Upcoming Federal pre-budget consultation - submissions due by April 30, 2026 !

[Colour of Poverty]

Colour of Change Network members - with thanks to Amy C ( OCASI ) for the heads up - the deadline for federal pre-budget submissions the the Standing Committee on Finance is April 30, 2026 !

Please share with all your networks so people have time to prepare a submission - especially given our current government's apparent waffling on their earlier stated commitments to racial justice change-making - and their equally troubling enthusiastic embrace of austerity !?

See attached a few relevant earlier COP-COC submissions as reference that might help folks draft their submissions - fyi - michael

----------------------

The Standing Committee on Finance has launched its pre-budget consultations in advance of the 2026 budget. Written submissions of no more than 2,000 words, based on the following template, can be submitted to the committee until Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (ET). All text contained in the submission, including, but not limited to graphs, quotes, images and footnotes, counts towards the submission’s 2,000 word limit.

Visit this link for more details and to submit your brief:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/committees/en/FINA/StudyActivity?studyActivityId=13385942

--

michael kerr
Coordinator
Colour of Poverty - Colour of Change
# 910 - 825 Church St.
Toronto, Ontario  M4W 3Z4  Canada
Phone - 416-966-3882
Fax - 416-971-6780
E-mail - kerr.m...@gmail.com

Web-site - www.colourofpoverty.ca
Colour of Change Network - https://groups.google.ca/group/ColourofChangeNetwork
YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/colourofpoverty
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/colourofpoverty.colourofchange
Twitter - @colourofpoverty    #racesEDJ

[Colour of Poverty]

Colour of Change Network members and supporters - just a REMINDER about the upcoming submission dates for both the StatsCan General Social Survey AND the federal Standing Committee on Finance pre-budget consultations !! 

To help you - particularly with your budget consultation submissions - and our real focus on both employment equity and disaggregated data - find attached some of our recent federal budget/policy/investment priority pieces - especially our Vote for Equity for All document that we prepared for the 2025 federal election !

Again with thanks to our support team at CNERJ for helping to put these two pieces together in one place - fyi - michael

📊 Data at Risk: Why the 2026 Statistics Canada Consultation Matters More Than Ever

Right now, Statistics Canada is asking for feedback on the General Social Survey (GSS), a critical source of data (including disaggregated data based on race) that shapes policy decisions at all levels of government. This is a rare opportunity for data users to give input on what gets measured, and ultimately, what gets prioritized.

But there is a context we must not ignore: This consultation is happening at the same time as significant capacity cuts within Statistics Canada (i.e., 850 jobs to be cut over two years). These cuts threaten the very foundation needed to actually produce high-quality, timely, and inclusive data. Without sufficient resources, even the most well-designed survey cannot deliver meaningful results. There is a real risk that this becomes a consultation about what should be measured, without a credible plan for how that data will be collected, analyzed, and made available to data users.

Data is not neutral. It shapes decisions, priorities, and outcomes. When data systems weaken, equity work is set back. As the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has warned in its recent open letter to the responsible Minister: “The Statistics Canada cuts will result in reduced data collection, diminished data quality, loss of vital expertise, silenced marginalized voices, less government accountability to the public, costly mistakes, less information in a time of turmoil and mis/disinformation. Combined, this will diminish the public’s trust in public institutions.” That’s why this moment calls for more than feedback. It calls for advocacy for the following: Ensure modernization is backed by long-term investment Retain expertise Protect data quality Protect the collection of disaggregated, equity-focused data 📢 Take action: Share your feedback — and raise awareness 🗓️ Complete the GSS Data User Feedback Form: https://bit.ly/41hg5GB      and submit it by - April 25, 2026

📥 Budgets Are Policy - Make Equity and Racial Justice Count in Federal Budget Decisions

The conference reminded us of the importance of community in advocacy, the GSS data user consultation showed what’s currently at risk, but ultimately, the federal budget process is where priorities can become reality. This is a moment to push for an economic agenda that actively advances racial justice. Because racism is not only about attitudes. It is embedded in systems, including fiscal policy. The federal government’s Standing Committee on Finance has launched its pre-budget consultations for 2026. This is one of the most direct ways to influence how public resources are allocated. Decisions about spending and investment shape access to housing, healthcare, employment, and safety. They can help dismantle inequities, or they can reinforce or even deepen inequities. We encourage you to make a submission that: Calls for investments that address systemic inequities Highlights the need for racial equity-driven policy design Connects community realities to fiscal decisions Click this link to find a document template: https://bit.ly/4uIL63O    Click this link for more details and to submit: https://bit.ly/4rVpcrC  📢 Take action: Submit a brief and help shape a more equitable federal budget! 🗓️ Deadline - April 30, 2026

If we want equitable outcomes, we need: ✅  Strong community voices ✅  Reliable, inclusive data ✅  Policy decisions backed by real and sustained investment This is how change happens. And this is a moment to act — together.

--

michael kerr
Coordinator
Colour of Poverty - Colour of Change

# 1701 - 180 Dundas St. W.
Toronto, Ontario  M5G 1Z8  Canada
Ph. 416-966-3882
Fax 416-971-6780
E-mail - colouro...@gmail.com

Web-site - www.colourofpoverty.ca
Colour of Change Network - https://groups.google.ca/group/ColourofChangeNetwork

racesEDJ Blog - www.colourofpoverty.wordpress.com
YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/colourofpoverty
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/colourofpoverty.colourofchange
Twitter - @racesEDJ  or  @colourofpoverty