My answer was true, but I nonetheless wondered later if I had in fact given the right answer. The reporter’s question assumed that economic growth was so important that we should do anything to achieve it – even lose valuable public services for the sake of cutting taxes if tax cuts were necessary to stimulate growth. My answer to him accepted this assumption. Read more »
By Chandra Pasma | Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 - 3:30PM
0 comments
Don Drummond had a bit of a strange op-ed in the Toronto Star on Sunday. On the one hand, he acknowledged the debate over the option of corporate tax cuts and called for the impact of cuts to be monitored so that we know whether or not they are actually delivering on their goals. On the other, he reviewed and dismissed all of the arguments against corporate tax cuts as negligible. Read more »
Considering the important place all First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have in Canada’s past, present and future the amount of coverage Aboriginal issues are getting during this election is truly shameful. So, what are the Aboriginal issues that we should be talking about? Who better to answer this question than the national organizations representing Canadian Aboriginals? Read more »
All Canadians need to be concerned about poverty and inequality, for it affects us all. All of society benefits when policies and programs are put in place to reduce the impact of poverty and improve levels of income equality.
There is growing momentum across the country among citizens, civil society organizations and provincial governments to reduce and eventually eliminate poverty. But despite calls for federal support, the federal government hasn’t gotten involved. Let’s tell our candidates it’s time for action: poverty can be eliminated and our vision of a just and caring society can be realized. Read more »
Interfaith Leaders and representatives of their respective faith communities gathered in Ottawa this week for the “Interfaith Forum on Faith and Poverty” which CPJ helped to organize. The leaders of various Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i and Jewish traditions showed a tremendous sense of timing. Their meeting took place on Parliament Hill immediately on the heels of the disheartening government response to the Parliamentary Committee report, Federal Poverty Reduction Plan (see CPJ’s reaction) and just weeks before a likely federal election call. Read more »
CPJ, with several community partners, hosted the October visit of David Korten to Canada. This well-known author and engaging public speaker regaled his audiences with the need to undertake a “Great Turning” in our cultural, political and economic behaviours. Mr. Korten shared some of his insights with us at the CPJ office, as well as at several public meetings in Ottawa. Read more »
By Jenny Prosser | Friday, November 5th, 2010 - 9:38AM
0 comments
Hearing this statement at End Exclusion 2010 on November 2 caused me to sit up and pay attention. Its content is quite counter-intuitive. What is so wrong with treating everyone the same? Isn’t that what equality is? However, when you apply this question to society there are multiple points where it is clear the hard and fast rule of treating everyone the same has not, in fact, created equality. Read more »
By Rebekah Sears | Monday, August 23rd, 2010 - 9:30AM
0 comments
Last week CPJ submitted our pre-budget recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance for Budget 2011. Every year this committee invites Canadians to raise concerns and offer suggestions for the drafting of the next federal budget.
Our recommendations come at a time of economic recovery after the recent recession, when the government is facing challenges concerning how to invest Canadian revenues for the best possible outcome. CPJ recognizes that these decisions are not always easy. But in order to promote the well-being of all Canadians, the budget must be made up of responsible and caring investments.
By Rebekah Sears | Thursday, August 5th, 2010 - 12:00PM
0 comments
Last week we prepared two brochures for a group of Canadian high school students who were interested in contacting and writing letters to their Members of Parliament about supporting various justice initiatives. Based on legislation currently before the House of Commons, we decided to send them information on poverty elimination and housing.
By Rebekah Sears | Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 - 12:00PM
0 comments
New Brunswick became the sixth province to adopt a poverty reduction strategy, Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick economic and social inclusion plan, at the end of 2009. The plan was finalized after a series of meetings with representatives from all over the province and from various sectors, including government, business and the social justice community. The plan was aimed at addressing the circumstances of specific communities, working at the grassroots level, but with overall support from the provincial government.
Now, several months after the plan was introduced by the provincial government and approved in the legislature, groups like the Common Front for Social Justice (CFSJ) are weighing in on the plan, the evidence of action so far, and the needs that are still very evident across the province. Read more »
CPJ, with several community partners, hosted the October visit of David Korten to Canada. This well-known author and engaging public speaker regaled his audiences with the need to undertake a “Great Turning” in our cultural, political and economic behaviours. Mr. Korten shared some of his insights with us at the CPJ office, as well as at several public meetings in Ottawa. 
