A short but fractious parliamentary session ended last week. Rancorous in tone and highlighted by disputes over the democratic rights of Parliament and its committees, the session produced little legislative achievements. However, two examples demonstrate that Canada’s political parties are capable of cooperating effectively when they choose to. A collaborative, consultative approach by parties willing to compromise for the sake of the common good would benefit all Canadians and promote a more vibrant, engaged democracy. The choice is up to parliamentarians themselves. Read more »
Hasn’t the silence been deafening? What have you heard your church saying about the tremendous recession that has left 1.5 million Canadians unemployed?
There is a troubling trend in Canada. When asked about social justice work, many mainline churches in Canada, even up to two-thirds in some circumstances, report decreases in resources, staff, budgets and overall effectiveness for such programs. Has the church abandoned its work on social justice, rooted in faith and scriptural teaching? Is there any way to revitalize such work?Read more »
The government has refused to produce uncensored documents relating to the question of whether Canada is complicit in the torture of Afghan detainees despite the request of the House of Commons. The government claims that it would compromise national security to do so. But national security is no excuse to avoid accountability: accountability is a core principle of both democracy and public justice. Canadians have a right to know what is being done in our name. Representative democracy is no threat to national security. Read more »
By Kathy Vandergrift | Monday, November 16th, 2009
On November 20, 2009 people around the world will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is a time to celebrate progress made in respect for children as persons with dignity, worth, and value in society. The Convention is the most ratified of all human rights agreements – but implementation is very weak. Read more »
At the beginning of April 2008, Statistics Canada released data from the 2006 census. One important finding was particularly highlighted: Canada’s visible minority population is now at 16.2% of the population. While this number speaks to our pride as a diverse country, our history of welcoming newcomers has been marred by times we have not been loving neighbours. Read more »
The Bouchard-Taylor Commission, set up to examine accommodation and integration in Québec, released their report on May 22. Outlining ideas centered on the concept of interculturalism, the report’s recommendations have been met with mixed reviews. Ultimately, it seems to create more questions than it answers. Read more »
On May 6, the Maytree Foundation held their 2008 Annual Leadership Conference, with the theme of belonging and its impact on individual and community wellbeing. Citizens for Public Justice joined with leaders from various sectors to discuss issues of identity, citizenship, multiculturalism and reflect on ways to enable marginalized groups to fully participate in society. The keynote speakers and workshop panelists challenged us to think deeply about the complex issues of diversity and what it means to “belong” in Canadian society. Read more »
Recently, the Conservative government introduced amendments to the immigration act, claiming they will solve the application backlog. However, these amendments raise troubling questions about an accountability backlog. Giving the minister of immigration centralized power in selecting immigrants without allowing political debate strips transparency and fairness from the system for Canadians and potential immigrants. Justice demands that fairness and compassion be reflected in welcoming immigrants to fully participate in society. Read more »
A short but fractious parliamentary session ended last week. Rancorous in tone and highlighted by disputes over the democratic rights of Parliament and its committees, the session produced little legislative achievements. However, two examples demonstrate that Canada’s political parties are capable of cooperating effectively when they choose to. A collaborative, consultative approach by parties willing to compromise for the sake of the common good would benefit all Canadians and promote a more vibrant, engaged democracy. The choice is up to parliamentarians themselves. 
Hasn’t the silence been deafening? What have you heard your church saying about the tremendous recession that has left 1.5 million Canadians unemployed?
The government has refused to produce uncensored documents relating to the question of whether Canada is complicit in the torture of Afghan detainees despite the request of the House of Commons. The government claims that it would compromise national security to do so. But national security is no excuse to avoid accountability: accountability is a core principle of both democracy and public justice. Canadians have a right to know what is being done in our name. Representative democracy is no threat to national security. 
The Bouchard-Taylor Commission, set up to examine accommodation and integration in Québec, released their report on May 22. Outlining ideas centered on the concept of interculturalism, the report’s recommendations have been met with mixed reviews. Ultimately, it seems to create more questions than it answers. 
On May 6, the Maytree Foundation held their 2008 Annual Leadership Conference, with the theme of belonging and its impact on individual and community wellbeing. Citizens for Public Justice joined with leaders from various sectors to discuss issues of identity, citizenship, multiculturalism and reflect on ways to enable marginalized groups to fully participate in society. The keynote speakers and workshop panelists challenged us to think deeply about the complex issues of diversity and what it means to “belong” in Canadian society. 
Recently, the Conservative government introduced amendments to the immigration act, claiming they will solve the application backlog. However, these amendments raise troubling questions about an accountability backlog. Giving the minister of immigration centralized power in selecting immigrants without allowing political debate strips transparency and fairness from the system for Canadians and potential immigrants. Justice demands that fairness and compassion be reflected in welcoming immigrants to fully participate in society. 
