2024-11-02 04:00:00
This text is part of the special Social Economy section
As the Social Economy Summit approaches next spring, the Social Economy Project, and organizer of the event, is working behind the scenes to make this meeting a success.
It is at Tohu, on May 14 and 15, that the entire Quebec social economy sector will meet for the third summit in its history. The event will take place 29 years after the founding summit of 1996, hosted by Prime Minister Lucien Bouchard, and which established the role of the “third pillar” of the Quebec economy alongside the State and private enterprise. .
“Faced with major issues such as housing, food, services for the elderly and culture, we have to ask ourselves if we are doing everything we can and if we can do more and better,” explains Béatrice Alain, general director of the Social Economy Project which organizes the event, which she describes as a “radical act of consultation”.
“Currently, we are not using the power of collective entrepreneurship to its full extent. People say: “The state will do it, private enterprise will do it.” And we find ourselves with a housing crisis, a food crisis, a disorganized health network. The conditions must be met so that Quebec can meet the needs. And for that, it will take the social economy. »
She recalls that the 1996 summit led to three major initiatives: the creation of the CPEs, the organization of the home help network, the founding of the Quebec Social Investment Network and that of the Chantier itself — which was initially an ad hoc working group, set up to organize the first summit, before evolving into an NPO dedicated to the consultation of collective entrepreneurship.
“We do not know what will come out of the preparations and discussions for the May 2025 summit, but I hope that the government will seize the opportunity that we represent. »
All hands on deck
Seven months before the event, the program is obviously not fixed, but the 1,200 expected registrants will have plenty to grind. Eight working groups are at work on as many themes: food, seniors, environment, collective real estate, culture, equity and employment, local governance and entrepreneurial recovery.
Béatrice Alain is, however, able to confirm that two pre-summits are planned on the theme of housing and the indigenous social economy. “These premises are there to deepen the reflection. Indigenous people will be present at the summit as such, but I find it interesting that they are talking about the social economy among themselves,” she confides.
Discussions are underway to hold two other pre-summits bringing together research stakeholders and the Canadian cooperative movement. Quebec, she said, is the strongest part of the country’s cooperative movement, which will need to take stock in the context of the potential arrival of a conservative government for which “economy” and “social” do not work. not necessarily in tandem.
“At the first summit in 1996, the main objective was to get Quebec out of the job shortage and to organize home help to get people out of undeclared work,” recalls M.me Alan. We weren’t talking about the environment, inclusion or diversity. The aging of the population and the housing crisis are the new walls that society is up against. But we also have new tools: innovation funds, training, partner alliances and an organized ecosystem. »
So organized, she emphasizes, that the latest report from the UN Secretary General on the social and solidarity economy presented on September 13 cites Quebec six times. “The social economy is being done everywhere on the planet, but Quebec is pushing intersectoral and interterritorial thinking on the issue very far. It’s rare. »
Major structuring projects
The general director hopes to see the summit deliver major structuring projects for the whole of society. “Since funeral coops hold 20% of the market, funeral costs in Quebec are lower than the Canadian average. The question is the same for housing: to have an impact on the entire system, we need 20% collective housing. »
Following the decision, taken in September 2023, to organize such a summit, Béatrice Alain and her team carried out a major Quebec tour in 29 stages which took them to the four corners of Quebec to identify needs and good practices. , the actors, meeting some 2,500 speakers, including around a hundred elected officials.
The organizers hope to engage all stakeholders to develop the social economy. “We need young people, newcomers, people from all regions, Indigenous people, but also chambers of commerce, the municipal world, unions, businesses,” explains Mme Alain, referring to the long list of signatories of the open letter that she published in May 2024 to call for mobilization.
“The social economy is a plane that we build in mid-flight. As for the summit, we don’t yet know exactly where it will land. But we are in a process of permanent innovation. »
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Ns Béatrice Alain. “The strength of the social economy lies in its ability to bring together diverse stakeholders to collaborate on common goals and find innovative solutions.”
The Social Economy Summit at Tohu will not only serve as a platform for discussing pressing issues but also aims to foster networking and collaboration among participants. Alain believes that the summit will create a space for individuals and organizations to share their experiences and insights, which can lead to actionable ideas and initiatives that benefit the broader community.
In preparation for the summit, the organizing team is actively engaging with various sectors, including academia, local governments, and associations, to ensure a comprehensive dialogue that encompasses a wide range of perspectives. “We want to ensure that every voice is heard and that we are inclusive in our approach to the challenges we face,” she adds.
As the event draws closer, Alain encourages participants to come with an open mind and a willingness to engage deeply in discussions that could shape the future of the social economy in Quebec. “This is an opportunity for us to reflect on the last 29 years and envision the next steps forward. We have a chance to be pioneers in our own province by harnessing the power of collective effort.”
With the event just months away, the excitement is building not only among the organizers but also within the wider community. The summit promises to be a significant milestone for advancing the social economy and addressing the critical challenges facing Quebec today.