of existing social enterprises and we are committed to promoting the creation of new social enterprises, further supporting existing social enterprises and ensuring the province gains social and economic benefits as a result. We look forward to continued partnership with organizations and stakeholders as we work collaboratively to advance social enterprise development in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

“Social enterprise offers many exciting opportunities throughout the province which will lead to a more creative and innovative economy.” 
Lisa Browne
CEO, Stella’s Circle

“We are very pleased to see the release of this action plan to inspire the development of a robust social enterprise sector in our province. As highlighted in Choices for Youth’s white paper (Untapped Potential), a practitioner led Social Enterprise Partner Network will be instrumental in ensuring NL reaps all of the benefits social enterprise has to offer.”
Sheldon Pollett
Choices for Youth

“While social enterprise is not new to this province its opportunity to foster growth and development has not yet been fully realized. At their heart social enterprises bring people, organizations and communities together to stimulate job creation, to meet common goals and to support innovative ways for people to prosper socially and economically. The launch of the Social Enterprise Action Plan by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is welcomed by the Community Sector Council NL. It is a strong signal that by working in partnership across public, private and community sectors we will grow stronger together.”
Penny Rowe 
CEO, Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador

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Learn More

Social Enterprise Action Plan
www.tcii.gov.nl.ca/innovation/pdf/TWFSocialEntActionPlan.pdf 

Stella’s Circle
stellascircle.ca 

Choices for Youth
www.choicesforyouth.ca 

Community Sector Council
communitysector.nl.ca 

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @TCII_GovNL 

Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Cathy White
Stella’s Circle
709-738-7730
c.white@stellascircle.ca

Sheldon Pollett
Choice’s for Youth
709-754-0446 
spollett@choicesforyouth.ca

Penelope Rowe
Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
709-753-9860
pennyrowe@cscnl.ca

2018 05 30 1:15 pm