Public Justice at the Polls CPJ’s 2025 federal election materials Election Tour Before the 2025 federal election, CPJ is hitting the road! During March and April, CPJ will be teaming up with partner organizations across the country to hold local events during our 2025 Election Tour. Each event will have a slightly different public justice…
On September 25, CPJ Socio-Economic Policy Analyst Natalie Appleyard joined MP Leah Gazan and Senator Kim Pate in a press conference ahead of the House of Commons vote on Bill C-223: an Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income. Senator Pate is sponsoring a parallel bill in the Senate, Bill S-233. CPJ…
John Olthuis, a prominent lawyer and recent Member of the Order of Canada, has dedicated over 30 years to advocating for Indigenous rights in Canada. His significant contributions include high-profile legal cases and mentorship for Indigenous lawyers. Motivated by his Christian values, he co-founded Citizens for Public Justice with Gerald Vandezande and Jim Visser and played a crucial role in establishing Indigenous rights in Canada’s constitution.
Natalie’s compelling reflections emphasize the need for intentional cross-sector connections in an increasingly polarized world. She advocates for mutual care and understanding, highlighting the importance of inclusive policy-making that centers on the most marginalized communities.
From coast, to coast, to coast, for over sixty years, Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) has been inspired by faith to act for social and environmental justice in Canadian public policy. ‘Give it up for the Earth!’, CPJ’s annual Lenten environmental campaign, brings faithful communities together to commit to individual carbon reductions, to call for a just transition towards a sustainable and equitable economy, and to champion policies that will preserve the beauty, complexity, and life-sustaining nature of God’s creation. ‘Give it up for the Earth!’ is not simply a campaign; it’s a national movement driven by faith, hope, and the unwavering belief that together, we can build sufficient momentum towards climate justice in Canada. Your participation is a profound testament to elected officials that faith communities are not just concerned about the state of the planet, but are also committed to a mission of stewardship, fiercely determined to safeguard the intricate harmony of nature that is essential for the flourishing of all creation.
CPJ joins other Canadian faith-based communities to call upon Canada to develop and implement A National Plan for Asylum with Dignity. As a signatory to both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention, Canada must ensure that it is upholding the rights of those fleeing persecution. Show your support by signing our Inter-faith Campaign for asylum with dignity.
Did the 2024 Federal Budget pass CPJ’s “public justice test”? The answer is no: important steps were taken, but not at a sufficient level of ambition to change the status quo – and certainly not enough to fulfill the budget’s stated promise of “fairness for every generation.” In this brief analysis, we elaborate on key highlights related to CPJ’s priority areas.
On Wednesday, May 1st, CPJ helped organize a press conference at Parliament Hill to address recent developments regarding immigration detention – specifically, the proposal in the Federal Budget to use federal prisons to detain immigrants solely for administrative reasons.
Asvini Uthayakumaran emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive housing plan for refugee claimants that is informed by organizations working directly with those seeking asylum in Canada.
Listen to the interview with CPJ’s Natalie Appleyard on “The Moment” podcast. The conversation explores ways we can move from scarcity and surveillance to solidarity in responding to poverty in Canada.