Election 2008: A Public Justice Vision for Canada

There is less than a week to go before the federal election. Party leaders and candidates continue to campaign diligently in an effort to attract voters on election day. Over the last five weeks, many issues of public concern have been discussed in the media, during the leaders’ debates, and in local ridings across Canada. The economy, the environment, poverty, and affordable housing have often competed with one another for our attention.

But there has been much less discussion of how these issues relate to one another, and how they can form a larger picture of the kind of society in which we live. When an issue is addressed as an individual problem, isolated from its wider context, it can be more easily framed to benefit campaign strategies or partisan objectives. This can make it difficult to look past the political rhetoric and ask questions about the underlying values that often support the positions being debated.

Participating in the political process allows us to express our values about what kind of society we want, and enables us to promote public policies that manifest those beliefs. A public justice perspective challenges us to examine election issues according to how they promote compassion, care for creation, and well-being for all. It urges us to go deeper in examining election topics, beyond the partisan posturing that is so often part of an election campaign.

While it is important to address issues such as poverty and homelessness on an individual basis, it can also be helpful to frame those issues within a larger vision of the kind of country we want as a whole, and the values we believe our society should promote. A vision can be described as a clear idea of the guiding principles that should be used to shape Canada. A public justice vision of Canada seeks justice and compassion within social relationships, promotes care for creation, and reflects God’s call for love, justice and stewardship.

As voters, citizens, and people of faith, we must conscientiously examine our own values and encourage public policies that support those convictions. In doing so, we must ask ourselves: what is our vision of Canada? Does this vision encourage human flourishing and protect the integrity of creation? Will it promote the building of a just, peaceful and environmentally sustainable country? These are important questions that do not have quick or simple answers. But they provide a window to examine individual issues that can reveal the underlying values supporting current policies, and how they may be changed to reflect compassion for all and care for creation.

For example, the financial crisis in the United States has led to fears of economic instability in Canada, and questions have been raised as to which party would be most competent to manage our economy through difficult times. Examining the issue of economic instability from a public justice standpoint raises questions about what kind of policies would benefit the common good and protect the most vulnerable members of our society. In difficult economic times, it is easy to focus on our own personal circumstances and not look at the broader impact that joblessness and scarce resources can have on the poor and marginalized in our communities. However, in times of economic hardship, these are the groups that feel the impact most severely, and often do not receive the necessary social and economic support to ensure that their needs are met.

Public justice supports government policies that ensure every Canadian has access to the resources to meet their basic needs and enjoy quality of life – not only in a material sense, but socially, culturally and spiritually as well. Policies that address poverty, promote a living wage, and ensure adequate housing for all promote a just society. Providing access to quality health care, welcoming and supporting refugees and other newcomers into Canada, and doing our part to support international development efforts promotes a compassionate society. And sustaining a healthy environment for future generations promotes care for creation.

By asking ourselves, our friends, and our neighbours what kind of vision we have for Canada, we can look beyond the partisan language often found during an election campaign and focus our perspective of individual issues into a more holistic view of how we envision our society. A public justice perspective challenges us to vote according to our values and in support of a better Canada.