Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) makes public statements on issues of concern to the Religious Society of Friends in Canada, usually a commentary on public policy or governmental action.  Recent statements are posted below under the relevant thematic category.

Economics and Ecology

~ to come ~

Human rights

•  Joint statement by CFSC, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, and The United Church of Canada in support of Bill C-440 (War Resisters) (September 2011)

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

• Joint Media Release  in respond to concluding observations from CERD: UN Committee calls for “comprehensive strategy” to uphold the human rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada. (March 14, 2012)

• Joint Media Release in advance of Canada’s review by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) (February 2012)

• Joint Alternative report submitted to CERD on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (February 2012)

• Joint Alternative report submitted to CERD on the Nagoya Protocol (February 2012)

• Joint Open Letter to the Government of Canada issued to mark the one year anniversary of Canada’s endorsement of the UN Declaration.  Indigenous peoples and human rights organizations  highlight positive examples of implementation internationally which are in sharp contrast to Canada’s substandard approach.

• Oct 2011 Joint Statement in support of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group’s hearing at the Organization of American States Human Rights Commission. (October 2011)

Justice

• CFSC’s submission to the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST) regarding Bill C-10, “The Safe Streets and Community Act”, an omnibus crime bill made up of nine pieces of legislation. (October 2011)
• CFSC letter to the government concerning increased incarceration in Canada, issued in support of the Church Council on Justice and Corrections Letter to the Prime Minister. (February 2011)
• Minute 79 of Canadian Yearly Meeting, “Justice is Possible: Compassionate Response as the Foundation of Public Safety” (August 2010)

Peace

• Statement in opposition to the military intervention in Libya (April 2011)
• CFSC statement on Christian Peacemaker Teams, during Iraq kidnappings (March 2005)
• Joint Statement by Quaker Service Agencies worldwide on War on Iraq (March 2003)
• Quaker Statement on UN Security Council Resolution 1441 re: Iraq (November 2002)