Bearing the Brunt
By Citizens for Public Justice May 3, 2010
Bearing the Brunt: How the 2008-2009 Recession Created Poverty for Canadian Families details the rise in poverty and economic insecurity caused by the recession.
Citizens for Public Justice
Posts by Citizens for Public Justice
Budget 2010 falls short by staying the course.
By Citizens for Public Justice March 5, 2010
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.
Income Security for All Canadians: A CPJ backgrounder on GLI
By Citizens for Public Justice August 14, 2009
This paper provides an introduction to guaranteed or basic income, highlighting the policy debates and the history of the idea in Canada. Participants in the BIEN Canada Ottawa conference should read this paper to provide context for the detailed policy discussions and conversations of the conference.
Building an economy of care: 2009 pre-budget submission
By Citizens for Public Justice August 14, 2009
Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance Pre-Budget Consultations
August 2009
Download the brief
Download the brief
The present economic and environmental crises highlight the fact that our economy has not provided care for people or creation. Moving beyond the crises requires that re-think our fundamental economic orientation. We need to expand our understanding of prosperity beyond economic growth to encompass social and environmental well-being.
Gerald Vandezande: Canada’s Unassuming Prophet
By Citizens for Public Justice August 4, 2009
One of CPJ’s founders and a recognized name in religious and political circles, Gerald Vandezande’s life has been one of faithfulness, commitment and passion. Starting with his humble beginnings, the article outlines some life lessons from this Christian social activist.
Justice and Jubilee: CPJ Backgrounder on Poverty
By Citizens for Public Justice May 11, 2009
May 2009
Our foundational backgrounder on poverty is intended to be a resource for those who are wondering about the faith basis of CPJ’s work on poverty, highlighting our understanding of the Biblical call to justice and a Christian vision of economics. It also explains our public justice perspective on poverty, and the moral obligation of governments to take leadership on poverty, as well as the responsibility of every person and every social institution to eradicate poverty.
It can also be a useful tool for small groups to explore the issue of poverty and to understand the values that perpetuate poverty, as well as the values and principles that call us to action on poverty.
Prayers for Earth Day
By Citizens for Public Justice April 22, 2009
Wednesday April 22, is Earth Day: a day to celebrate the bountiful gifts that creation offers, to reflect upon our relationship with the earth, and to take action towards practicing greater care and stewardship towards it. I wanted to share two prayers that celebrate creation and encourage reflection.
CPJ’s backgrounder & position paper on Electoral Reform
By Citizens for Public Justice April 17, 2009
CPJ has long advocated for electoral reform, engaging with the electoral system and its implications for politics from the very beginning of its work. CPJ believes that introducing proportional representation to our electoral system would make it fairer for the representation of views, respecting the reality of pluralism.
Language Requirements Counter to Public Justice Values
By Citizens for Public Justice April 7, 2009
Two weeks ago, Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney stated that he believed immigrants should be required to speak English or French before being accepted into Canada, arguing that this would encourage newcomers to integrate more into Canadian society. His statement has since sparked a heated debate about immigration policy in Canada. How do we integrate newcomers into Canada? Is a language requirement fair and necessary for integration?
The priority of human dignity
By Citizens for Public Justice March 19, 2009
“Human dignity is a right to be protected and promoted.” People of many persuasions and perspectives in society would likely agree with this statement; and Christians in particular would nearly unanimously affirm that this is among the first principles of their faith.
While we might readily agree on the priority of human dignity in principle, putting principle into practice is a continuing challenge. Let me offer here a brief reflection on resources from Jewish and Christian biblical traditions that might help with the challenge of putting belief into action.