Welcome to the Partnership Project – a discussion about how to strengthen the relationship between the Ontario government and the province’s not-for-profit sector. Since our launch on April 22, we’ve been asking for the sector’s advice on ways to renew, streamline and modernize the relationship between government and the not-for-profit sector. We are seeking your views on how government can be more responsive, supportive and accessible to the sector. We are looking at what works and what doesn’t in terms of legislation, policies, structural issues and funding mechanisms. We are interested in finding new and better ways to coordinate policy, research and communication with and for the sector.

We’ve been greatly encouraged by the support and input we’ve received so far from the not-for-profit sector, the provincial government and the private sector. This strong, positive response confirms what we know about the more than 45,000 not-for-profit organizations in this province.  We know that they are a large and pivotal force in Ontario. We know that they are committed to their communities and are major contributors to our social and economic success as a province.  And we know that they are eager and able to play a major role in forging a more effective partnership with the public and private sectors to create a stronger third sector. 

The outcome of the Partnership Project’s work will be a strategy that offers a set of practical, concrete recommendations to the Premier on how to strengthen the partnership between government and the not-for-profit sector.

We invite you to join the discussion and contribute to the development of that strategy. Sign up and let us know what you think about these ideas. Submit your own brief or participate in our online discussion this summer. And remember to watch for updates from upcoming roundtable discussions.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Dr. Eric Hoskins Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Helen Burstyn Chair, Ontario Trillium Foundation