Citizens for Public Justice

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Posts by Citizens for Public Justice

Global Strike for Climate and march for climate justice in Toronto, Ontario.

Pre-Budget Submission – August 2023

Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) has presented its pre-budget submission for August 2023, emphasizing Canada’s commitment to human rights, sustainable development, and international climate obligations. Key recommendations include: Canada’s dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals is evident, with Prime Minister Trudeau’s role as Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates group. CPJ urges the federal government to…

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Screenshot of an online petition

Does signing petitions actually make a difference?

From calling on a papal apology for residential school abuse to ending poverty in Canada, online petitions have been increasingly present in digital space. But do they actually bring about change? Our own Socio-economic Policy Analyst, Natalie Appleyard, was one of the panellists on “The Agenda,” aired on TVO Today on May 15, 2023. Are…

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The back of the Parliament Building in Ottawa, Canada. The Peace Tower is in the background and the Library is in the foreground.

Budget 2023: A Meaningful Step Forward, But Is It Enough?

The 2023 Federal Budget was announced at a time when Canadian residents share deep concerns about affordability, access to health care, and the ever-accelerating climate crisis. The question that CPJ asks around every federal budget cycle remains the same: Does this budget prioritize systemic solutions that could eradicate poverty, uphold the rights and dignity of…

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Group success business concept as two groups of diverse people making a connection with 3D illustration trees that link together as a metaphor for global cooperation or environment teamwork.

Consolidating Commitments, Honouring Rights: Pre-Budget Consultations 2022

October 2022 CPJ has continually argued for federal budgets that take a holistic, all-of-government approach to addressing the crises we face. We acknowledge that recent Federal Budgets have explicitly recognized the need for climate justice, Indigenous Reconciliation, poverty eradication, and refugee and migrant rights. While important progress has been made, it is time to prioritize…

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Budget 2022 Prioritizes the Status Quo

Budget 2022 was announced in a moment of multiple overlapping crises. In Canada and across the world we are living with rising costs of living, social and political unrest, and an ever-accelerating climate crisis, all in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. Ahead of the budget, CPJ called for an approach that would reflect the…

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Canada Flag and Budget 2022 Title 3D Illustration

Budget 2022: Equity and Justice in Canada’s Green Recovery

Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance Pre-Budget Consultations February 2022 Download the brief (PDF) In the context of the Pre-Budget Consultations 2022, Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) presents a series of recommendations to the Department of Finance that uphold the principles of climate justice, equity, inclusion, and human flourishing. Following a tradition of several years, CPJ…

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Immigration detention Canada

Interfaith call to action: Ending human rights violations in immigration detentions in Canada

We come together as representatives of Baha’í, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faith traditions out of a shared concern for the dignity and humanity of refugee claimants and other newcomers to Canada. Our diverse faiths urge us to uphold the human rights of those seeking safety or a better life, and to denounce instances…

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Parliament Hill and the Canadian House of Parliament in Ottawa, Canada across the frozen Ottawa River during wintertime.

Mandate Letters Show the Power and Need for Public Pressure

Keeping with a tradition begun by Prime Minister Trudeau in 2015, mandate letters for federal Cabinet Ministers were shared publicly on December 17, 2021. These letters provide Canadians with an overview of the government’s key priorities for the new parliamentary session, and signal areas of responsibility for each Minister, as well as some key targets…

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Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, with Forces Chief of Staff visiting Canadian War Memorial

Speech from the Throne: A Parliament Worthy of Trust

At the close of Governor General Mary Simon’s first Speech from the Throne, she called on parliamentarians to “be equal to the profound trust bestowed on you by Canadians,” and wished that Divine Providence guide them in all their duties. For Citizens for Public Justice, this resonates deeply. A parliament worthy of trust is precisely…

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Ecumenical Letter of Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders

RCMP action on Wet’suwet’en territory violates Indigenous rights and is incompatible with climate justice. CPJ continues to stand in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people. We join ecumenical colleagues and friends in issuing an ecumenical letter of solidarity. Read the letter (PDF). “Moricetown” by Sam Beebe is licensed under CC BY

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