Economy of Care
CPJ's Economy of Care approach grows out of a new economic paradigm. Responding to God's call to love our neighbour, it is an economics that puts the real needs of people at its centre, rather than the pursuit of economic growth. It is an economics that considers the carrying capacity of our environment to sustain future generations. We advocate for policies that integrate economic, social and environmental decision-making for the wellbeing of all.
Poverty continues to be a significant problem within Canada. To address this issue several provinces and municipalities, including Ottawa, have developed poverty reduction strategies. As poverty is most visible at the local level, municipalities must play a role in reduction. However, they cannot succeed alone. The participation of the federal government is crucial in order to set national standards, offer support and direct resources. Action, however, has remained firmly in the domain of municipalities and provinces. When will the federal government step up and take strong action to eliminate poverty in Canada? 
The recession has had a tremendous impact on Canadians. Job losses and a faltering safety net have added hundreds of thousands of people to the population of Canadians living in poverty. Economic stimulus and deficit spending are most certainly required to confront this vulnerability. Measures to create and sustain jobs and to build a strong and healthy country are needed. But this cannot be done at the expense of those on the margins, excluded from mainstream society. 
The Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver have grabbed headlines around the world. Canada’s attempt to go faster, higher and stronger (as the Olympic motto proclaims) aspires to bring home more medals than ever before - to be the best in the world.
In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness, a comprehensive report by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Cities, was released in December 2009. The proposals it contains could influence the lives of Canadians for generations.
The Prime Minister sent our MPs home to recalibrate the government agenda. The break was 20 workdays, he said.
Open debate is essential within Canada’s system of governance and democracy. It is a crucial part of the decision making process and it ensures that the government is held accountable for its actions. However, with the sudden decision to prorogue Parliament amidst much ongoing and unresolved parliamentary business, the government is essentially silencing voices of opposition. What does this say about Canada’s democracy? 
The hope of Christmas extends beyond our homes and workplaces and into all aspects of our world. The good news Christ ushered in nearly two thousand years ago is a message of hope. Christmas is not simply that Christ has come, but that in that small baby lying humbly in a manger, we can hope. Despite all that is falling apart in our lives, our communities, and the world around us, we can hope for something different. 
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About CPJ
Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) and our work of faith, justice and politics:
