Good afternoon, my name is Kathryn Ann Hill. I am here today on behalf of the Ottawa Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (OCVO). I volunteer with OCVO as a member of the steering committee. I also serve as Past-president of the Board of Directors of interval House, a shelter for battered women here in Ottawa. Beside me is Brenda Gallagher, Coordinator of the OCVO.

OCVO is where people from non-profit groups get together; to help each other; to share ideas; and to learn, in order to strengthen the Ottawa community, the community they serve and themselves. Based on our experience at the community level, we know that working together is more effective than working alone. OCVO offers an opportunity for the Voluntary sector to speak in a collective voice. With this collective voice, we can accomplish more and partner more effectively.

In the same way chambers of commerce represent businesses, OCVO represents voluntary sector organizations in Ottawa. There are nearly 3000 voluntary sector organizations in the Ottawa region. These organizations are a critical element in the health and vitality of the community, by engaging, involving and connecting people, the sector plays a crucial role in making communities inclusive and vibrant.

Voluntary organizations: feed, shelter, and protect the most vulnerable citizens in the city. They care for the children, help keep seniors active and vital, help integrate new Canadians, who are critical to the economic future of our city; they support the healthy lives of all citizens through the delivery of art, culture, and sport programs. The sector also plays a critical role in responding to emergency situations, mobilizing volunteers and connecting vulnerable people. These organizations provide many essential services to the citizens of Ottawa as well as bring economic gains to the region through hosting major conferences and sporting events such as the recent Bell Capital Cup. It is difficult to imagine a person’s life that has not been touched by a voluntary sector organization.

In short the voluntary sector is one of the greatest assets the city possesses – to diminish the sector will diminish the city.

We are not here today because we receive funding from the city. The city does provide some in-kind support to OCVO through its Volunteer Services section and the excellent work of Barb Tiffin and other city staff in assisting us in hosting events and providing valuable advice.

We are here today, on behalf of the sector, to speak to the proposed budget directions and our concern that any major cuts to programs or services would affect not only the organizations who currently receive funding, but would also negatively impact the sector as a whole; when services or programs are dismantled, citizens must turn to their organizations to meet their needs.

We understand that there is a $95 million shortfall that must be addressed. We understand the council has some difficult decisions to make to achieve a balanced budget. This is a short-term challenge. We urge you to consider not only what makes financial sense but rather, to make decisions based on what works best for the city in the long term. Saving $5000 today by cutting one small program may seem like a simple fix but that program may be the one thing that brings a community together and creates a sense of belonging.

It is clear that the City of Ottawa and many other municipalities in Ontario and across Canada have a revenue problem that has to be fixed involving the provincial and federal government. This is a complex problem that will require time and energy.

OCVO is committed to working with the city to solve this problem. We have skills and expertise we can share; voluntary sector organizations see and experience firsthand the needs and issues facing communities and the people that live in them –our shared experience can authenticate and validate the need for a fair distribution of responsibilities and revenue. In the interim, we are counting on leadership from City Council to find creative and innovative ways to address the current budget shortfall and to consider all of the options that are available to you with open minds.

The choices you make now will affect the lives of the citizens of Ottawa in the years to come. We all know the strength of a corporation is measured by more than it’s balance sheet ; the intangible asset we have developed together over the years have made Ottawa great - let’s work together to keep it that way.