Halifax Community Liaison Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 4, 2005
George Dixon Community Recreation Centre
| Present: |
Alvena Cain, Craig Walkington, Anne Perry, Bryan Darrell, Kristian Curran, and Delaine Clyne |
| Regrets: |
Qwida Downey, Arthur Carter and Clark Cromwell
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| Guests: |
Leanne Hachey, Connie Burman
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| 1. |
Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 6:07pm.
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| 2. |
Review of Notes from Previous Meetings –
| a. |
Meeting of 4 October 2005 – Moved by Shazza Seconded by Alvena. Carried.
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| 3. |
Update from Meeting of 19 September 2005:
| a. |
Trail Along Barrington Street – Kristian said that he was waiting for some additional information and would report at the next meeting. |
| b. |
Contact With Professor David Divine – Craig said that he had heard from Prof. Divine in response to his e-mail to Prof. Divine. Craig said that he would be having a telephone conversation with Prof. Divine in the near future. |
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| 4. |
Microfinance – There were two presentations by the guests at the meeting as noted below:
| a. |
Leanne Hachey (Director of Provincial Affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business) spoke about her activities with the CFIB, in particular the financing issues for small businesses. She noted that there are a number of federal and provincial programs that can offer loans and grants for small business. She also said that HRM may or may not support the microfinance proposal from the CLC as HRM is already involved with similar small business programs. Leanne also cautioned that future funding for proposals from the CLC could be jeopardized if the money allocated to the CLC is not spent wisely and correctly. Leanne indicated that their should be funding and/or HRM staff assistance to properly research the microfinance option.
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| b. |
Connie Berman (former Director of Calmeadow Nova Scotia) spoke about her experience with Calmeadow and the concept of peer lending groups. Calmeadow is a non-profit organization whose mission is to employ effective and sustainable methods of microfinance delivery by which people operating small-scale businesses can achieve their goals. Loans were advanced to members of a business credit group that consisted of at least four business owners who were each acquiring a loan for their own business. The group would assess and approve each other’s loan requests and make recommendations regarding the loan request and it would be sent to a volunteer management board that would forward it to the Royal Bank for issuance. Loan approval was based upon the confidence that fellow group members had in each other’s commitment, resourcefulness, and ability to repay. The membership in the business credit group also provided an opportunity to build relationships with like-minded business people. Connie indicated that under this program in Halifax there were over 50 borrowers and there was not one single case of a loan default. Connie indicated that forming the business credit groups was labour intensive and time consuming and that it took several meetings to reach a stage where a loan was recommended for approval. |
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| 5. |
Background Paper Review – Craig said that the review of the paper by the CLC members would be done at the next meeting when Delaine was present.
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| 6. |
Next Meeting Date –The next meeting will be at 6:00 pm, Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at the George Dixon Centre.
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| 7. |
Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 7:30pm.
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Return to Halifax CLC 2005 Meeting Minutes Page
