Ola! October-November 2010

Welcome to the October/November edition of Ola!, the e-newsletter for Citizens for Public Justice. October 17 was the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It is an important reminder of both the need for and the possibility of change. But how can we create a better world? Join us this week as we welcome world-renowned author and economist, David Korten to Ottawa, and explore this issue together! Read on for more information.

Red Tent Event and Bill C-304 (for a National Housing Strategy)

On October 19 CPJ’s Karri Munn-Venn, Darryl Exelby, David Pollock, Callie Cochrane and Jenny Prosser unfurled the Dignity for All banner and joined the Red Tent Campaign on Parliament Hill in calling for a national affordable housing strategy. NDP MP and author of Bill C-304, Libby Davies was joined by the Raging Grannies and others in addressing the rally before we erected 100 red tents along Wellington Street. The tents were then carried down Elgin to the Human Rights Monument. The line of red tents made a dramatic statement that those passing could not fail to notice: Housing is a human right and Canada needs a national affordable housing strategy.

Following the Red Tent Rally, Karri joined François Saillant and Véronique Laflamme of the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain-FRAPRU (a Montreal-based housing rights organization) in a conversation with Bloc Québécois MPs Christian Ouellet (Brome—Missisquoi) and Yves Lessard (Chambly–Borduas). A difficult discussion on social housing and federal-provincial jurisdictional responsibilities was made easier by our agreement that housing is a human right.

Then, on the evening of October 20, Jenny went to the House of Commons to witness the first hour of third reading debate on this Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians.

We, along with our many colleagues, were pleased to hear three of the four parties in the House speak in favour of the legislation! Further debate will take place next week, after which the bill is expected to be referred back to committee for an amendment to secure the support of the Bloc Québecois.

The Great Turning – David Korten comes to Ottawa October 29

CPJ would like to invite you to an evening with David Korten, an American economist, author, and former Professor of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. Join us and others as we talk more about David’s book, The Great Turning. The Great Turning is a call to humanity to reject a society based on domination, ecological destruction and unshared material wealth and to embrace a new way of living based on partnership, community and respect for all of life’s richness. Additional guest speakers include: Kathy Vandergrift, Bruce Campbell, Tony Clark. The event will be hosted by CBC’s Laurie Fagan. Please join us October 29, 2010, 7:30pm at the 211 Bronson Centre (Bronson at Primrose Ave, Ottawa). Contact Darryl Exelby (613-232-0275 ext: 226) at CPJ for more details and tickets.

For those in the London area, David Korten will be speaking on Thursday, October 28 at King’s University College at 7:30 pm. Admission is free.

Climate Change as a Moral Issue

Whose responsibility is it to deal with the effects of climate change? On September 29 CPJ’s Joe Gunn, Callie Cochrane and Jenny Prosser attended a panel discussion (organized by CPJ, among others) on climate change as a moral issue. The evening featured speakers from non-governmental organizations, as well as a few Members of Parliament. Together they emphasized that climate change is indeed a moral issue and it is disproportionately affecting the world’s poor and vulnerable. The speakers urged participants to get active, get involved and get political representatives on board as well. If the Canadian public does not make this a priority, they said, its politicians never will. For more information see Jenny’s blog post.

Poverty & Punchlines: Laughter with a Message!

Several CPJ staff and board members – Joe Gunn, Karri Munn-Venn, Chandra Pasma, Callie Cochrane, Jenny Prosser, and Mike Bulthuis – enjoyed a hearty guffaw at Poverty & Punchlines: Laughter with a Message! on October 15. The event was a fundraiser for our colleague organization Canada Without Poverty. With comedians Mary Walsh, Steve Patterson and Don Kelly the night was full of light-hearted fun. However, beneath the laughter it was clear that people were there for a serious reason, as shown in the interest many displayed in the Dignity for All information table. Guest speaker Ed Broadbent eloquently expressed the overall theme of the night: that in a country such as ours there is no reason for the poverty levels we see. Canada can and should do better and it is up to Canadians to ensure that political will is created to address poverty and inequality.

Corporate Social Responsibility – in your own backyard

Have you ever thought about the social impact that your business could have on the community where you live, your employees, or the hundreds of people that interact with it every day? As people blessed with the position and opportunity to create positive social benefits, corporate social responsibility mandates that we do so for those in need in our communities. Maybe for the Christian entrepreneur that means creating an environment where people can express their love of God and their care for others. Or perhaps, being called to be actively involved in such socially responsible initiatives, you support organizations that work for poverty elimination and environmental stewardship. I encourage every Christian business leader, owner or entrepreneur, to examine your business plan for 2011 and consider supporting local or national initiatives that have social benefit. Lend your voice and support today.

For more on this please visit Darryl’s blog.

CPJ On Top of the Hill

During the month of October, CPJ maintained contact with many politicians on Parliament Hill, on a range of public justice concerns.

Joe Gunn and Karri Munn-Venn, along with Dignity for All campaign partners Canada Without Poverty and Make Poverty History, met with MP Tony Martin (NDP – Sault Ste. Marie) on September 30. Mr. Martin is the author of Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada, and a dedicated advocate for public justice in Canadian social policy. This Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada is not high on the list of Parliamentary business, but with public interest expressed to MPs in their ridings, it may help focus the debate in Ottawa on poverty issues.

On October 4, Joe Gunn met with Glen Pearson (Liberal MP for London North Centre and critic for international development.) The meeting focused on issues of Canadian responsibility to help poor nations finance adaption plans under the climate change accord reached in Copenhagen last December.

Later that same day, Joe also met with MPs Allan Tonks (Liberal, York South - Weston), John McKay (Liberal, Scarborough – Guildwood) and Stéphane Dion (Liberal, St. Laurent – Cartierville), as well as staff persons from several other politicians, to discuss how Canada might advance climate justice issues. The next day the discussion was continued at a Parliamentary breakfast, where Joe met with Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal – Lac-Saint-Louis), Joyce Murray (Liberal, Vancouver – Quadra) and Senator Grant Mitchell (who has been attempting to get The Climate Change Accountability Act through that Chamber.) That afternoon, a similar discussion was held with MPs Paul Dewar (NDP, Ottawa Centre) and Linda Duncan (NDP, Edmonton-Strathcona, who is her party’s Environment critic) on how climate change as a moral issue demands our concern and action.

As well, CPJ had an opportunity on October 13 to meet the new House Leader of the Liberal Party, David McGuinty (Ottawa South).  Joe met with him to discuss CPJ’s work on poverty elimination though the Dignity for All and Campaign 2000 initiatives. It is hoped that the Liberal Party will highlight poverty reduction initiatives in their federal election platform.

On October 19, Karri Munn-Venn also joined Laurel Rothman (Family Service Toronto and Campaign 2000), and Janice Sonnen (Canadian Institute of Child Health) in a discussion with MP Josée Beaudin (Bloc Québécois – Saint-Lambert) on child poverty and health. Having been involved for many years with grassroots anti-poverty efforts, Ms. Beaudin was encouraged by and supportive of the work of CPJ, C2000 and CICH.

In recent weeks, CPJ staff participated in the Dignity for All Hill Phone Day. Through this initiative, Members of Parliament and Senators from all parties were contacted individually with information about Dignity for All. By engaging parliamentarians one-on-one, we promoted increased awareness about the issue of poverty and efforts to see it addressed. Several MPs came forward to endorse Dignity for All, bringing our total number of political supporters to 77.

November 24 marks 21 years since the 1989 unanimous resolution to end child poverty by the year 2000, and one year since Parliament moved that the government adopt a poverty elimination plan for all. CPJ partner, Campaign 2000 will once again be releasing national and provincial report cards on the situation of child and family poverty in Canada. Stay tuned for more information.

Web Features

Climate change, poverty, and the need for overall societal change are some of the issues we’ve explored recently. In our regular web features, we reflect on government decisions and actions and what this means for the future of Canadian policy.

Less than fair? Canada’s commitment to climate change

Canadians wondering about the federal government’s latest policy moves on climate change can’t really be faulted for missing the news. Environment Minister Jim Prentice released details of Canada’s commitment to provide climate change financing in support of the Copenhagen Accord in a Friday evening speech October 1st. However, the government's promises create more questions than answers and raise concerns that the money promised will be less than it seems. Read more…

The Great Turning: A choice for a brighter future

Every day we are faced by choices, both trivial and important. However, in our present times it seems increasingly true that we must be aware that nearly every choice we make is an important one. The world is encountering multiple crises and there is a growing awareness that if we, as a society, wish to avoid the destruction these crises seem to be leading us towards, we need to choose a new path. David Korten’s book The Great Turning is an examination of this choice. Read more…

Government response void of substance

It was with great anticipation and cautious hopefulness that we awaited the Government of Canada response to In from the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness. Action on the 72 recommendations this Senate report contains could have had a profound impact on the lives of Canadians living in poverty. The Senate challenged our government to assume its responsibility to care for its citizens, to respect international human rights commitments, and to invest our collective resources conscientiously. Sadly, the government’s response illustrates a disappointing unwillingness to constructively assume this responsibility. Read more…

May God’s love and justice stream from your heart

Compassionate God, we bow before the mystery of your self-giving love.
We are awed. In your love, we are daily nurtured. Through it, we find salvation.
Give us hearts that yearn to do your will. Give us courage to respond to your love.

May you seek the best for your neighbour. May your neighbour seek the best for you.
May God’s love and justice stream from your heart, from your mind, from your mouth and
from your fingertips. May you experience God’s love and justice flowing from your neighbour.

Go forth expectantly, blessed in the knowledge that God will surprise you every
single day, with an opportunity to share God’s love, and build God’s kingdom.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

* Benediction in “Liturgical Resource for October 17th, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty” from the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

For all of us here at CPJ, Jenny Prosser. May the fall continue to be a wonderful time for you and your families!