Ola! June 2009

Welcome to Ola!

Summer is here – a time of rest and relaxation. But this doesn’t mean our voices weaken or our advocacy fades: join us as we continue to speak out strongly to achieve justice for all.

Welcome to the June edition of Ola!, the monthly newsletter of Citizens for Public Justice. Read on to discover our latest happenings!

Canadian Social Forum

The week of May 19 to 22, CPJ staff members Chandra Pasma, Karri Munn-Venn and Mariel Angus attended the Canadian Social Forum in Calgary. The Forum was a great success and provided a space for rich and engaging discussions on poverty and related issues in Canada.

Policy analyst Chandra Pasma helped to lead a workshop on guaranteed livable income (GLI) that was hosted by Basic Income Earth Network - Canada. The workshop was very well attended, and the audience included Senator Art Eggleton and Member of Parliament Tony Martin. The workshop offered a presentation of GLI, followed by a lively discussion of the possibilities and the ramifications for Canada.

The same day, policy intern Mariel Angus presented a poster on childcare in Canada. The presentation demonstrated how childcare investments can help alleviate poverty and promote the equal status of women in Canada, and generated some thoughtful conversations between forum participants on childcare and gender equality.

To read more about our experiences, take a look at our blog and photos from the Forum!

Dignity for All campaign officially launched!

As part of the Canadian Social Forum, CPJ and Canada Without Poverty (CWP) launched Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada. The message of the campaign – "We believe in dignity for all" – was delivered in Blackfoot, English, French and Mandarin to the forum crowd of almost 500 participants. This multi-year, non-partisan, multi-partner campaign is calling on the federal government to take serious and strong action on poverty, in order to make Canada poverty-free by the year 2020.

Read more about the launch – and don’t forget to sign on and support the campaign! Over 600 people and 60 organizations have signed on in the last month – join this growing group and encourage the federal government to take action on poverty.

Canadian Evangelical Theological Association

On the evening of May 22, CPJ executive director Joe Gunn spoke on the topic of the Theological Foundation of CPJ’s Engagement with Government at an event sponsored by the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association, hosted at the Laurentian Leadership Centre in Ottawa. Joined by other speakers from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the National House of Prayer, Joe elaborated on the thoughts published in CPJ's document Public Justice: What does it mean for citizens, governments, and CPJ? A Guideline for Christian Faith and Public Life [PDF 178KB].

Joe echoed the saying of Jim Wallis, editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine, who views Christians as thermostats (that actually change the social/ecological temperature) rather than thermometers (that take the temperature of the world and adjust accordingly). Joe introduced the crowd to a concrete example of ecumenical and coalitional engagement strategy by highlighting CPJ’s role in the Dignity for All campaign.

Canada Student Forum

On May 27-28, policy intern Mariel Angus and policy analyst Chandra Pasma participated in some of the activities of the Canada Student Forum. Part of the National Prayer Breakfast activities, the Canada Student Forum brings together young people from across the country.

Mariel joined the students and attended a roundtable discussion with MPs on Wednesday. NDP MP Tony Martin, Conservative MP Joy Smith and Liberal MP John Mackay spoke about the role of faith in their political and personal lives. Small roundtable discussions were then held, and Mariel had the opportunity to meet with both Joy Smith and Conservative MP Chris Warkentin and engage with them in an interesting dialogue on faith and politics.

Chandra spoke as part of a Young Professionals panel on Thursday. She shared her journey to CPJ, describing how her education and experiences fostered a passion for justice from which she draws inspiration for her work at CPJ. Chandra also shared the work that CPJ is doing, and CPJ’s vision of public justice and its integration of faith in all of life.

Faith and Poverty Roundtable

How can we inspire people of faith to be part of the growing movement against poverty in Canada? This was the key question considered by a roundtable on faith and poverty, hosted by MP Tony Martin on June 3. Policy analyst Chandra Pasma attended on behalf of CPJ, and CPJ board chair Kathy Vandergrift was also at the event, representing the Canadian Council of Churches. The roundtable offered thoughtful dialogue on how we speak about poverty as people of faith, the role of churches and faith communities in contributing to a political process, and the ways in which religious language gets used as an argument for not getting involved in fighting poverty.

CPJ appears before HUMA Committee

On Tuesday June 9, 2009, CPJ policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn appeared before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities – commonly known at the HUMA committee – on the subject of the federal government’s role in reducing poverty.

The date of this presentation corresponded with the official Government of Canada response to the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council. Unfortunately, several recommendations dealing with social and economic rights were rejected, including the recommendation that Canada implement a national poverty eradication strategy that incorporates a human rights framework.

CPJ’s presentation stated that the federal government, with its particular policymaking, legislative, taxation and redistributive powers, has an especially critical role to play in building a poverty-free and more socially secure Canada. Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada was introduced (and was commended by MPs Michael Savage and Tony Martin), and a number of recommendations were presented. Read CPJ's full recommendations to the committee, along with our entire presentation [PDF 644KB].

It is anticipated that the HUMA committee will release its final report on the federal government’s role in poverty reduction by the end of 2009.

National Day of Reconciliation

June 11, 2009 marked the first anniversary of the official apology from the Canadian government to Indian Residential School Survivors. Events were held across the country, and offered a powerful opportunity to remember and reflect on the situation of Aboriginal people in Canada and, in particular, the legacy of the residential schools. It was also a time of hopeful anticipation for the future.

In Ottawa, First Nations elders and youth were joined by representatives of church and labour organizations, as well as parliamentarians, musicians, and many children. Various speakers acknowledged the challenges that Aboriginal peoples continue to face, and also celebrated their rich culture and traditions. As part of the call to look forward and to take action, Karri Munn-Venn and Rob Rainer (Canada Without Poverty) were honoured to participate in the program. Along with Geraldine King of the National Association of Friendship Centres, they introduced the Dignity for All campaign as part of a gathering that took place on Victoria Island prior to the march to Parliament Hill.

Dignity for All Campaign warmly received by NDP Caucus

MPs and Senators from a wide variety of political parties have voiced their support for the Dignity for All campaign. Recently, several NDP Members of Parliament have graciously endorsed the Dignity for All campaign.

Among them is the MP for Halifax, Megan Leslie. Karri Munn-Venn joined Canada Without Poverty colleagues Rob Rainer and Kelly Law in a meeting with Ms. Leslie on June 15. It was a wonderful opportunity to introduce CPJ, explore the various aspects of the Dignity for All campaign, and to learn more about the experience that Ms. Leslie brings to the House of Commons. She has a long history of social justice engagement in Halifax, including membership in the Community Coalition to End Poverty and the Affordable Energy Coalition. She offered her enthusiastic support for the work of the Dignity for All campaign.

CPJ meets with Liberal MPs

Also on June 15, Karri Munn-Venn and Rob Rainer (CWP) met with Liberal MPs David McGuinty and Marcel Proulx outside the House of Commons. Karri and Rob introduced the Dignity for All campaign, acknowledged the openness that several Liberal MPs have expressed towards more concrete federal action on poverty, and emphasized the urgency of the situation of poverty in Canada. Both Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Proulx welcomed the information and offered assurances that it would be duly considered.

KAIROS gathering

The present crises the world is facing reveal the twisted values that we have embraced, but it also provide a Kairos moment to pursue an alternative vision of love and care for the future. This was the major theme of the Kairos Gathering, “The End of the World as We Know It, Thank God!” held June 17-20 in Waterloo, Ontario. Policy analysts Karri Munn-Venn and Chandra Pasma were in attendance.

The week began with a day dedicated to examining poverty in Canada, which Chandra helped to facilitate as part of her work on the Kairos Canadian Social Development Committee. Former CPJ staffer Greg deGroot-Maggetti also presented on his successful work on the Ontario poverty reduction strategy. Times of dialogue inspired the participants to carry on the efforts to eradicate poverty across the country, while sharing success stories and challenges.

Karri led a workshop on the Dignity for All campaign that was enthusiastically received. As a result of a discussion on how to take the campaign back to our communities, participants committed to a number of creative campaign-related initiatives in B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

The rest of the week offered plenary speakers and workshops. CPJ member Sylvia Keesmaat spoke one morning about what an essential component care for the land is in the Biblical narrative. She also highlighted the connections between a lack of care for the land and Empire. CPJ member Harry Kits led a workshop on federal advocacy, while CPJ member Mike Hogeterp spoke as part of a panel on Afghanistan.

CPJ in Woodstock

Policy analyst Chandra Pasma visited Maranatha Christian Reformed Church in Woodstock, Ontario on June 21. Chandra shared the work of CPJ with the congregation and thanked them for their support. CPJ depends on the faithful financial support of congregations like Maranatha in order to do our work for justice in Canada. Chandra received a warm welcome from the church, and engaged in a number of good conversations about CPJ’s Dignity for All campaign.

Web features

Despite all of the busyness of conferences, travel and papers, our policy team has been updating our website with the usual web features. Read about our latest thoughts below – and check out our blog for even more insightful comments from CPJ!

EI reform now urgently needed

Canada's employment insurance system is broken. Even before the recession, it did not work well, as many workers were left with no coverage because they didn't qualify or ran out of benefits. The system could not react quickly enough to the crisis, leaving more workers out of the system while others waited up to six weeks before receiving benefits. We need to recapture our understanding of EI as part of the social contract with urgent reforms that will expand the reach of EI and ensure that adequate support is provided to unemployed Canadians. Read more...

A new beginning?

June 11 marks the one-year anniversary of the Government of Canada’s apology to First Nations for the attitudes and policies that led to the Indian Residential Schools.

At this significant moment, several questions arise. What difference has the apology made to the lives of Canada’s First Peoples? Have we changed the way that we, as Canadians and as Christians, engage with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters? Have we entered a time when Aboriginal peoples are seen and treated as valued members of Canadian society? Read more…

Tough on crime is hard on all of us

Last week, the latest “tough on crime” legislation was adopted by the House of Commons. Tough on crime approaches are a punitive approach to justice. They focus on incarceration, don’t offer healing to victims and offenders, and lead to high rates of repeat offending. They have also resulted in the incarceration of many poor, vulnerable and marginalized people. A restorative justice approach would lead to much better outcomes for victims, offenders and communities. Such an approach would also incarnate our faith values. Read more...

A time of recession: Trend lines in Canada

What are the trend lines in this time of recession and difficulty in Canada? How are we responding to this crisis? From Obama-mania spilling over the border to changes in international aid, discover some major trends emerging in Canada. Read an excerpt from executive director Joe Gunn's speech at the CPJ AGM on May 7, wherein he explores the trend lines that have emerged since the financial crisis struck in late 2008. Read more...

Spring 2009 Catalyst and book reviews

Our latest Catalyst hit the stands a few weeks ago – and we’re pleased to offer the complete newsletter online! This issue not only has our usual in-depth articles, it has book reviews from various CPJ supporters on books ranging from Calvinism, giving thanks, eating locally and much more. Check out the individual articles below, or see the Catalyst in its full format.

• Bob Goudzwaard explores the deep layers beneath the current economic recession in The Depth of the Global Economic Crisis: Peeling the Onion. Not content with analysing the issue on its surface, he explores the heart of the crisis, examining the role of money in our society and how we have come to idolize Money and all that it stands for.
• CPJ member Henk Smidstra, having taken a trip through northern BC last summer, writes about our tendency to board up our property and stick a “No Trespassing” sign on our door. But, as the article No Place to Go questions, is this truly the way Christ would have treated his neighbours in need?
• Policy analyst Chandra Pasma goes in-depth on Guaranteed Livable Incomes. Not sure what ‘income security’ refers to? Need a primer on what a livable income really is? In GLI: investing in income security, Chandra answers these questions and discusses one Manitoba-based income security experiment back in the 1970s.
• Paul Hansen reflects on his experience at the March pre-budget prayer vigil that was held outside of the Ontario Legislature. The Hour explores the deep connections and presence of God felt by all who came to pray that the budget would focus on addressing those most in need in the province.

Summer Book Reviews

• In recognition of Calvin’s 500th, Jack McLaughlin takes a look at the pertinence of Calvin’s theology today by reviewing Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport.
• Emily Hutten reflects on Greg Paul’s thoughtful work, The Twenty-Piece Shuffle, highlighting how Paul reminds us all of our shared journey.
• CPJ executive director Joe Gunn takes a stab at three books, all relating to the Alberta oil sands debate, in “Mordor” or “emerging energy superpower”? Looking at Stupid to the Last Drop, Tar Sands Showdown and Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent, Joe traces their shared themes and how the books build on each other, making a case for examining our current response to the oil sands.
• Sheila McKinley osu read A New Climate for Theology, appreciating how author Sallie McFague draws us out into a vision of life that includes both justice and sustainability.
• In reviewing Freedom of Simplicity, Karri Munn-Venn shares what was the hardest part of the book for her – the actual practice of simplicity.
• Mariel Angus reviews Managing Without Growth by Peter Victor. Victor discusses how our desire for continual economic growth may, in fact, be limiting, and calls us to slow down and shift our priorities.
• Economics for Everyone is an accessible, humorous, thoughtful guide to explaining economics, argues Chandra Pasma, discussing Jim Stanford’s latest work.
• What does is mean when you say “thank you”? Kathy Vandergrift reviews Margaret Visser’s exploration of this oft-stated social ritual in The Gift of Thanks.
• Maylanne Maybee read A Fair Country, the most recent book by John Ralston Saul, and discusses his thesis that Canadian institutions and culture are deeply rooted in Aboriginal values and practices.
• Where does your food come from? Mike Bulthuis reviews Edible Action: Food Activism and Alternative Economics, which not only seeks to grow our appreciation for good, tasty food, but also to encourage equal distribution of food, profit and healthy outcomes.

Former CPJ staff Lorraine Land awarded prestigious Gold Key Award

On May 20, Lorraine Land was awarded the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Gold Key Award to honour outstanding alumni who have made contributions to society and the profession of law. Lorraine was given the award because she has demonstrated high levels of achievement early in her chosen career; demonstrated leadership capability; and has made a recognizable contribution to the Law School and to the community at large.

Lorraine currently serves as the Director of Legal and Constitutional Law of the Government of Nunavut, where she oversees the territory's legal services and represents the Nunavut government in major land claims litigation. Lorraine worked for CPJ back in the 1990s, where she developed her passion for Aboriginal issues in Canada.

A prayer

Wondrous God,
We gather in your presence hoping in some way to touch you,
To see for ourselves the promise of new life
Emerging with each breath.
Gather up our lingering fears and confusion,
Meet us with your compassion and understanding,
Open our eyes to your love and grace surrounding us.
Open our ears to hear you calling us to new challenges;
Open our imaginations to new possibilities.
Help us to experience you standing in our midst, saying “peace.”
May our world and our lives be transformed by your healing, your presence,
And by the freshness of the new life that surrounds us in your love.

Amen.

For all at CPJ, Karen Diepeveen. Enjoy your summer delights – here’s hoping my first foray into vegetable gardening is successful! See you in July.