For the past decade, Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) and the Dignity for All campaign have called for a national anti-poverty strategy for Canada that is comprehensive, rights-based, legislated and fully funded.
There is overwhelming evidence that we face a climate emergency. That the Government of Canada has acknowledged that emergency and committed to additional action, is worthy of celebration.
Over the past few weeks, Dignity for All co-leads, Canada Without Poverty (CWP) and Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ), had the opportunity to present as witnesses to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (FINA), and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, regarding key poverty legislation.
CPJ’s new Executive Director Willard Metzger sat down with Karen Stiller from Faith Today to discuss the role of Christians in advocating for public justice and the common good.
Darlene O’Leary, socio-economic policy analyst with the Ottawa-based advocacy group Citizens for Public Justice, agrees with the human-rights approach. She notes that federal initiatives such as investments in housing, the Canada Workers Benefit, and the Child Tax Benefit are having a positive effect on lived poverty.
Our splendid CPJ staff put their heads and hearts together day after day in 2018 to research and write policy briefs, letters to Members of Parliament, issues of The Catalyst for our members and other interested folks, and reports on important policy matters. All of this work focused on our three areas of advocacy and activism: poverty elimination, refugee rights and ecological justice.
The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC); Citizens for Public Justice; and KAIROS, an ecological justice and human rights mission, created the production jointly. “We received submissions from over 15 churches and organizations with close to 20 voices,” said KAIROS executive director Jennifer Henry in a letter of thanks to participants.
Created by the Canadian Council of Churches, KAIROS, and Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ), the #ForTheLoveOfCreation video collaboration highlights the need for urgent action by Canadians – and the Canadian government – on climate change.
Now in its third year, Give it Up for the Earth! is centred on a pledge to individual climate action, and a call for more far-reaching national climate policy. Christians across Canada collect postcards and signatures as a demonstration of support for increased federal government action. In the Christian season of Lent, “people give up…
Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) condemns the new changes to Canada’s refugee determination system outlined in Bill C-97, the Budget Implementation Act. CPJ stands alongside the Canadian Council for Refugees and other advocates who have expressed concern on these amendments.
Report on climate change impacts in Canada demands urgent action.
Darlene O’Leary, socio-economic policy analyst for Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ), agrees that the current MBM provides somewhat of a distorted look at poverty in Canada. “The data is encouraging — however, it’s incomplete,” she told Global Citizen.
