Citizens for Public Justice
Encyclopedia
Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is a Canadian non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
of over 1500 members across the country inspired by faith to act for justice in Canadian public policy
Public policy (law)
In private international law, the public policy doctrine or ordre public concerns the body of principles that underpin the operation of legal systems in each state. This addresses the social, moral and economic values that tie a society together: values that vary in different cultures and change...
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History
CPJ has a long history of speaking out for public justice across CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. From the early beginnings in the 1960s, to regional offices in the 1980s, to the move to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 2007, CPJ has been an active voice in Canadian public affairs
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
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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.
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.