From The Catalyst, Summer 2016
On the Hill
Darlene O’Leary, CPJ’s socio-economic policy analyst, has been busy with meetings on Parliament Hill this spring raising the importance of a national anti-poverty plan. Together with our Dignity for All partners, Canada Without Poverty, she has met with Liberal MPs Judy Sgro and Wayne Long, Conservative MP Karen Vecchio, and NDP MPs Brigitte Sansoucy, Irene Mathyssen, Jenny Kwan, and Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet. Darlene has also been active at meetings of the All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus.
Senior policy analyst Karri Munn-Venn has led CPJ staff in meetings with Liberal MP Deborah Schulte, chair of the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and MP Ed Fast (pictured at right), the Conservative critic for the Environment and Climate Change. CPJ staff also met with Dan McDougall, the Assistant Deputy Minister in the Strategic Policy Branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
CPJ’s Board of Directors met with Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna to present her with our brief on Canada’s climate plan.
In the Community
In April, CPJ co-hosted events in Ottawa and Toronto with Steven Guilbeault, cofounder of Équiterre. Guilbeault, who attended the COP21 Paris climate talks, spoke about how we can support climate action and advocacy efforts here in Canada.
CPJ co-sponsored two events in Toronto with the Henri Nouwen Society. In May, we welcomed Anne Lamott to speak about social justice and spirituality. Then in June, the Henri Nouwen Society presented Way of the Heart, a conference to celebrate the life and work of Henri Nouwen.
In June, CPJ was at the Cahoots Festival in Ridgetown, Ont. Darlene O’Leary led a workshop on poverty in Canada and Miriam Mahaffy moderated a discussion on climate justice.
Darlene also travelled to Edmonton where she participated in the Vibrant Cities national summit, “Cities Reducing Poverty: When Mayors Lead.” She met with Alberta NDP MLA Annie McKitrick who spoke in the Alberta Legislature about CPJ’s history in Edmonton and its impact on her decision to run for public office.
Annual General Meeting
CPJ’s AGM in Ottawa was very well-attended this year. We were honoured to have Claudette Commanda (pictured at right) and Verna McGregor lead us in discussion, reflection, and song. Senator Murray Sinclair, who was initially scheduled to speak, was unable to join us because the Senate was debating Bill C-14, legislation on assisted dying.
Welcome Amie!
CPJ is very glad to have Amie Nault interning with us this summer. Amie will be assisting CPJ in our research on Aboriginal reconciliation and exploring intersections between Indigenous justice, climate change, and poverty in Canada.