Citizens for Public Justice
Citizens for Public Justice is a Canadian ecumenical public-policy organization working for poverty reduction, ecological justice, and refugee rights.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Citizens for Public Justice, commonly known as CPJ, is a Canadian ecumenical nonprofit organization and registered charity that seeks to influence public policy through research, analysis, publishing, coalition-building, and public dialogue. Its work is rooted in a Christian understanding of public justice as the political expression of neighbour-love, care for creation, and the pursuit of the common good. Rather than operating as a commercial brand, CPJ functions as an advocacy, research, and civic-engagement institution whose audiences include churches, faith communities, policymakers, civil-society organizations, academics, and members of the public. The organization was founded in Toronto in 1963 as the Committee for Justice and Liberty Foundation by Gerald Vandezande. Its early work combined Christian social ethics with engagement in Canadian political and economic questions. In 1971, it merged with the Alberta-based Christian Action Foundation, bringing together Vandezande and John Olthuis. During the 1970s, the organization became prominent in opposition to the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, which would have crossed the traditional lands of Dene communities in the Northwest Territories. Through submissions to the Berger Inquiry and the publication of arguments for a moratorium, the organization helped frame the project as a question of Indigenous rights, ecological responsibility, and democratic accountability. The federal government ultimately imposed a moratorium, an outcome widely regarded as one of the group's most consequential early interventions. The organization adopted the name Citizens for Public Justice in 1982 and broadened its national public-policy activity. Its concerns during the 1980s included social rights, employment, Indigenous justice, environmental responsibility, and poverty. It supported the development of Edmonton's early recycling infrastructure and was involved in advocacy concerning the mercury contamination affecting Grassy Narrows First Nation. CPJ also advanced proposals such as a national social-development and job-creation fund and a government budgetary tithe for poverty reduction. In the 1990s, CPJ consolidated its operations in Toronto and concentrated on selected issues, particularly poverty, refugee rights, and Indigenous justice. It worked with Campaign 2000 on the Let's Invest in Canada's Children initiative and advocated against the Right of Landing Fee imposed on convention refugees. That fee was removed in the 2000 federal budget. CPJ also worked on access to student loans for refugees and supported Indigenous-rights discussions, including the work of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The organization moved its national headquarters from Toronto to Ottawa in 2007 to be closer to federal institutions and the principal policy conversations it sought to influence. Under executive director Joe Gunn, CPJ continued to develop interfaith advocacy on poverty and climate change. In 2009, it co-founded the Dignity for All campaign with Canada Without Poverty, calling for a comprehensive national anti-poverty plan. The campaign combined public education, research, parliamentary engagement, and mobilization around the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. CPJ also helped establish the All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus and supported interfaith declarations on poverty and climate justice. Ecological justice remains a major area of activity. CPJ has participated in Canadian climate coalitions, produced faith-based climate resources, organized prayer vigils and cross-country actions connected with international climate negotiations, and advocated for emissions reductions, clean-energy investment, a just transition, and an end to public financing for fossil fuels. Its Give it up for the Earth! campaign translated climate concern into personal commitments and public-policy advocacy during the Christian season of Lent. CPJ's refugee-rights work has addressed access to health care, the Canada–United States Safe Third Country Agreement, private refugee sponsorship, processing delays, and the treatment of particularly vulnerable applicants. The organization supported the resettlement of Syrian refugees and opposed religious discrimination in resettlement policy. Its publications have included reports on private sponsorship and the Safe Third Country Agreement, along with analysis of intersectional approaches to refugee protection. CPJ is funded through donations from individuals and members, churches, and foundation grants. Its board includes representatives from across Canada, with directors limited to two three-year terms. The organization is an affiliate member of the Canadian Council of Churches. In addition to reports and policy submissions, it publishes the periodical Catalyst and books dealing with Christian activism, economic justice, environmental ethics, and public policy.
History
Citizens for Public Justice began in Toronto in 1963 as the Committee for Justice and Liberty Foundation, founded by Gerald Vandezande. The organization emerged from an ecumenical Christian concern with the relationship between faith, democratic institutions, economic life, and social responsibility. In 1971, it merged with Alberta's Christian Action Foundation, whose leader John Olthuis joined Vandezande in the organization's Toronto work. The group's first major national intervention concerned the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline in the 1970s. The project would have transported Beaufort Sea fossil fuels through the Mackenzie Valley and across the traditional territories of Dene peoples. The organization made submissions to the Berger Inquiry and argued for a lengthy moratorium, emphasizing that environmental assessment could not be separated from Indigenous rights and community consent. John Olthuis, Hugh McCullum, and Karmel McCullum developed the argument in the book Moratorium. The federal government's subsequent moratorium became an important example of the organization's ability to connect research, public theology, and political advocacy. In 1982, the organization adopted the name Citizens for Public Justice. It drafted statements on Christian political service and social rights, opened regional offices in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, and expanded its environmental and social-policy activity. CPJ supported recycling education and helped establish the Edmonton Recycling Society. Kathy Vandergrift, who worked in the Edmonton office, played a role in proposing what became Edmonton's blue-box recycling program. The organization also engaged with the consequences of mercury contamination in Grassy Narrows First Nation; John Olthuis represented the community, and a compensation settlement was reached in 1985. During this period CPJ developed proposals for social development, job creation, and a government budgetary tithe directed toward poverty reduction. In 1991, CPJ closed its regional offices and returned all operations to Toronto. The change accompanied a decision to focus more intensively on a smaller number of policy areas. During the 1990s, those areas included poverty, Indigenous rights, and refugee protection. CPJ supported the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and later criticized policy initiatives it viewed as weakening First Nations treaty rights. In 1998, CPJ and Campaign 2000 launched Let's Invest in Canada's Children, an interfaith and public campaign against child poverty. The organization also challenged the Right of Landing Fee charged to convention refugees and participated in advocacy that contributed to its removal from the federal budget in 2000. Its work on access to student loans for refugees produced further progress in the early 2000s. The new century brought continued refugee advocacy and a stronger climate-policy program. Gerald Vandezande received the Order of Canada in 2001, and CPJ received recognition from the Somali Canadian Advocacy Network for its refugee work. In 2007, the organization moved its headquarters to Ottawa, explaining that proximity to Parliament would improve its ability to shape federal debates. Joe Gunn became executive director in 2008. During his tenure, CPJ helped establish the Dignity for All campaign in 2009 with Canada Without Poverty, supported the All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus, and convened faith communities around poverty and climate change. Gunn received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for work bringing faith communities together on climate action. Vandezande died in 2011. CPJ's climate work included the 2011 Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change, educational materials associated with the 2014 United Nations climate summit, an interfaith vigil around COP20 in Lima, and a cross-Canada prayer chain during COP21 in Paris. In 2017 it launched Give it up for the Earth!, a Lent-based campaign combining personal carbon-reduction pledges with demands for stronger Canadian climate policy. Its ecological-justice agenda has included emissions reduction, clean energy, just-transition measures, and opposition to public financing for fossil fuels. The Dignity for All campaign released a model National Anti-Poverty Plan in 2015. The following parliamentary response included a nearly unanimous motion calling for a national plan to eradicate child poverty, while the federal government announced plans to develop a broader poverty-reduction strategy. CPJ continued to publish annual poverty analysis, including Poverty Trends 2018, which examined unequal poverty outcomes among immigrants, single-parent families, unattached adults, youth, and Indigenous people. Refugee advocacy has remained a central part of CPJ's identity. The organization has criticized cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, the Safe Third Country Agreement, processing delays, travel loans, and restrictions affecting privately sponsored refugees. It joined the Proud to Protect Refugees campaign in 2013, supported inclusive Syrian refugee resettlement, published A Half Welcome in 2017 on private sponsorship concerns, and issued Reclaiming Protection in 2018 in support of reforming the Safe Third Country Agreement. The 2019 report The Most Vulnerable examined how governments, churches, and advocacy groups could apply an intersectional approach to refugee policy. CPJ also addresses housing and homelessness, guaranteed livable income, federal budgets, pluralism, electoral reform, Indigenous justice, and taxation. Its publications include Catalyst, first issued in 1978, as well as books such as Living Ecological Justice and Journeys to Justice. Willard Metzger became executive director in February 2019 after Joe Gunn's departure. CPJ remains a Canadian registered charity and an affiliate member of the Canadian Council of Churches.
- 2017
Give it up for the Earth! launched
[1]CPJ began a Lent-based climate campaign combining lifestyle commitments with calls for federal policy action.
- 2009
Dignity for All launched
[1]CPJ and Canada Without Poverty created a non-partisan campaign for a national anti-poverty plan.
- 2007
Headquarters moved to Ottawa
[1]CPJ relocated its national office to Ottawa to work more directly on federal policy.
- 1998
Let's Invest in Canada's Children
[1]CPJ and Campaign 2000 launched an initiative focused on ending child poverty.
- 1985
Grassy Narrows compensation settlement
[1]A compensation settlement was reached after years of advocacy concerning mercury contamination affecting Grassy Narrows First Nation.
- 1982
Adopted the name Citizens for Public Justice
[1]The organization formally changed its name and expanded its public-policy identity.
- 1978
First Catalyst issue
[1]CPJ began publishing Catalyst, a periodical on faith and Canadian public policy.
- 1971
Merger with Christian Action Foundation
[1]The Alberta-based Christian Action Foundation merged with the organization, bringing John Olthuis into its national work.
- 1970
Mackenzie Valley Pipeline campaign
[1]The organization advocated a moratorium on the proposed pipeline through Dene territories and influenced the public-policy debate surrounding the Berger Inquiry.
- 1963
Founded as the Committee for Justice and Liberty Foundation
[1]Gerald Vandezande founded the organization in Toronto to engage Canadian public life from an ecumenical Christian justice perspective.
Products and positioning
A faith-rooted Canadian public-policy and advocacy organization that connects Christian and ecumenical social ethics with research, coalition work, and campaigns addressing poverty, refugee protection, Indigenous justice, and ecological sustainability.
Periodical · 1978
Catalyst
A recurring CPJ publication covering faith, Canadian public policy, social justice, environmental issues, and organizational activities. It has been published since 1978 and has received recognition from the Canadian Church Press.
Research report
Poverty Trends
An annual research series documenting poverty patterns across Canadian provinces, territories, cities, and demographic groups. The reports highlight how poverty affects communities differently, including immigrants, single mothers, youth, Indigenous people, and unattached adults.
Refugee policy report · 2017
A Half Welcome
A 2017 report examining concerns raised by private refugee sponsorship agreement holders, including processing delays, allocation limits, and unequal wait times among applications.
Refugee policy report · 2018
Reclaiming Protection
A 2018 report arguing that Canada should overhaul the Safe Third Country Agreement to improve access to refugee determination and meet international protection obligations.
Refugee policy report · 2019
The Most Vulnerable
A 2019 report considering how governments, churches, and advocacy organizations can use an intersectional approach when developing refugee-protection policy and advocacy strategies.
Book · 2013
Living Ecological Justice
A CPJ publication presenting a faith-based response to environmental crisis and connecting ecological responsibility with Christian social ethics.
Book · 2018
Journeys to Justice
A collection by Joe Gunn reflecting on the contributions of Canadian faith communities to refugee policy, environmental protection, women's rights, economic justice, and opposition to apartheid.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Give it up for the Earth!
Canada
A Lent campaign inviting Christians to make personal carbon-reduction pledges while advocating federal measures aligned with the Paris Agreement.
Outcome. The campaign continued in later years with emphasis on a just transition, stronger climate policy, and ending public fossil-fuel financing.
- 2015Justice Tour 2015
Canada
National church leaders traveled to eight Canadian cities to discuss poverty and climate change with faith communities.
Outcome. The tour contributed to a subsequent interfaith declaration on climate justice and poverty endorsed by more than 65 signatories.
- 2013Proud to Protect Refugees
Canada
CPJ joined the Canadian Council for Refugees campaign defending refugee protection and public support for refugees.
- 2011Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change
Canada
CPJ and the Canadian Council of Churches coordinated an ecumenical call urging stronger Canadian leadership on climate change.
Outcome. The statement received endorsements from more than 60 Canadian faith institutions.
- 2009Dignity for All
Canada
A non-partisan campaign co-founded with Canada Without Poverty seeking a national anti-poverty plan and recurring public engagement around the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Outcome. The campaign developed a model National Anti-Poverty Plan, helped support an all-party parliamentary caucus, and contributed to policy debate leading to federal poverty-planning commitments.
- 1998Let's Invest in Canada's Children
Canada
CPJ and Campaign 2000 organized an interfaith campaign calling for stronger measures to end child poverty.
Outcome. The campaign helped build broad religious and public support for anti-poverty measures.
Brand decisions
2009
Co-founded Dignity for AllStrategyBackground
Persistent Canadian poverty and the absence of a comprehensive national anti-poverty framework created an opening for coordinated civil-society advocacy.
Action taken
CPJ partnered with Canada Without Poverty to launch a national, non-partisan anti-poverty campaign.
Aftermath
The campaign produced policy proposals, mobilized faith communities and citizens, and engaged parliamentarians through an all-party caucus.
2007
Moved headquarters to OttawaStrategyBackground
CPJ's work increasingly focused on federal legislation, budgets, and parliamentary policy debates.
Action taken
The organization moved its national office from Toronto to Ottawa.
Aftermath
The relocation placed CPJ closer to Parliament and reinforced its role as a national policy advocate.
1991
Consolidated operations in TorontoStrategyBackground
CPJ reviewed its regional structure while seeking greater depth on a smaller set of national issues.
Action taken
It closed regional offices in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver and returned operations to Toronto.
Aftermath
The organization concentrated more heavily on poverty, refugee rights, and Indigenous justice.
1982
Adopted a national public-policy identityStrategyBackground
The former Committee for Justice and Liberty Foundation sought a name and program better suited to its expanding federal policy work.
Action taken
The organization changed its name to Citizens for Public Justice and developed statements on Christian political service and social rights.
Aftermath
CPJ expanded its environmental, Indigenous-rights, poverty, and social-policy advocacy.
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