Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
A national faith-based organization that supports Unitarian values through action
CUSJ wants justice for Canada’s First nations, and advocates for Justice for murdered and missing indigenous women (JMMIW), land rights, respect for treaties, and encouraging the indigenous people of Canada to exercise their right to vote.
Your CUSJ Board is monitoring key issues that are continually developing in the world and working with our partners to create pressure on government and other bodies on those issues. To see what issues we are working on, go to CUSJ Priorities. Following are a few links to actions we have taken recently: Action to … Read more
CUSJ stands with former member Catherine Hembling (80 years old) (lower right speaking at the microphone). She was one of the Brunette Six who defied the court injunction, stood in the way of the Transmountain (TMX) pipeline and was arrested. She is currently serving 14 days in jail for her protest. She began her statement … Read more
CUSJ Joins 200 Organizations to Send A Letter to John Horgan Asking For Climate Action Thanks to the Tyee for printing the open letter Tackling the climate crisis offers an opportunity to generate new economic and social wealth as the province transforms where its energy comes from and how it is used, writes the … Read more
CANADIAN UNITARIANS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice is a national, faith-based organization that advocates for peace and justice in Canada and in the world. STATEMENT 2021 09 25 We were very troubled and saddened by the revelation of 215 unmarked graves at the site of what was once the Kamloops Residential School … Read more
PRESS RELEASE. 2021 03 09 Petition Launched to Free Canada from Violence. (Sign the Petition here) A broad group of Canadians is calling on the public to sign a petition to free Canada from violence. They include victim advocates, public health, faith-based communities, social justice, municipalities, and academics. Rev. Frances Deverell led the creation of … Read more
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Langevin Block Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P. Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Minister of Finance House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 CC. Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister Catherine McKenna, Minister Steven Guilbeault Dear Prime Minister and Deputy Prime … Read more
CUSJ Outraged at Brutal Murder of George Floyd. 2020 06 04 For Immediate Release As Canadian Unitarians we are touched profoundly by the events in the U.S., arising out of the murder of George Floyd by police. The massive uprising of anguish and rage that has gripped the U.S. has moved people around the world. … Read more
Editor’s note: Former JUSTnews editor Philip Symons published this timely op-ed in the CUSJ Googlegroup, and we felt it was so informative we had to share! Why do elected and hereditary Wet’suwet’en chiefs disagree on whether pipelines should go through their territory? Just like our elected members of parliament, Wet’suwet’en elected Chiefs and Councils keep … Read more
Letter of January 21, 2020, from CUSJ President Bill Woolverton TO: Honourable Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources; Premier John Horgan; Adam Olsen, Interim Leader, Green Party of BC; Andrew Wilkinson, Leader of the BC Liberal Party; Federal Justice Minister David Lametti; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Jagmeet Singh, New Democratic Party of … Read more
CUSJ is a member of the Climate Action Network and signed on to this long but informative letter detailing what is needed in a government oriented to acting on the climate emergency. Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, Congratulations on your re-election to lead Canada’s government at this pivotal time in history. The next few years are … Read more
On March 22 2019, World Water Day, McGill University and the City of Montréal were awarded Blue Community certification. Montréal thus joined a proud cohort of about 40 international cities with this certification, including Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Victoria B.C. and Burnaby B.C. (which became the first Blue Community in 2011). McGill is the fourth university … Read more
Although all five hereditary clan chiefs to he Wet’suwet’en Nation have clearly stated their opposition, the Canadian Liberal government seems determined to go ahead with TransCanada subsidiary Coastal GasLink’s liquid natural gas (LNG) pipeline projet. This, in spite of the fact that doing so would: Fly in the face of the most recent report of … Read more
The federal Liberal government has decided not to appeal the court ruling that cancelled the pipeline based on the fact that the government failed to properly consult First Nations. The court also found the government’s approval of the project violated its responsibility to protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales, siding with Ecojustice clients Raincoast Conservation … Read more
Indigenous groups and other humans who are not in climate denial have significant reason to celebrate today, as the Federal Court of Appeal has invalidated the government’s approvals to build the $7.4 billion Trans Mountain expansion project. The court, represented by Justice Eleanor Dawson, found that the federal cabinet based its approval of the pipeline … Read more
This letter, by CUSJ Past President Frances Deverell, was published in the Victoria Times Colonist. In the National Interest? According to Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Horgan should compromise because this pipeline is in the national interest. Why is that? He doesn’t say. I see the national interest as one where all of us move in a … Read more
Above: On April 12th, a group of artists form a blockade in front of the gates of Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby Mountain tank farm as part of ongoing Indigenous-led resistance. “Let’s not forget in all the provincial and federal squabbling that the company still doesn’t have Indigenous consent and never will,” said Will George, Watch House project … Read more
Saturday, March 10th 2018 was a day for the history books, as thousands marched in an indigenous-led protest against the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline. Coast Salish spiritual leaders and members raised a traditional Coast Salish Watch House* near the pipeline route, which will act as a base for resistance to the project. In addition … Read more
Mary Bennet of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver reports: What an event we hosted last night [Feb 19 2018] at UCV. Thanks to the Environment Committee, the Board, the musicians, the speakers, the artists and groups who donated items for the silent auction.. and Tamiko Suzuki – our great emcee for the evening. I was … Read more
Above: (left to right) Bob Stevenson, Marlene Campbell, Jane Lindsay and Bill Van Iterson holding the CUSJ banner. Did you know that First Nations children on reserve receive far less funding for education, child welfare and health services than all other Canadian children? On Wednesday, February 14th over 500 schoolchildren gathered on Parliament Hill for … Read more
Top photo: CUSJ Québec Chapter members Susan Czarnocki, Cym Gomery, Genevieve Patterson and Christina Duvander with the speaker, Elisabeth Patterson. On February 11, 2018, I made my way through the icy streets of Montréal to the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, to attend Elisabeth Patterson’s talk on the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of … Read more