Major Papers

Keywords

COVID, non-profit, public, policy, crisis, government

Abstract

This study examines the state of the non-profit sector during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through the context of government-non-profit relations. The history of this relationship is essential to the understanding of why the non-profit sector has been so negatively affected by this crisis. This research uses a normative institutionalist approach and a qualitative method of analysis to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted key issues with the non-profit sector.

The study asserts that for a number of reasons, including the lack of a clear vision by the Canadian government for the non-profit sector, shifts in public administration approaches, and stringent and outdated instruments of funding, the sustainability of the non-profit sector is left vulnerable to crises such as the pandemic or the Great Recession of 2008. Additionally, this paper focuses on policy neglect and the obstacles for policy co-operation and creation between the Canadian government and non-profits.

Ultimately, this paper calls for improved relations between the state and non-profit sector to create policies that sustain the sector in order to reduce the severity of the highlighted issues in future crises.

Primary Advisor

John Sutcliffe

Program Reader

Rebecca Major

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Political Science

Document Type

Internship Paper

Convocation Year

2021

Share

COinS