Ola! February 2009

Table of Contents [hide]

• CPJ hosts poverty workshops in Southern Ontario
• Parliament resumes
• Liberals on poverty reduction
• Human rights review
• NAPO unveils new name
• Ontario community conversation on poverty
• Blueprint for poverty reduction
• CPJ in Sault Ste. Marie
• Environment heaves a sigh at government neglect
• Web features
• Federal budget analysis
• Strengthening women’s equality through childcare
• Barack or Stephen: who really stimulates you?
• CPJ in Northern Alberta
• Public justice internship – applications due soon!
• BC electoral reform – call for volunteers
• Carbon Sabbath for Lent
• International Women’s Day– March 8
• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – March 21, 2009
• A Psalm to widen our tents

Welcome to the February 2009 Ola!

Feb. 20 was the World Day of Social Justice – around the globe, people gathered to raise awareness about persistent injustices. Speaking out together, they advocated for real and substantial change.

Welcome to Ola!, the e-newsletter of Citizens for Public Justice. Let us continue to use our voices and actively work for justice in our communities and our country. Below, in addition to our regular news, you’ll find a responsive Psalm used worldwide as part of the Feb. 20 gatherings.

CPJ hosts poverty workshops in Southern Ontario

In late January, CPJ led a series of poverty advocacy workshops in Southern Ontario. Policy analysts Chandra Pasma and Karri Munn-Venn and policy intern Mariel Angus travelled to Kitchener, Toronto and Whitby on January 22 to 24 to host the three workshops.

The workshops raised awareness of poverty in Canada through discussions about the meaning of poverty, and encouraged participants to engage in advocacy through dialoguing with their MPs. Held the week before the federal budget was announced, the workshops particularly focused on the impact of the economic crisis on low-income people in Canada, and the need for greater government support for the vulnerable.

Altogether, the workshops engaged over 90 people in the region on the importance of poverty advocacy. Read more about the highlights from the workshops. Thanks to all who participated!

Parliament resumes

On Jan. 26, Members of Parliament and Senators returned to Parliament Hill for the start of the 2nd session of the 40th Parliament. The Speech from the Throne was read, and the following day the government announced its budget for the coming year.

CPJ’s Alternative Speech from the Throne, which differed from the actual, very short throne speech read by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, centered on public justice issues. Authored by board co-chair Kathy Vandergrift, the alternative speech presented a public justice approach by focusing on issues including poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

The government’s budget, while taking the economic crisis seriously, failed to include any measures for the most vulnerable Canadians – those so poor, they are not even paying taxes. Read CPJ’s full response to the budget, and check out our blog for further in-depth analysis.

As Parliament continues, CPJ looks forward to engaging with MPs and seeking out new opportunities to advocate for public justice policy change.

Liberals on poverty reduction

CPJ’s executive director Joe Gunn met with three Liberal MPs a few hours before the federal budget was released on January 27. Accompanied by two staff from Canada Without Poverty, the discussion centered on how the Liberals planned to eradicate poverty.

MPs Ken Dryden (York Centre), Mike Savage (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour) and Justin Trudeau (Papineau) spoke glowingly of their party’s poverty reduction program and of their leader Michael Ignatieff’s intention to evaluate this budget based on its ability to “protect the vulnerable.” The Liberals were unconvinced that the government would deliver a stimulus plan to assist the poor, arguing that Conservative “core values” were actually designed to “emasculate the federal government to avoid it from doing good.”

Mr. Savage’s speech after the budget criticized the government for not doing enough for the poor, although most Liberals voted to pass the bill and avoid another election.

Human rights review

In February, the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (HRC) reviewed Canada’s record on all human rights. For this Universal Periodic Review (UPR), CPJ submitted a brief entitled From Promise to Action, which discussed Canada’s record on poverty, laying out the need for immediate action. CPJ’s brief was then cited twice in one of the HRC’s briefs to the working group.

The working group, composed of UN member countries, reviewed Canada’s record and made recommendations for how Canada could proceed. Read policy analyst Chandra Pasma’s response to the review. The working group’s final report included calls from several countries for Canada to create a federal poverty reduction strategy. Other countries recommended Canada take action to reduce socio-economic inequality, especially amongst Aboriginal groups.

CPJ hopes that Canada’s government will take this review seriously, implementing the recommendations laid out in the final report.

NAPO unveils new name

On Tuesday February 3, CPJ staff members Joe Gunn, Chandra Pasma, Karri Munn-Venn and Mariel Angus attended an exciting event at the Ottawa Public Library.

The National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO) launched their new public name­ – Canada Without Poverty (CWP) – and their newly revised logo, an image of a sun rising above darkness.

The evening was a celebration of NAPO’s past work and a chance to reflect on our collective responsibility to combat poverty in Canada. CPJ staff attended the event to show support for Canada Without Poverty and promote the upcoming Dignity for All campaign, a joint initiative between CPJ and CWP. CPJ board co-chair Kathy Vandergrift spoke at the event, expressing excitement about the new name and the upcoming campaign. Read more…

Ontario community conversation on poverty

On Tuesday, February 3, Deb Matthews, the Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, was in Ottawa for a “community conversation” on the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy. The meeting was hosted by local Member of the Provincial Parliament Yasir Naqvi. CPJ’s socio-economic policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn took part in the conversation.

Most people present were either front-line workers or people struggling in poverty themselves. It was useful to hear what Minister Matthews had to say – for example, that the focus on children is seen as the first step, and that the Ontario Government will soon be introducing legislation to set an ongoing commitment to address poverty.

But it was far more interesting to hear from members of the local community. They wanted to know about assistance for poor people as they become seniors, potential rate increases to the Ontario Disability Support Program, the racialization of poverty, structural barriers faced by immigrants, and concrete measures being taken to address the needs of poor children today.

The distressing personal stories that accompanied these questions made it clear that while the Ontario poverty reduction strategy is undoubtedly a positive step, there is still a long, long way to go.

Blueprint for poverty reduction

On February 12, the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction released A Blueprint for Economic Stimulus and Poverty Reduction in Ontario in which they outline how the Ontario Government could reduce poverty in Ontario by 15% within the next three years. CPJ supports the 25 in 5 declaration, which calls for a poverty-free Ontario, and Karri Munn-Venn spoke about the new blueprint on Radio Canada’s “L’Ontario aujourd’hui” and “Boréal express.”

CPJ in Sault Ste. Marie

CPJ policy analyst Chandra Pasma was in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario last week at the invitation of St. Andrew’s United Church. Chandra and her colleague, Rob Rainer, executive director of Canada Without Poverty, spoke at a two-night forum on poverty at St. Andrew’s. Rob gave an overview of poverty and income inequality in Canada and led the audience in a discussion about what kinds of programs and services are necessary to eliminate poverty and inequality. Chandra spoke about the moral imperative for faith communities to get involved in the fight against poverty and led the audience in brainstorming about what kinds of activities we should be engaging in to advocate for an end to poverty.

During the day, local MP Tony Martin organized a tour of local poverty initiatives for Chandra and Rob. They visited a food bank, soup kitchen, community clothing program, men’s shelter, youth shelter and Indian friendship centre. Everyone welcomed Rob and Chandra warmly. They eagerly shared about their work, the face of poverty in Sault Ste. Marie, and their frustration with constant crisis management instead of adequate funding and government action to eliminate poverty.

Chandra and Rob also had the opportunity to share what they learned and to reflect on the national situation with the local media. This information and the new connections formed will help to inspire and build the new CPJ-CWP campaign, Dignity for All, as we work to build a national movement against poverty in Canada.

Read Chandra's blog post about her visit to Sault Ste. Marie.

Environment heaves a sigh at government neglect

CPJ executive director Joe Gunn's monthly column entitled “Journey to Justice” appears in the Western Catholic Reporter and the Prairie Messenger. An excerpt from his January column is below.

Last month, the environment uttered a huge sigh.

During economic downturns, the Earth usually gets a break. Human beings tend to mine less, manufacture less, pollute less, cut fewer trees and burn less energy while vacationing, even as the price of fuel falls.

Yet, last month, if the Canadian environment listened to our policymakers, its sigh was not one of relief. Read more…

Web features

Our recent web features have touched on a variety of issues, from childcare to President Obama’s visit to the federal budget. Read all of these below!

Federal budget analysis

Budget 2009 takes the economic crisis seriously, and CPJ supports the government’s decision to run a short-term deficit and stimulate the economy through spending. However, CPJ is disappointed by the absence of a poverty reduction strategy, or any significant measures to help the most vulnerable Canadians.

The budget also missed an opportunity to invest in social infrastructure and to make our economy greener and more sustainable. Such initiatives would have assisted those most impacted by the recession, created greater economic stimulus, and promoted a sustainable economy. Read more…

Strengthening women’s equality through childcare

While women in Canada enjoy relative equality in comparison to many other countries around the world, gender inequalities still exist. Government policies can help strengthen the status of women by offering opportunities for women to participate more fully in society. One such policy is childcare. Accessible, affordable, quality childcare can help promote women’s equality by assisting them with their domestic caring responsibilities and enabling them to engage in the paid workforce if they choose. Read more...

Barack or Stephen: who really stimulates you?

On February 19, Barack Obama flew into Ottawa for his first presidential trip outside the United States. His host, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is yearning for some of his visitor’s high approval ratings to rub off here at home.

Although such visits are highly controlled and orchestrated affairs, comparisons of the two leaders’ characters, styles and (hopefully) policies will be unavoidable. Most notably, while both leaders have advocated massive spending packages to get their economies growing again, the differences between the ways they stimulate are starkly evident. Read more…

CPJ in Northern Alberta

Darryl Exelby, CPJ’s membership and development officer, will be in Northern Alberta in early March. He’ll start out in Athabasca on March 1, where he’ll speak at Sunset Beach Reformed Church and connect with local CPJ members. He’ll then head down to Edmonton for a few days.

If you’re a student at The King’s University College, be sure to come out on March 2 to meet Darryl and share your ideas about advocacy and how to make a difference. He’ll be at King’s from 5-7 p.m. in Theatre Room N101 – pizza will be served to all hungry students!

Darryl will then spend a few days connecting with Edmonton CPJ members, and will give a short talk at the spring meeting of Classis Alberta North, a group of over 25 Christian Reformed Church congregations in the area.

If you have the chance, please welcome Darryl warmly!

Public justice internship – applications due soon!

Application deadline: 9 a.m., March 16, 2009

Calling all recent university grads: the application deadline for CPJ’s 2009/2010 internship is fast approaching! Are you troubled by issues of poverty and homelessness? Or do questions of economic distribution spark your interest? Does the mere mention of Parliament Hill command your attention?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, CPJ wants you to apply. Our public justice internship is the perfect opportunity for recent grads to test the policy waters and learn about federal politics, policy change and public justice. This unique year-long experience includes opportunities to meet with MPs, advocate for justice, and contribute to CPJ’s thoughtful policy work.

Fill out the application form or read more about the internship. Questions? Email jobs |at| cpj.ca.

BC electoral reform – call for volunteers

BC’s upcoming spring election will include another referendum on changing the electoral system.

Back in 2004, a Citizens’ Assembly of people from across the province gathered research about the current system, as well as alternatives, and proposed that the current First Past the Post system be changed. The alternative suggested was a Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system. A first referendum was held in 2005, but concerns raised about insufficient education for voters about STV prompted another referendum and the creation of a Referendum Information Office.

BC voters will have a chance to make their choice on May 12, but for now, the STV supporters are looking for help. There is great need for volunteers in all kinds of capacities. The province is divided into regions, each with its own Regional Director and grassroots support group. To contact the group nearest you and find out what is happening in your area, please visit the BC-STV site (www.stv.ca).

Carbon Sabbath for Lent

The season of Lent is fast approaching, giving us an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between our faith and daily life. One way to do this is to join KAIROS’s Carbon Sabbath Initiative. This three-year campaign, called Re-energize: Time for a Carbon Sabbath, encourages individuals and faith communities to work towards reducing their carbon consumption by making changes in their daily lives.

The campaign is a chance to reflect on the relationship between faith, climate change and justice, and to raise awareness about the harmful effects of carbon consumption on our planet. With the Season of Lent almost upon us, participating in the Carbon Sabbath Initiative is a good way to reflect on the ecological gifts with which we are blessed, and to make a difference on climate change. Visit the Re-energize website today!

International Women’s Day– March 8

In 1975, the United Nations declared March 8 to be International Women’s Day (IWD). Since then, this day has grown into a week-long series of events around the world to celebrate women’s achievements and raise awareness about the challenges many women still face.

International Women’s Week begins on March 2 and wraps up with International Women’s Day on March 8. This year’s theme is Strong Leadership + Strong Women + Strong World = Equality. The theme reflects the belief that increasing women’s participation in leadership roles will help empower them to live out their lives more fully in society.

This year’s celebrations will be numerous – 376 events in 31 countries! In Vancouver, a group of NGOs will be hosting a panel of speakers to discuss the successes and challenges of the women’s movement. In Toronto, the 4Life Foundation is hosting a “Women of Inspiration” event, and the Women’s Centre of Calgary will be hosting a celebration and potluck in their city.

For more events in your area, check out the International Women’s Day website.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – March 21, 2009

On March 21, 1960, police in Sharpeville, South Africa opened fire on a group of peaceful demonstrators and killed 69 people for resisting their country’s apartheid laws.

Six years later, the United Nations declared March 21 the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, calling on all governments around the world to put an end to all forms of racial discrimination. Apartheid no longer exists in South Africa, but the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination has yet to be universally ratified, and racial discrimination persists in many parts of the world.

In 1989, Canada was the first country to hold a national March 21st campaign to raise awareness about this important issue. The Government of Canada hosts an annual video contest for youth to raise awareness about racism – you can view past winning videos and find out more information about Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism. Let’s continue to work together to eliminate racial discrimination!

A Psalm to widen our tents

In recognition of the World Day of Social Justice on Feb. 20, below you’ll find a responsive prayer developed by members of the Commission for Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation of the USG/UISG Secretariat in Rome.

Adapted by jfb/jos3.viii.94 from M.T. Winter. WomanWisdom Crossword Publications. 1991: p. 105. (Available online).

For all at CPJ, Karen Diepeveen. Blessings as you continue to weather this winter – we’ll meet again in March!