From the BC Society for Policy Solutions (BCSPS) Board of Directors
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We write to you regarding the ongoing situation between the BC Society for Policy Solutions and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
As we detailed in our previous communication back in February, the BC Society was launched following the CCPA Board’s decision to close the CCPA–BC Office rather than negotiate an amicable legal separation. This closure came after nearly eight years of efforts by the BC Office to resolve deep organizational tensions through various restructuring proposals, all of which were ultimately unsuccessful.
Current developments
Unfortunately, the situation has not improved since our last update in February. The CCPA continues its refusal to negotiate with the BC Society, even though we implored them repeatedly to negotiate a resolution that would include a fair division of the assets built up over nearly 30 years of operations in BC (including a commitment on our part to ensure the CCPA finances would not be negatively impacted). Instead, the CCPA has claimed 100% of the assets and BC donor base of what was the CCPA-BC Office.
To our knowledge, the CCPA has not pro-actively and clearly informed supporters in BC that it closed the BC Office earlier this year, nor has it provided information about how people in BC can now support the BC Society for Policy Solutions. Most of the 6,000+ CCPA donors in BC likely have no idea the BC Office no longer exists.
This lack of transparency is particularly concerning given that the CCPA continues to fundraise aggressively in BC. Moreover, the CCPA has told some individuals in BC that everything is settled between our organizations—which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Our decision to take legal action
With deep regret, and after exhausting all other options, the BC Society for Policy Solutions has been compelled to initiate legal action to secure assets we believe to be rightfully ours.
Our legal action is based on federal not-for-profit corporation law, which provides “oppression remedies” when organizations act in ways that are oppressive, unfairly prejudicial, or unfairly disregard stakeholders’ legitimate interests. This legal framework focuses on fairness and equality beyond strict legal rights, recognizing that conduct can be harmful even when technically lawful. We believe the CCPA’s actions meet this standard and violate our reasonable expectations based on decades of agreements and commitments.
This decision was not made lightly. Legal action represents the least desirable option. We don’t want either the CCPA or ourselves to divert time and resources on a protracted legal fight. However, the lack of any real effort to negotiate a fair resolution threatens the BC Society’s long-term viability. Having been stripped of our assets—including our financial reserves, physical resources, donor relationships and contact information and even our website and social media presence—we have been left with no other viable option if the BC Society is to survive and continue serving the people of BC.
The assets in question were built through decades of work by BC staff, supported by BC donors and developed specifically to serve British Columbia’s progressive policy research needs.
Our situation is especially troubling given that the original founding agreements establishing the CCPA-BC Office explicitly promised that if the BC group wanted to become a separate organization at any time in the future, it would be free to do so. Yet we are unable to even legally communicate with the thousands of supporters of the CCPA-BC Office, making it extremely difficult to rebuild from scratch and continue our important work.
Our commitment to rebuild
Despite these challenges, we remain committed to our mission of providing British Columbians with exciting progressive ideas and policy research. Our experienced team of economists and researchers continues to focus on the pressing issues facing our province—from housing and healthcare to climate policy, equity and economic justice.
We want to be clear: this legal action does not reflect any animosity toward the valuable national work that the CCPA continues to do across Canada. We respect their research and policy contributions. However, we cannot allow the refusal to negotiate a fair separation to prevent us from effectively serving the people of British Columbia.
How you can help
There are several ways you can support us as we rebuild:
Contact the CCPA Board of Directors: Write to the CCPA Board to tell them what you think about how the CCPA-BC and BCSPS have been treated and demand that they negotiate a fair division of assets. Your voice matters, and they need to hear from supporters past and present who are unhappy with their actions. Send an email to the attention of the Board of Directors to ccpa@policyalternatives.ca (and please copy us at info@bcpolicy.ca)
Spread the Word: Make sure people in your network know what is happening and that BCSPS needs their support. Many people remain unaware of the situation because CCPA has not pro-actively informed donors in BC of its actions or how people can support the BC Society. Check out and share the BC Societ’s social media feeds:
- Bluesky: @bcpolicy
- Instagram: @bcpolicy
- Facebook: BC Society for Policy Solutions
Review Your Estate Planning: Please be aware that the BC Society will not receive any funds contributed through a bequest to the CCPA, even if your will specified that the gift should benefit the CCPA’s BC Office or BC Solutions Fund. If you wish to include the BC Society for Policy Solutions in your estate planning, you will need to update your will accordingly. If you have questions, please contact donor relations manager Rav Kambo at: rav@bcpolicy.ca.
Support Us Financially: If you haven’t already, please become a BCSPS donor. As a result of the CCPA’s actions, our ability to fundraise effectively is severely constrained, and we need your support in order to continue doing this important work for British Columbia.
Looking ahead
We remain hopeful that a fair agreement can still be reached—one that allows both organizations to move forward constructively. Until then, we will continue building the BC Society for Policy Solutions as an independent organization run by and for British Columbians, dedicated to advancing social, economic, environmental and racial justice in our province. Have a look at all the fantastic research and analysis we’ve recently published at: bcpolicy.ca/research
We are grateful for the support we have already received from a few hundred of you as we establish this new organization.
If you have questions about these developments or wish to learn more about supporting our work, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@bcpolicy.ca.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we navigate this challenging but necessary transition.
In solidarity,
BCSPS Board of Directors
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