The hope of Christmas extends beyond our homes and workplaces and into all aspects of our world. The good news Christ ushered in nearly two thousand years ago is a message of hope. Christmas is not simply that Christ has come, but that in that small baby lying humbly in a manger, we can hope. Despite all that is falling apart in our lives, our communities, and the world around us, we can hope for something different. Read more »
By Rebekah Sears | Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 - 3:02PM
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In the past month, Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney has been announcing a series of small changes to Canada’s immigration policies. The most recent changes concern the Live-in Caregivers program. This program is just one of many within Canada’s Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) Program, allowing qualified individuals to provide care to children, elderly people or people with disabilities within a private home.
On Saturday Kenney announced what he called “significant improvements” for Live-in Caregivers (LiCs) in Canada. Read more »
Controversy swirls as world leaders prepare to gather in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Summit. Global warming caused by human action is still denied by some, while others perceive it to be the defining issue of our age. How are we to know what to believe? For CPJ members, a public justice framing of the complexities of climate change yields some helpful perspectives. Read more »
The Chair of the Board of CPJ wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to request that the federal government reconsider its decision to discontinue funding for KAIROS – Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. Funding from the Canadian International Development Agency to KAIROS’ international programs was used to support 21 grassroots groups working for social justice and human rights, as well as to facilitate development education in Canada. On November 30th, KAIROS learned that its proposal for $7 million over three years was turned down, even though CIDA had previously funded these programs of the Canadian churches for over 30 years. The explanation given was that the proposal did not meet CIDA’s criteria. The CPJ letter raised the Board’s concern that the cut could be part of a trend to discontinue funding to groups which raise questions about government policies. Read more »
Signed by most states, the UDHR is an important benchmark in the development of international human rights standards. The 30 articles outline the basic principles, rights, dignities and freedoms to which every person is entitled. Some of these include the right to fair and equal treatment under the law, freedom of expression and thought, and the right to an adequate standard of living. Read more »
By Karri Munn-Venn | Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 - 4:58PM
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Earlier this afternoon, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Cities released, In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness.In a press conference on the report, Senator Art Eggleton, Committee Chair stated that Canada’s system of lifting people out of poverty is substantially broken and needs to be fixed. Read more »
Human rights are often defined in terms of political and civil liberties. However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed 61 years ago this December, also includes economic and social rights. As the world attempts to recover from the impacts of a global economic crisis, the need for protection of such rights is greater than ever. Such need has prompted individuals and organizations in Canada and abroad to pressure governments to get involved, creating opportunities for fresh action in the promotion of human rights. Read more »
By Rebekah Sears | Friday, December 4th, 2009 - 1:59PM
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As of late we’ve have been hearing a lot about political flyers known as “ten-percenters.” These refer to flyers that Members of Parliament (MPs) are allowed to send to other constituencies, up to a number equivalent to ten percent of the constituents in their own ridings. The costs of producing and mailing them are covered by taxpayers.
Some recent reports about ten-percenters have called them anything but constructive. Instead they are being used as blatant attack ads, with the use of strong and often exaggerated phrases or images, if not outright lies.
Faithful citizenship cannot be enhanced whenever the real issues take a backseat to personal attacks. Read more »
By Rebekah Sears | Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 - 9:52AM
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On Monday Human Resources minister Diane Findley in partnership with Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced a new initiative to speed up the recognition process of the foreign credentials for incoming immigrants in several specific occupations. This proposal is in response to the vast number of educated professionals entering Canada whose credentials are not approved and who therefore cannot attain jobs in their fields of expertise. Read more »
The hope of Christmas extends beyond our homes and workplaces and into all aspects of our world. The good news Christ ushered in nearly two thousand years ago is a message of hope. Christmas is not simply that Christ has come, but that in that small baby lying humbly in a manger, we can hope. Despite all that is falling apart in our lives, our communities, and the world around us, we can hope for something different. 
Controversy swirls as world leaders prepare to gather in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Summit. Global warming caused by human action is still denied by some, while others perceive it to be the defining issue of our age. How are we to know what to believe? For CPJ members, a public justice framing of the complexities of climate change yields some helpful perspectives. 
