The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) is adding its voice to the many groups supporting the renewal and expansion of the Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI).

Canada's national co-op associations are asking co-ops, members and co-op supporters across the country to join the campaign to renew and expand the Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI), a federal program that helps promote and develop new and emerging co-ops. As the Conservative Government and Mr. Flaherty put together their economic recovery plan for the end of January, they need to be reminded that the Co-operative Development Initiative could play an important part.

CDI is a unique partnership program between the federal government, the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and the Conseil canadien de la co-opération et de la mutualité (CCCM). It provides technical assistance and project grants to help co-ops get off the ground.

In the first five years, the current CDI has helped create 200 new co-operatives, delivered advisory services to almost 1,500 new and existing co-operatives, and held more than 100 training workshops and 2,720 meetings with groups to explore the co-op option.

• The Innovations & Research component funded 209 projects to help new and existing co-ops and study new ways of using the co-op model.
• Since 2006, Ag-CDI has supported 60 value-added and bio-energy co-operatives.

This program is scheduled to expire in March 2009, and the CCA and the CCCM have proposed a new and expanded CDI that would increase funding for advisory services, create a new co-operative loan fund where co-ops can access development capital, and continue providing project assistance. The new program would also continue the Agricultural CDI, which assists bio-energy and value-added agricultural co-ops.

We encourage you to write to Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz (Ritz.G@parl.gc.ca ), whose department is responsible for administering the program, as well as Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty (Flaherty.J@parl.gc.ca), and your Member of Parliament. Please do this before January 23, 2009.

For more information on CDI visit www.coopscanada.coop/CDI.

• Read the letter of support that the Canadian CED Network submitted
• Send a message to your MP to renew and expand the Co-operative Development Initiative
• Visit our webpage to download a support letter template
• Read the CDI information booklet

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