Governments and nonprofit organizations are becomingly increasingly intertwined in a complex policy dance as they attempt to improve service delivery to Canadians. Yet little is known about developments across the various jurisdictions.

This collection of conference papers and notes begins an important dialogue across the divides that exist nationally and internationally. Topics include the Voluntary Sector Initiative, regulatory and legislative reform, charity commissions, nongovernmental organizations abroad, civil society and volunteerism, privacy and language issues in the sector, and challenges facing governments and voluntary organizations as they learn to work together.

Improving Connections between Governments, Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations resulted from the Queen's Public Policy and Third Sector conference that brought together prominent Canadian representatives from the third sector, federal and provincial governments, and the academic community. Special contributions are included from Chief Charity Commissioner for England and Wales John Stoker, General Secretary for CARE International Guy Tousignant, and BC Minister of Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers Jenny Kwan.

Contributors include Susan Fletcher (PCO), Susan Carter (Voluntary Sector Secretariat), Patrick Monahan (Osgoode Hall), Arthur Drache (QC), Monica Patton (Community Foundations of Canada), Al Hatton (National Voluntary Organisations), Rainer Knopff (Calgary), Terry Goertzen (Manitoba), Hal Gerein (BC), Deena White (Université de Montréal), Michael Hall (Canadian Centre for Philanthropy), Paddy Bowen (Volunteer Canada), Miyo Yamashita (Mt. Sinai Hospital), David Cameron (University of Toronto), Penelope Rowe (Community Services Council), Vivian Randell (Newfoundland), Katherine Graham (Carleton), Tim Simboli (Ottawa Carleton Family Service Centre), Peter Levesque (CURA).