Digital Symposium on Social Procurement: Senator Ratna Omidvar

On April 22, 2020 Senator Ratna Omidvar participated in Buy Social Canada’s Digital Symposium on Social Procurement. 

Senator Omidvar: I would like to send my condolences to the people of Nova Scotia that have faced an immense and senseless tragedy last weekend. It is truly devastating. My heart and prayers go out to them.

Thank you for inviting me to this virtual symposium. Our lives have taken a turn with the covid 19 pandemic and doing things virtually has now become the norm. I want to say thanks to all the Canadians that are working to provide food, shelter and healthcare to Canadians. And to the government that is working with remarkable speed sending out financial support to Canadians.

It’s incredible when Canadians pull together in a time of crisis. We work with each other, all rowing in the same direction, to keep Canadians safe and healthy. We will conquer this by sticking together. By staying home. And by the fortitude that has defined this nation since its beginning.

I want to point out that charities, social enterprises and non-profits are on the front lines of this crisis. Many Canadians are reaching out more and more too local and national charities as their lifeline to services, support, counselling and much more. The Kids Help line is facing a surge of calls from children dealing with the mental health impacts of isolation. Unemployed Canadians are resorting to food banks at a time when donations and volunteers are drying up. Women who are at higher risk of abuse because of social isolation are needing to access shelters and shelters are adjusting to meet these challenges. 

Due to this crisis, Imagine Canada has estimated that charities will see financial losses this year of between $9.5 billion and $15.7 billion and layoffs of between 118,000 and 194,000 people. Charities are already laying off staff and as the demand grows every day, it is essential that charities have the right policy tools to support their much needed work during this crisis.

I have worked with the sector in an effort to push the government to ensure the sector can support Canadians in this great time of need. There is still work to be done but I am happy the government has listened to the sectors concerns.

Covid 19 has put on full display the crucial role that charities play in Canada. This should finally prove to everyone in Canada, the government and all political parties that charities shouldn’t be an afterthought. They are a crucial economic driver and they provide the services Canadians rely on in times of need and crisis. It is time they are seen that way and they are supported and enabled so they can be the true leaders they are counted on being. Our nation depends on it.

I also see this crisis as an opportunity for social procurement. More and more governments are looking at made in Canada solutions to this crisis. They have engaged with Canadian businesses, and social enterprises to provide PPE and other essential supplies as international supply chains have deteriorated.

When this is over, one of the lasting legacies of this crisis will be that more and more procurement will come from Canadians business and social enterprises. Supply chains will become more national, instead of international, and the ingenuity of Canadians will be relied on.  This is good news for people like us who have supported these initiatives.

I am happy to kick off this summit and hear best practices from around the country on government purchasing, social value supply chain, construction opportunities and community benefit agreements. Moving these initiatives forward will help build a new and better Canada. One that benefits us all.

Learn more about the Digital Symposium on the Buy Social Canada website