Citizens for Public Justice

Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is a Canadian non-profit organization of over 1500 members across the country inspired by faith to act for justice in Canadian public policy.

History

CPJ has a long history of speaking out for public justice across Canada. From the early beginnings in the 1960s, to regional offices in the 1980s, to the move to Ottawa in 2007, CPJ has been an active voice in Canadian public affairs.

Vision and mission

CPJ’s official mission statement is:

• We are a faithful response to God’s call for love, justice and stewardship.
• We envision a world in which individuals, communities, societal institutions and governments all contribute to and benefit from the common good.
• Our mission is to promote public justice in Canada by shaping key public policy debates through research and analysis, publishing and public dialogue. CPJ encourages citizens, leaders in society and governments to support policies and practices which reflect God’s call for love, justice and stewardship.

Focus areas

Poverty

CPJ’s Envisioning Canada without Poverty campaign seeks to engage citizens in advocating for a federal poverty reduction strategy.

Federal budget

Each year, the federal government releases its budget for implementing policies, programs and practices for the following year. Examining these documents closely reveals the underlying values determining the budget’s priorities. CPJ takes an in-depth look at each budget, articulating and at times challenging these values and priorities, setting out justice-oriented priorities and alternatives.

Other

• Temporary Foreign Workers
• Housing and Homelessness
• Guaranteed Livable Income
• Diversity & Newcomer Issues
• Pluralism
• Electoral Reform
• Environment
• Aboriginal Issues

Publications

CPJ’s publications range from books to position papers to newsletters. the Catalyst, a quarterly newsletter, goes in-depth on a wide range of public justice issues.

Monthly e-newsletter, Ola!, informs about CPJ’s current work and what is going on in other justice organizations across Canada.

Board

CPJ has a 12-member board of directors representing all regions of Canada. They can sit a maximum of two three-year terms.

External links

• History
• Poverty
• Envisioning Canada without Poverty
• Federal budget
• Temporary Foreign Workers
• Housing and Homelessness
• Guaranteed Livable Income
• Diversity & Newcomer Issues
• Pluralism
• Electoral Reform
• Environment
• Aboriginal Issues
• the Catalyst
• Ola!
• Board of directors

References

• Policy.ca
• "Welfare in America" by Stanley W. Carlson-Thies, James W. Skillen, page 111
• "Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Politics" by Roy Palmer Domenico, Mark Y. Hanley, page 103
• "Religion and public life in Canada" by Marguerite Van Die, page 310
• "The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind" by Mark A. Noll, page 225
• "Justice Not Just Us" by Gerald Vandezande. Toronto: Public Justice Resource Centre, 1999