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CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC JUSTICE - November 2004

Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is a national non-partisan, ecumenical organization of citizens which promotes justice in Canadian public affairs. It responds to God's call for love, justice, and stewardship through research, education and advocacy.

KEN DRYDEN AND CHILD CARE

One week dinner, the next week breakfast, CPJ's Greg deGroot-Maggetti has been breaking bread with new Social Development Minister Ken Dryden the past few weeks. The minister is responsible for setting up the national early learning and child care program the Liberals promised in the last election. He's been meeting all kinds of groups the past month to reassure them the government is going ahead, to offer updates, and seek input. Greg has come back impressed with the minister's warmth, by his commitment to the project, and how the minister's staff have been present and involved (a very good sign). And Greg and his colleagues in the meetings have seen a minister scrambling as well ... there's not a lot on the ground yet, ready to launch. We don't know if more meals with the minister will be involved, but CPJ continues to follow this issue closely.

SPECIAL ELECTION OLA!

In a week or two there will be a special Alberta election edition of Ola!. Traditionally CPJ addresses provincial elections by supporting members there that choose to create a provincial political service bulletin - with commentary and listing party platforms. However, members approached in Alberta are instead focussing on the 100th anniversary of the province's entry into Confederation and will issue reflection on that in the winter. Sooooo, Ola! will step in. Lethbridge University political scientist Harold Jansen is going to set the scene, and we've contacted a number of Albertans to tell us what's important to them in this election. But it doesn't have to end there ...

COMMENTS WELCOME

You, your very own self, are welcome to comment on this election, whether you live there or not. Really, it's a fascinating time. Ralph Klein is sure to win, but he's expected to leave office a year or two later. The debt has been retired. Oil prices are high, bringing in big revenue. And Alberta's government wants more decentralized federalism. There's lots to talk about. We'll just run all the comments in one big long Ola! and people can read and pick and choose as they wish. Fun or what?

Send your comments in real quick, by end of day next Wednesday, November 10, and we'll give them a light edit, contact you back for anything big, and off they'll go. Perhaps put "Alberta election" in the subject line so we'll be able to pick them out. The question we're asking is: What are the important issues in the Alberta election, from your perspective?, but you're open to comment as you will.

Send comments to me, Louise Slobodian: louise@cpj.ca

COMPARING NOTES

Anyone interested in taking on the 100th anniversary of Saskatchewan entering Confederation - same year as Alberta - your efforts would be appreciated. We could post it with the Alberta piece when it's done.

LOBBY DAY

MPs have been opening their doors to the lobby efforts of the Canadian Council of Refugees, in a campaign begun October 21 to bring refugee issues to parliamentarians. Many organizations across Canada have reported good meetings, while the CCR itself had a very animated discussion with the Minister of Immigration, Judy Sgro, and with other Members of Parliament in Ottawa. CPJ was represented by Chris Pullenayegem, our refuge policy analyst, when a group of five met with Colleen Beaumier, the MP for Brampton West, Ontario, last Friday. CPJ was glad to participate, and is also pursuing its own lobby agenda, requesting to meet with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Immigration and with Minister Sgro to present our argument for "Automatic Landing," the initiative that would end limbo for refugees in Canada.

More about lobby day: http://www.web.net/~ccr/3keyissues.pdf

CPJ's auto landing initiative: http://www.cpj.ca/refugees/04/limbo3.html

MARKING THE PROMISE

A good promise, poor results. November 24th marks the 15th anniversary of the unanimous pledge in the House of Commons to end child poverty in Canada. Still one in six kids is poor in Canada. CPJ has been working with partners in Campaign 2000 to mark this anniversary with events and political action across Canada. Check the Campaign 2000 website (www.campaign2000.ca) for information about events and activities. Also, look for Campaign 2000's annual report card on the state of child poverty in Canada to be released on November 24th.

Anniversary events: http://www.campaign2000.ca/

ANOTHER REPORT CARD

Ontario's Liberal government under Dalton McGuinty celebrated its first anniversary in power with a report card of its own. Modestly, they gave themselves a B. Conspicuously absent from the government report was any mention of poverty in Ontario.

On November 3, the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition issues its own report card, focused on those who received no mention in the government's. It will be released at the Religious Leaders Forum at Queen's Park. The theme of the forum is Taxation: What We Owe One Another. The keynote speaker is Neil Brooks, a renowned expert in the field of tax law. Representatives from the three parties in the Ontario legislature will be on hand to respond to the ISARC report card. For more information about the forum or to register, visit www.isarc.ca

ISARC info: http://www.isarc.ca/

In Closing:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.