A Proposal for the Legislation to Establish a Self Development Corporation

Publisher:  National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO), Canada
Year Published:  1977
Pages:  20pp   Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX416

This proposal challenges the Canadian government to take immediate action to stop the critical unemployment situation in Canada by introducing a concrete long term job creation program. NAPO's proposal calls for the establishment of a Self Development Corporation which would have as its goal the rehabilitation of people through the development of self sustaining economic enterprises.

Abstract: 
This proposal challenges the Canadian government to take immediate action to stop the critical unemployment situation in Canada by introducing a concrete long term job creation program. NAPO's proposal calls for the establishment of a Self Development Corporation, which would have as its goal the rehabilitation of people through the development of self sustaining economic enterprises. NAPO shows that the double phenomena of inflation and unemployment are increasing the ranks of the poor in Canada; in addition, because of fiscal restraints, the government is pressured to reduce spending on staff, social services, and job creation programs. In the business sector, decreasing investments coupled with technocratic changes futher reduce the existing jobs availabe.

NAPO is critical of current welfare and job creation programs, describing them as inadequate, as causing dependencies, and as too temporary and tenuous to have lasting effects. In addition, NAPO points to the lack of opportunity for the poor to get out of their lifetime trap because they have no savings, real estate, or access to credit and because society's values judge the poor as not having the potential for development.

NAPO argues on the other hand that their experience with over 2,000 organizations in Canada composed of the disadvantaged has revealed a wealth of talent and ideas produced by low income groups when they are given the support and freedom. The NAPO proposal suggests how this potential could be organized through a Self Development Corporation, which would permit citizens' organizations to develop self-sustaining services to people and to create permanent employment for those who would otherwise be unemployed. Through initial government funding the low interest loans self-sustaining economic enterprises could be developed. The role, responsibility, costs, criteria for eligibility and accountability, and structure of such a corporation are outlined. Examples of how they might work in a variety of circumstances are given.