Ola! October 2008

Welcome

Greetings from Citizens for Public Justice – we hope you enjoy this October edition of our monthly e-newsletter Ola!

It’s been a busy month for us, but now the federal election has wrapped up and our new website www.cpj.ca has been launched. We’ll take some time to reflect on the past month’s political events below, but more importantly, together we can now look forward to speaking out for public justice more loudly than ever before.

Election 2008: wrap up

Well, the federal election of 2008 wrapped up last week on election day. It was a busy campaign, and our fourth one in eight years. While issues like poverty, homelessness and the growing income gap seemed to be off the party leaders’ agendas, public justice issues were most certainly discussed within communities. At all-candidates debates, Canadians concerned about justice asked probing questions and sought out real answers.

We at CPJ appreciated talking to you, the CPJ community, about the election and how to bring public justice issues to the table. We hope you found our resources, like our weekly Election Ola!s and our election bulletin, helpful. Please send any comments you may have on these resources to cpj@cpj.ca so that next time, we can make this dialogue even more effective.

So now, even with these election results almost mirroring last election’s outcome, we have a chance to continue to live out hopeful citizenship. The public justice questions asked of our candidates can now be asked of our newly-elected MPs. Don’t wait – contact your new MP right away to let them know what your concerns are. To get started, visit our Envisioning Canada Without Poverty campaign or check out our new advocacy toolkit on how you can begin a dialogue with your MP.

Election reflection: “I have to hope”

Blog post by Karri Munn-Venn
Like many Canadians, I have spent a lot of time over the last five weeks following the election. Somewhere along the line, I allowed myself to hope that on election day, we’d be heading towards a better Canada. Readmore…

CPJ members raise poverty issues with MPs

As part of our Envisioning Canada Without Poverty campaign, CPJ members have been visiting their elected representatives to discuss poverty in Canada and to encourage them to support a poverty reduction strategy.

Anton Brink of London, Ontario, has met with both his MP and his provincial elected representative. As part of the Public Justice Committee at Good News Christian Reformed Church, Anton and others have set up several visits and engaged in productive conversations.

He says, “Meeting your MP may seem intimidating; however, we’ve found ours to be very cordial and open to discussion. Citizen involvement is an encouragement to them, and may actually cause them to consider other angles on issues. Meeting your MPP and MP permits you to be involved in the political process in a small but real way, and is a good opportunity to let a Christian witness be heard in Canada’s political arena.”

Other CPJ members have sent an email or letter to their MP, getting varied responses. We encourage you to engage in this hopeful citizenship as well – together, our voices can speak out and make a change.

For information on visiting your MP about poverty reduction in Canada, visit our website www.canadawithoutpoverty.ca. Here you’ll find tips on meeting your MP, as well as information about poverty reduction to include in any dialogue you may have.

If you have already visited your MP, let us know! Together we can share our experiences and encourage one another to be a voice for public justice in Canada.

From Promise to Action: CPJ’s brief to the Human Rights Council’s Review of Canada

The UN’s Universal Periodic Review will be considering Canada’s record on human rights commitments in February, 2009. CPJ submitted a brief to the UPR as part of this review process, highlighting Canada’s record on poverty and suggesting a poverty reduction strategy as a best practice that would take effective action on poverty. Read more…

CPJ joins “Walk of Witness” for Millennium Development Goals

In 2000, world leaders gathered at the United Nations (UN) to adopt the Millennium Declaration, an agreement outlining eight goals related to human development – such as reducing global poverty and hunger – for nations to achieve by the year 2015.

World leaders met again on September 25, 2008 to assess the progress made on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to renew their commitments to achieving them by 2015. In support of the MDGs, CPJ staff joined members of the Anglican and Lutheran churches and other members of the community on September 25th for an ecumenical “Walk of Witness” in Ottawa.

This walk was part of a day of prayer, fasting and witness in solidarity with those living in hunger and poverty around the world. The walk began at noon and took us through downtown Ottawa, stopping at various monuments along the way to pray for the achievement of each MDG.

The march ended at the United Nations Association in Canada (which happens to share an office building with CPJ!) and a joint public statement was read by the Primate of the Anglican Church and the National Bishop of the Lutheran Church. The walk was a meaningful way to acknowledge the commitments our world leaders have made towards ending global poverty, and reminded us of the work that must still be done to ensure that these promises are kept.

Mapping poverty reduction initiatives

On Saturday, September 27, the Canadian Council on Social Development hosted the event, “Mapping Poverty Reduction Initiatives.” The goal of the gathering was to begin mapping the different kinds of poverty-reduction work being done across the country and to begin to create a virtual national poverty network to share ideas, knowledge, experience and expertise.

CPJ’s socio-economic policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn joined 35 organizations representing every Canadian province and territory, including community coalitions, health regions and social planning councils, refugee service organizations and food banks, as well as national organizations and coalitions. Each organization shared their poverty-reduction goals and initiatives as well as some of the challenges they face in their work. They also shared grassroots experience and inspiration.

A range of themes, including several CPJ priority issues – affordable housing, livable incomes, and taxation – were identified as requiring federal and provincial government attention. And, despite the diversity of the organizations present and the informal nature of the gathering, an important consensus emerged: poverty needs to be addressed with a federal poverty reduction strategy.

Looking forward, participants noted that the first Canadian Social Forum, planned for May 2009 in Calgary, would be a valuable opportunity for organizations and individuals to convene once again to envision Canada without poverty.

Galilee Centre workshop

On October 4, policy analyst Chandra Pasma was at the Galilee Centre in Arnprior, Ontario to help lead an all-day workshop “An End to Poverty in Canada.” Rob Rainer of the National Anti-Poverty Organization and Felicite Stairs, a local anti-poverty activist, were Chandra’s co-hosts.The group explored questions such as the nature of poverty, solutions to poverty, how to organize locally against poverty, and a faith perspective on poverty. We dialogued together about what inspires us and motivates us to work for an end to poverty.The workshop was a day of learning and encouragement for everyone involved.

Successful debate on poverty and inequality

CPJ worked with the National Anti-Poverty Organization, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and 31 other social justice organizations to organize a national debate on poverty and inequality. The October 6 event, held in Ottawa, included the participation of Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay, NDP candidate (and former Liberal MP) Françoise Boivin, Green Party candidate Jen Hunter, and Bloc Québécois MP Réal Ménard. Regrettably, the Conservative Party neither confirmed nor denied their participation ahead of the event and did not send a representative to the debate.

It was a lively yet collegial debate, as each candidate highlighted the elements of their party platform as it relates to poverty. The discussion often came back to shared perspectives as candidates answered prepared questions on issues like the growing income gap between rich and poor; party commitments to developing a federal strategy on poverty; and addressing poverty among Aboriginal Canadians, children, visible minorities, people with disabilities, single women with children, and recent newcomers. For a summary of party platforms, see CPJ’s“Election 2008: Poverty is an Issue”. Over 300 people attended the debate and it was covered by CTV, Maclean’s, and the Ottawa Citizen.

It is worth noting that Martha Hall Findlay (Lib) was re-elected in the Toronto riding of Willowdale and Réal Ménard (BQ) was re-elected in Hochelaga. Françoise Boivin (NDP) was narrowly defeated in Gatineau and Jen Hunter (Green) was defeated in Ottawa Centre.

CPJ in B.C.

Early in October, CPJ’s executive director, Joe Gunn, travelled to Prince George B.C. where he was the main speaker at a conference entitled, “Pilgrims with the Earth.” Over two days, Joe presented five keynote addresses on the relationship of Christian faith and the need for ecological conversion.

An audience of 180 teachers, church workers and clergy from as far away as Prince Rupert (eight hours by car) attended these animated discussions. People in the B.C. Interior know ecological destruction first-hand: an astounding number of trees have been killed in the region from bug infestations encouraged by climate change, a reality which will affect the livelihoods of generations to come. Joe’s presentations made the point that if current trends continue…we will not. And religion that has nothing to say to this epochal challenge runs the risk of becoming an obsolete distraction.

Joe also spent a few days in the Lower Mainland. CPJ board member Annie McKitrick, of Victoria, helped introduce him to some of the many people who support and encourage the work for public justice through their church or community initiatives. In the Vancouver area, the main concern centers on the housing crisis and attendant concerns with high levels of poverty, issues which CPJ will continue to address.

International day for the Eradication of Poverty event

Every day, 50,000 people around the world die as a result of extreme poverty. And here in Canada, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. On October 17th, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, an estimated 100 million people participated in a worldwide campaign to Stand Up and Take Action against poverty. CPJ joined together with the National Anti-Poverty Coalition (NAPO) and the Ottawa District Labour Council (ODLC) to organize a noon-hour gathering to Stand Up against poverty and demonstrate support for the Millennium Development Goals.

CPJ staff members Karri Munn-Venn, Michael Krakowiak, Danielle Tracey and Mariel Angus attended the event in Ottawa, which was held at the Dorothy O'Connell Monument to Anti-Poverty Activism. Together with approximately fifty members of the community, we Stood Up in solidarity with those living in poverty, both in Canada and around the world.

CPJ’s socio-economic policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn spoke about the issue of poverty from a public justice perspective. She was joined by Michael Creek from NAPO, Sean McKenny from the ODLC, Dennis Howlett from Make Poverty History and Kat Fortin from ACORN Ottawa, who each shared their perspectives on poverty and what we must do to eradicate it. The event was an important reminder of the devastating effects that poverty has in our communities, and the powerful messages that can be conveyed when people join together in solidarity.

Faith in Diversity – October 28

Join CPJ as Dr. Jonathan Chaplin speaks about Faith in Diversity: Integrity and Solidarity in a Plural Society. How can we balance these two poles of faith and diversity? Jonathan will explore how we can live out our faith in an increasingly diverse society, contributing to constructive public discourse for the common good while maintaining our distinctive traditions and integrity.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008
6-9 pm
Institute for Christian Studies
2nd Floor, 229 College Street
Toronto, Ontario

6:00 pm: Wine and cheese reception
7:00 pm: Faith in Diversity: Integrity and Solidarity in a Plural Society
Lecture by Dr. Jonathan Chaplin
8:00 pm: Coffee and dessert social

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Suzanne at 1-800-667-8046 ext 228 or by email suzanne@cpj.ca.

New website launches!

On October 9, CPJ members, staff, board members, partner organizations and local election candidates gathered to celebrate the launch and new look of CPJ’s website, www.cpj.ca! We also eagerly introduced our new advocacy toolkit. Words of welcome were given by Joe Gunn, CPJ executive director, followed with a prayer by board member Lisa Chisholm-Smith.

CPJ summer student Maria van Geest, author of CPJ’s new advocacy toolkit, spoke about this exciting new resource. Read more about the advocacy toolkit below. CPJ’s communication technology specialist, Michael Krakowiak, then talked about all of the exciting new features on www.cpj.ca.

“The new website is a great way for Canadians across the country to engage in public justice dialogue,” Michael said. “Our new blog – updated daily – will address justice issues as they emerge. And the search feature is very effective. There are so many more tools available – I encourage everyone to come and check out the new www.cpj.ca!”

Board chair Kathy Vandergrift also made comments about the importance of expanding and continuing the public justice dialogue across the country.

We encourage you to explore our new website and expand the dialogue around living out hopeful citizenship. Look for other new website features, such as our community forum, coming soon!

New: Advocacy Toolkit on-line

Along with our website, on October 9, CPJ officially launched its new advocacy toolkit. With extensive guidelines on how to be an effective advocate, the advocacy toolkit gives you the information you need to be a voice for justice. Wondering how to call your MP or how to organize a petition? Look no further than this helpful resource!

Our on-line version of the advocacy toolkit includes the entire toolkit in accessible and user-friendly form. If you would like a hard copy of the toolkit, call or email us at 1-800-667-8046 or cpj@cpj.ca.

Many thanks to Maria van Geest, CPJ’s 2008 summer student, for doing a superb job of authoring this thorough toolkit.

Welcome new CPJ staff

Throughout September, CPJ had the privilege of welcoming three new staff to our team. First, Mariel Angus joined us as our new policy intern. A recent graduate of the University of Guelph, Mariel will be with us for the coming year, working on a plethora of policy issues. She’s already been a very active CPJer – visit Mariel’s blog on our new website to read about her experiences so far!

We were also very excited to welcome Karri Munn-Venn. Karri is CPJ’s socio-economic policy analyst, and comes to CPJ with a long history in the international development community, policy analysis and government relations. Not afraid to get her feet wet, Karri has already co-ordinated several anti-poverty events – you can read about one of these, the all-party poverty debate, above.

And finally, Trinity Western University student Danielle Tracy joined us mid-September. Spending the semester at the Laurentian Leadership Centre, Danielle has been researching the growing income gap, as well as exploring issues around diversity in Canada as part of our policy work.

Please extend a warm welcome to our newest CPJ team members when you have the opportunity to do so!

A thanksgiving prayer

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;

When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;

When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;

When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,

And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;

Bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;

By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Amen.

By Samuel F. Pugh

For all at CPJ, Karen Diepeveen. Enjoy these last days of fall colours – barring yet another election call (who knows with minority governments?!), we’ll see you mid-November.