Abstract/Details

Growing New Brunswick from the ground up: The policy context for co-operatives in New Brunswick

Hancock, Erin.   University of New Brunswick (Canada) ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  2009. MR80693.

Abstract (summary)

his research explores the relationship between co-operatives in New Brunswick, as community-owned, local enterprises and government policies and programs. Through a review including academic, government and co-operative sector literature, a policy scan, and interviews with both representatives from the co-operative sector (n=12) as well as government (n=2), this thesis reveals opportunities to better support New Brunswick co-operatives. These recommendations include opening programs for business development to be accessible to co-operatives (educating staff as well as creating program guidelines conducive to co-operatives) as well as updating legislation that is more than 30 years old in order to reflect the current economic climate in the province. Through developing a more favorable policy environment in New Brunswick, citizens can become involved in developing their own communities through jointly-owned enterprises. The social as well as economic activities of cooperatives can help serve policy goals as well, such as employment creation, self-sufficiency, service delivery and economic development. Although governments may benefit from co-operatives, the outdated legislation and lack of supportive programs do not reflect this potential. Both government (through policy making) and the cooperative sector (through advocacy and public education), however, are necessary to help increase the public profile of co-operatives and work together to create stronger policies. As autonomous organizations, co-ops have a responsibility to help themselves and each other, however, just as government supports other enterprises (through policies and development programs), so too would it be valuable to support co-ops, as social enterprises, in a similar manner. Moreover, co-operatives warrant the attention of government as well as more favorable policies because of their contributions to communities, the economy, and the labor force in addition to their potential to help address current policy goals within the Province of New Brunswick.

Indexing (details)


Subject
Public administration
Classification
0617: Public administration
Identifier / keyword
Social sciences
Title
Growing New Brunswick from the ground up: The policy context for co-operatives in New Brunswick
Author
Hancock, Erin
Number of pages
163
Degree date
2009
School code
0823
Source
MAI 50/02M, Masters Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
ISBN
978-0-494-80693-7
Advisor
Theriault, Luc
University/institution
University of New Brunswick (Canada)
University location
Canada -- New Brunswick, CA
Degree
M.Phil.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
MR80693
ProQuest document ID
901460054
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/docview/901460054