Welcome to our Justice page. Here you will find materials from our National Offices and Presbytery and W.M.S. Read and find out some of the causes and concerns that interest other Presbyterians. Become involved!
Support — Kairos
In November 2009, International Cooperation Minister, the Honourable Bev Oda, decided to not fund KAIROS’ 2009-2013 global partnership program. Presbyterians in 24 presbyteries wrote to or met with their Members of Parliament, seeking a reversal of this decision. The decision was not reversed. In March 2010 KAIROS submitted a new program proposal.
On October 19, 2010, the Moderator of the 136th General Assembly (2010), The Rev. Dr. Herbert F. Gale wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to express General Assembly’s disappointment with the decision to not fund the initial program proposal. General Assembly requested that KAIROS’ application submitted in March 2010 receive full funding. As of February 18, 2011 no decision had been made.
In October 2010, Embassy Magazine published an article drawing on internal CIDA documents concerning KAIROS. The journalist who wrote the article accessed these internal documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FIA). KAIROS was not involved the FIA inquiry and full credit is given to the journalists who did this research. (Links to news articles are on page 3 of this document: pdf | doc).
Please write to Prime Minister Stephen Harper requesting that KAIROS’ March 2010 application receive full CIDA funding. The form letter on page 2 of this document (pdf | doc)can be adapted for your use. Please remember to copy the document to your Member of Parliament, and to Justice Ministries (kmasterton@presbyterian.ca). If mailing, note that postage is free to the House of Commons when Parliament is in session.
Detailed information can be found on KAIROS’ website.
AIDS-DRUGS-FOR-AFRICA BILL SURVIVES FATAL THREAT
New Democrats broker deal to keep landmark bill alive
OTTAWA – Canadians looking for results out of Ottawa have something to celebrate today: a new lease on life for landmark legislation to get cheap medicines into the world’s poorest countries. The seemingly-doomed New Democrat bill was saved today after some assertive outreach across party lines from Industry Critic Brian Masse and Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar.
“We saw proof today that Parliamentarians really can get things done together,” said Masse, who has been championing Bill C-393 for nearly a year. “Six million people die each year in the developing world today from treatable illnesses like TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS. Keeping Bill C-393 alive is our best shot at getting life-saving drugs to these people. This was a good day.”
The private members’ bill was introduced by MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who went on to retire last April. Although Masse successfully shepherded Bill C-393 through committee, it cannot pass without a formal sponsor — and many feared it would die on the order paper. But NDP House Leader Libby Davies worked in a constructive way and got all parties to agree for Paul Dewar to be recognized as the bill`s new sponsor. Dewar has a slot near the top of Parliament’s order of precedence for private members’ bills. As a result, Bill C-393 could go to a final vote as early as March.
“Nearly 15 million people living with HIV/AIDS need antiviral drugs, but barely five million can afford to get them. I remember the day Canada told the world we’d step up. Canada promised to get those life-saving drugs into the world’s poorest countries. Six long years later, New Democrats are ready to move mountains to finally make this happen,” said Dewar.
Bill C-393 fixes the fatal flaw in Canada’s stalled Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR). On paper, CAMR allows generic producers to create low-cost versions of brand-name drugs for developing countries. But due to CAMR’s onerous per-order licensing process, only one drug order has shipped since CAMR launched in 2004. Bill C-393 replaces that process with a “one-license solution” supported by every major player in the international health community.
“Today was a step forward, but there’s still work to get those drugs on their way. We’ve still got Conservatives MPs trying to neutralize Bill C-393 by amending out the one-license solution. Liberal Industry Critic Marc Garneau is still taking their side. Canadians really need to pressure Parliamentarians to pass this bill — without delay and without poison amendments,” said Dewar.
This site is one of 227