KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is a Canadian faith-basedecumenical organization with an aim to effect social change through advocacy, education and research programs in: indigenous rights, ecological justice, women of courage, and migrant justice. These programs are informed by, and networked with, approximately 21 partner organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East; about eighty local grassroots groups across Canada; as well as with countless other organizations, churches and individuals.
Member churches and memberships
On July 1, 2001 KAIROS brought together the work of ten previous national ecumenical coalitions whose work ranged geographically from the Americas to Asia, Africa and the Middle East; thematically from human rights to economic justice, ecology, and aboriginal rights; and in practice from research to education and advocacy. The KAIROS national Board is made up of representatives from its member churches and religious organizations:
KAIROS' primary occupation is to help people to change current structures that allow human rights abuses and environmental degradation to occur. As such it supports positive structural transformation at a grassroots level, rather than providing humanitarian aid. KAIROS closely partners with small NGOs in a variety of Countries of Concern in Canada. It has been actively promoting and educating on the 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent' provision of the UNDRIP, strongly supported the 'Idle No More' movement in Canada, and explicitly engaged in the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to witness and support those impacted by the Residential School system. KAIROS' 'Women of Courage' program, which seeks to increase the capacity of women and women's organizations in their work against militarization and for human rights, engages in 'Living Courage Tours' bringing partners from Colombia, Congo, Israel/Palestine, Philippines, and Sudan to help Canadians understand and respond to these issues. In 1997 KAIROS created the blanket exercise, an interactive teaching tool illustrating the history of indigenous peoples in Canada.
On November 30, 2009, the Canadian International Development Agency informed KAIROS that its $7 million 2009-2013 program proposal had been rejected. On December 16, 2009, Jason Kenney, Canada's Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, spoke at the ‘Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism’ in Jerusalem. As an example of its fight against anti-Semitism, he said his government had "defunded organizations … like KAIROS for taking a leadership role in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign" against Israel. KAIROS' executive director said Kenney's statement was based on incorrect information and described "label someone anti-Semitic because they criticize a government" as "outrageous". KAIROS and its allies sought to rebut this criticism—according to the organisation's press release claimed that the government's decision led to criticism from all of Canada's mainstream churches, , all of the federal opposition parties, as well as intense media scrutiny. In response, International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda explained that KAIROS no longer fit in with CIDA's priorities. Prime Minister Stephen Harper supported Oda's decision. Another reason for KAIROS' defunding may have been its Resource Extraction program which includes consistent support and advocacy for Indigenous Rights in Canada and abroad. Specifically, KAIROS strongly advocated for Canada's signing of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People which includes provisions for 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent', and Bill C-300 which would hold Canadian-based mining companies accountable for their activities abroad. These campaigns have been at odds with federal objectives strongly supporting Canadian resource extraction abroad, as well as the federal government's very strong advocacy for the Alberta Tar Sands .
Minister Oda's "NOT"
In December 2010 "documents emerged showing that CIDA’s senior civil servants, including the agency’s president, Margaret Biggs, had recommended a new grant for Kairos, but the word "not" was inserted after they signed it – changing it to a rejection". Minister Oda's handling of the document involved in KAIROS' defunding led to her being severely rebuked by the Speaker of the House of Commons and to subsequent formal accusation of contempt for misleading the Commons. The national election of May 2011 precluded the outcome of that accusation.
