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March 29, 2011 Jack Layton, Leader New Democratic Party of Canada 300 - 279 Laurier West Ottawa, ON K1P 5J9 Dear Mr. Layton, At the outset of Canada’s 41st general election, we are writing you to ask for the New Democratic Party of Canada’s positions and commitments to support community-based economic action. Our organisations, and the thousands of enterprises and initiatives that they represent, are making and will continue to make vital contributions to creating healthy, prosperous and caring communities across Canada. We offer innovative solutions to many challenges facing Canadians, and we believe that these solutions should be part of the New Democratic Party’s electoral platform. While government has a key role in assuring health and prosperity for Canadians, we know that governments cannot do everything alone. In challenging economic times, it is particularly important to be able to count on the engagement of citizens and community-based initiatives to create jobs and to respond to the needs and aspirations of Canadian communities. From May 30 to June 1 last year, 340 participants from ten provinces and two territories as well as international guests from five continents gathered at the National Summit on a People-Centred Economy to identify priorities that will scale up the impact - 1 - of our activities. The Summit represented an unprecedented partnership of organizations whose membership is composed of sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises and organizations. From co-operatives that have existed for more than a century, to the latest innovative social enterprises, the creation of economic opportunities for disadvantaged groups has long been at the heart of community economic development, credit union, co- operative, and social economy movements. We were very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with you in February 2009 to discuss the Summit, and appreciated your advice on advancing our proposals. Tony Martin’s keynote to Summit participants was a highlight of the event, and we have been working with him to support his valuable work on a national poverty reduction agenda. We were also happy to have Richard Pereira from the NDP Research Bureau attend the Summit. The Summit produced six priority recommendations (attached) that we hope will be included in the New Democratic Party’s electoral commitments. Several of these recommendations and related measures were included in this year’s Alternative Federal Budget, which we would direct you to for further information. You can find out more about the Summit at the following website: http://www.ccednet-rcdec.ca/en/summit We would be happy to respond to any questions, and look forward to your response. Sincerely, Michael Toye Nancy Neamtan John Anderson Executive Director President and CEO Director, Government Affairs Canadian CED Network Chantier de l’économie sociale Canadian Co-operative Association Attached: Priority Recommendations from the National Summit on a People-Centred Economy - 2 - .