Five questions I’d ask Canada’s political leaders in an election debate

If you ask my friends and colleagues in university what was one thing I did well back then, they’d say I hosted really good parties. Not just any kind of party, election debate night parties. Perhaps the geekiest of parties. Whether it was general elections in the UK or Canadian federal elections, I had a knack for bringing people from diverse stripes together to have a fun evening. Some parties, I remember vividly, got pretty heated with clashes of views on policy issues but that was part of the draw for people. It wasn’t a “be with your bubble” kind of party — and they loved that. 

One of the projects I was tasked with during my role at Public Policy Forum, my first job after my graduate studies, was to host a debate night party for the 2008 federal election. You can imagine my excitement: “Wait, I get to organize this party for work?!” It was a night to remember. It was hosted at the beautiful TELUS House in downtown Ottawa with hundreds of people. No punches were thrown but there were a number of snarky exchanges and civil disagreements. 

In all seriousness, the Canadian leaders’ debates are a crucial part of the federal election campaign. This time around, the debates announced so far are coming up on September 8th and 9th. Canada has a rich history of televised debates, one of the first countries in the world to do so beginning in 1968. Poll predictions can slide significantly based on a candidate’s performance. It’s also an opportunity for voters to see leaders in action, see which policies matter to a candidate, and what they emphasize repeatedly. Leaders’ debates have been devoted to a single subject, like foreign policy or the economy, but can also encompass multiple subjects. 

What’s one subject we’ve never had a leaders’ debate on — but should? Unlocking the social impact sector’s potential. 

I know what you’re thinking. Whether you work in non-profits, social enterprise, global development, philanthropy, or social finance, the sector is not used to being in the national spotlight, let alone being debated on. And my goodness, what if all that sticks for people from the debate is the dreaded WE Charity scandal, which could yet again harm charities across the country? I get it. 

What’s the upside? I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that no party has ever taken the sector’s work seriously. 

While many social purpose organizations fight for attention with governments everyday, they barely get it. When it finally feels like leaders are listening, it rarely translates into swift action. Since televised leaders’ debates began in the 60s, this country has gone through entire campaigns without even mentioning the sector. Think about it — every campaign stop by every candidate since 1968 barely even mentioning the sector. Even in party platforms, the sector’s work is a footnote. 

What’s required are more audacious approaches to getting charities, global development, social enterprise, and social finance on the leaders’ radar — not after an election, but during a campaign. The sector needs everyone talking about its work — and if candidates do then pundits do, pollsters do, and Canadians do at kitchen tables and Tim Horton’s.

On that note, here are five questions I’d ask Canada’s political leaders in an election debate focused on unlocking the potential of the social impact sector. 

1. Before the pandemic, volunteers contributed the equivalent of around 1 million full-time year-round jobs. Non-profits that relied on seniors as volunteers will struggle to replace these contributions, as they were the most vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you effectively bolster the voluntary sector while inspiring Canadians to participate in greater numbers?
2. The pandemic has made Canada turn its attention to domestic priorities. Only a small percentage of Canadians are even aware of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. That’s how bad the federal government has been at communicating global priorities and our role in addressing them. As Prime Minister, how would you demonstrate leadership in addressing the SDGs?
3. In June of 2019, the Canadian Senate released Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector, a significant undertaking and first of its kind report on what’s needed for the Canadian charitable and non-profit sector to thrive. The report highlighted 42 recommendations, and consulted a range of social impact sector professionals, funders, executives, academics, volunteers and public servants. It’s been over two years since the release of the report but there has been no notable actions on the part of the Trudeau government or other parties. The non-profit and charitable sector has been a backbone of the pandemic response and is critical for an equitable recovery — yet it’s a footnote in each of your platforms. How would you rectify this gross omission in your platforms and prioritize the implementation of the Senate report’s recommendations?
4. Canada’s social impact funds’ assets have grown significantly in recent years, now at an estimated $1 billion, according to the latest state of social finance report by the Table of Impact Investment Practitioners. While $1 billion might sound like a lot, the ecosystem is severely underfunded in comparison to the U.K. or the U.S. As Prime Minister, what steps would you take to implement the Social Finance Fund in a way that accelerates the growth of impact ventures and accelerates the recovery of communities?
5. Canada’s philanthropic sector has come under intense scrutiny and pressure, particularly since the pandemic began. There have been campaigns to increase the disbursement quota, calls to increase transparency of investments, and calls to take a justice-centred approach to investing and granting. The philanthropic sector holds a lot of wealth and power, yet has so much potential to help communities thrive. What actions would you take to incentivize philanthropic organizations to invest 100 percent of their endowments in impact, and to unlock billions of dollars in granting capital?

Is this the election in which federal parties take the social impact sector seriously? It could be. Future of Good writer Brennan Doherty combed through hundreds of pages of platform documents to break down which parties have intentions of helping the sector modernize and realize its potential. There are some surprising promises. It’s a must read.

It’s tough these days to imagine any kind of gathering, let alone a debate night party, but that won’t stop me from planning something. The countdown to September 8 and 9 is on, and it’s about time the leaders debate who has the better approach to help the social impact sector realize its potential. With all that has happened over the past 16 months, and is happening around the world, this election comes at a generation-defining moment.

Vinod Rajasekaran
Publisher & CEO

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