REVIEWING WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
by Linda Steingarten,
Chair,
JIAS Canada Planning and Priorities Committee

What is our mandate?  Should we be changing what we do?  These, among other questions, form part of a review of the purpose of JIAS Canada's work now and for the future.

In early summer, the Board of Directors of JIAS Canada agreed that a review of the mandate and mission of our organization was urgent.  Two factors had propelled this decision; Board members were increasingly concerned about the focus of the organization; and, the prime source of funds for JIAS Canada, the United Israel Appeal Federations Canada (UIAFC) had decided to reduce by forty per cent (40%) its funding support of our operations.

With the funding cut to be effective January 1, 2005, the JIAS Canada Board decided it needed help with determining what changes were needed to forge a JIAS Canada that would continue to respond to the needs of the Canadian Jewish Community.  Through its Planning and Priorities Committee the Board contracted with Strategic Philanthropy, a consulting firm in Winnipeg, headed by Joan Blight.

The Board of Directors has received a draft report based upon interviews conducted by Strategic Philanthropy across Canada.  Fifty individuals were interviewed including professional and lay representatives of local Federations and UIAFC,  professional and lay representatives of service agencies, clients, members at large, JIAS Canada Board members, and staff.   Interviewees were drawn from across Canada.   Contiguous to the Annual General Meeting held in Montreal on December 5, the Board discussed the consultant's observations and solicited comments from representatives of UIAFC, UJA Toronto, CJA Montreal, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, CJC, CIJA, JIAS Montreal, JIAS Toronto,  the Jewish Family Service agencies from across the country,  which deliver JIAS Canada's programs and services in centres other than Montreal and Toronto, and others.  The final report from Strategic Philanthropy will be given to the Board by the early January 2005.  Recommendations from the consultant will require immediate and careful attention so that JIAS Canada can remain a valued organization within the Jewish community and maintain the integrity of its services.

Among issues highlighted by the consultant is the alarming fact that the Canadian Jewish population, without immigration, would have declined significantly in numbers between the census years of 1991 and 2001.  Without immigration the Jewish population in Canada will almost certainly decrease in the future. 

Funding, once reduced by the UIAFC, is another critical matter, since current resources are already so limited. 

From feedback at  the interviews and through discussion at the meeting, it was concluded that immigration needs to be a priority of the Canadian Jewish community, and that there is a need for a national body to co-ordinate programs and practices and to represent the community  as its voice on matters of immigration and settlement.  Most of the interviewees did not believe that another organization could do JIAS Canada's job.

The Board and staff of JIAS Canada will be working intensively on this project over the next few months.  Effective communication among directors of the Board, staff, funders and local service providers will be vital.  What is certain is that there will be change, and challenge.