Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
A national faith-based organization that supports Unitarian values through action
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
October 13, 2021 UNITARIANS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE SAY ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice urge government to comply with UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Members of Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice (CUSJ) have voted unanimously to urge the governments of Canada and all … 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
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
LA VERSION FRANÇAISE SUIT Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice joined with many other NGO’s, unions, and faith organizations to call our Federal Government to direct subsidies toward helping workers through transition rather than bailing out oil companies once again. March 23, 2020 To the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Cc: Federal Cabinet Ministers COVID-19 is presenting … Read more
On September 11 2019, a Quebec judge ruled that parts of both the federal and Quebec assisted dying laws are too restrictive and violate people’s rights. Specifically, Quebec Superior Court Justice Christine Baudouin struck down the controversial “reasonably foreseeable” rule in Canada’s federal assisted dying law, as well as the “end of life” clause in Quebec’s … Read more
How could 5G affect our health and environment? By Marg Friesen M.Sc., Safer Wireless Radiation Manitoba Originally published in the Manitoba Eco-Journal; reprinted with permission from the author. WE ARE HEARING A LOT OF BUZZ about faster “5G” for a new interconnected world, but do we really know all we should know on how it may … Read more
Update: Bill C-14, introduced in spring 2016 by the Liberals to legalize doctor-assisted dying, was supported on the third reading 186-137, with most Liberals in favour and most opposition MPs opposed, although 19 Conservatives supported it. Here is a letter from CUSJ President Margaret Rao, urging amendments to the bill. Dear friends, Unitarians have been on the forefront of … Read more
The Federal Government will be using these recommendations as it considers what approach to take for legislation on assisted dying.
2015 09 29 The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition issued 3 new briefs on Drug Policies around the world and in Canada: Harm Reduction Overdose Cannabis
CUSJ has been following refugee issues, and working with the Canadian Council For Refugees for some time. See our Refugee Page under Issues for a complete record of our actions to date. June 17th Support the National Day of Action toSTOP CUTS TO REFUGEE HEALTH CARE!Unitarians attended Rallies around the country in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, … Read more
Dying with Dignity: WE WON! But We Can’t Rest Now. Supreme Court of Canada in a unanimous decision overturns the law prohibiting doctor assisted death for mentally competent, terminally ill adults. CUSJ Press Release here. The Liberals have proposed to pass a bill that gives far less access to assisted dying than the Supreme Court recommended. … Read more
WE WON! 2015 02 06 Supreme Court of Canada in a unanimous decision overturns the law prohibiting doctor assisted death for mentally competent, terminally ill adults. CUSJ Press Release here.
Unitarian Ministers of Canada have approved a Policy Statement on the right of a person who is mentally competent and terminally ill to choose the manner and timing of their death and to ask for assistance. See full statement here.
CUSJ, along with many scientific and public health groups, wrote to Indian decision-makers about the real dangers of asbestos. Now that most western countries have outlawed this dangerous substance, the industry focuses its marketing efforts on Asian countries like China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Russia and Brazil both produce and use asbestos.
In September 2013, CUSJ wrote a letter to support insite-style safe injection sites. We can learn from the experience of Portugal, where the twelve-year-old drug decriminalization policy has been declared a success. The drug problems there have plateaued, and in many ways they are getting better. Portugal uses drug policy for addiction assessment, disease prevention, and voluntary treatment. Criminal charges … Read more
National Day of Action CUSJ, Toronto Chapter, has invited all of us to support Doctors For Refugee Care in their campaign to stop the cuts to refugee healthcare Refugees June 17th Support the National Day of Action to STOP CUTS TO REFUGEE HEALTH CARE!!! Rallies around the country in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, … Read more
June 12, 2013 – Just moments ago, the National Assembly of Quebec tabled Bill 52, historic legislation in support of better end-of-life care, including the right to medically assisted dying for the grievously ill. The tabling of the bill was met with a standing ovation. If this legislation becomes law, Quebec will become the … Read more
By: Wanda Morris,Executive Director | Dying With Dignity Just moments ago, the National Assembly of Quebec tabled Bill 52, historic legislation in support of better end-of-life care, including the right to medically assisted dying for the grievously ill. The tabling of the bill was met with a standing ovation. If this legislation becomes law, Quebec will … Read more
CUSJ has added a new page on Food Security. There are many important issues facing our society on our food system, food prices, the quality of food, the way it is produced, and the way food is distributed. Our food security page outlines the basic issues and then links you to groups that are trying … Read more