Member Call to Action: 2025 Federal Mandate Letters

As the 2025 mandate letters guide the priorities of federal ministers, this is a timely opportunity for our collective sector to reinforce the importance of placing children and youth at the center of government action.

To support this, NACY has developed a letter outlining key youth-centered priorities that align with the government’s commitments to affordability, housing, equity, and economic growth. These priorities reflect the lived realities and frontline insights from across our member network.

We invite you to:

• Share or adapt this letter in your own advocacy to federal ministers.
• Engage your networks to raise awareness and show unified support for a whole-of-government youth agenda.
• Let us know how you’re taking action so we can amplify your voice and impact by emailing communications@nacy.ca.

Key Findings

• As part of the UNICEF report, an Ipsos poll found that 52% of Canadians believe the government should prioritize support for children transitioning into adulthood.
• The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights (RIDR) has launched a study to address inequitable outcomes faced by youth aging out of care.
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives latest op-ed questions sovereignty narratives in Canada and who truly benefits.
• The Philanthropist highlights that 455 million children live in conflict-affected zones, 127 million of whom lack access to education. Full article here.

Sector Wins!

• Jack.org's Angelica Galluzzo nominated for Canada’s Top Mental Health Advocate Award for her work on youth mental health awareness.
• Girl Guides of Canada welcomes a dynamic new Board of Directors, including Chair Pam Laycock and youth leader Emily Lints.
• Ontario Trillium Foundation named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces™ 2025, recognized for trust and inclusion.
• Kids Help Phone acceleratorKHP honored in BetaKit’s “Most Ambitious” for transforming digital youth mental health care.
• 4-H Canada extends its partnership with BASF to foster youth leadership in agriculture.
• The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Canada released their latest Impact Report and shared a roundtable recap on using the award in secure settings to build youth confidence.
• UNICEF Canada x Rotary celebrating progress in the fight to #EndPolio at Rotary International Convention in Calgary.
• Plan International Canada in a compelling piece, Lindsay Glassco argues foreign aid is not optional - it’s infrastructure.

Funding Opportunities

• CWB Community Giving: Canadian Western Bank Group (CWB) has a mandate to deliver programs and projects that align with CWB’s giving focus of enabling business and promoting inclusivity. Grants over $50,000. Deadline July 31, 2025
• Alberta.ca CIP Project-Based grant: This program provides funding to new community-based programs, initiatives, events and publications. Deadline September 15, 2025
• Chevron Global Grants: Chevron Canada’s areas of focus for community investment are health, education and training, and community capacity-building, identified as programs that address a community’s ability to build and sustain long-term economic development.

Professional Development

• Imagine Canada – AI in Nonprofit Work dives into AI bias and ethical adoption in nonprofit tech.

• 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index; a comprehensive report detailing burnout, safety, job quality in Canada's nonprofit sector.

• Award Canada – Atlantic Education Forum Event on June 26 showcases real-world learning and co-curricular approaches in Atlantic Canada’s schools.

• Scouts Canada Profiles in Canada Podcast features Ambassador Rosemary McCarney on youth advocacy and global leadership.

Policy and Research

• Bill C-5 and Reconciliation – A Step Backward? Source: The Hill Times. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler critiques the federal government’s recent messaging shift on Bill C-5, calling it a “huge step backward” on reconciliation. This underscores growing concern that political messaging is drifting from meaningful Indigenous engagement and action. Read more

• CEO Compensation and Economic Inequality: Source: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. David Macdonald’s analysis reveals CEO pay is now 250 times that of the average worker up from 50x in the 1980s. This reflects alarming income disparities and has implications for tax policy, labor standards, and social equity. Globe & Mail Article

• Gender Equity in Global Leadership: Source: Global Affairs Canada. A Canada-supported initiative with the Equality Fund is spotlighting grassroots women-led leadership movements, such as in Mongolia, addressing political exclusion and advocating for gender quotas. A model for feminist foreign and domestic policy. Learn more