Kairos funding must be restored

OTTAWA - Canada’s New Democrats are demanding funding for social justice organization KAIROS be restored, following revelations that the cuts were made based on inaccurate information.

“There’s been an outrageous mistake made here, and Minister Oda must move swiftly to correct the record and restore the $7 million in funding that she has stripped from KAIROS,” said John Rafferty, New Democrat critic for International Cooperation.  “A Minister of this government has said that KAIROS lost their funding because they engage in anti-Semitic activities, but that claim is demonstrably false so there is no pretense for the funding cut.”

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney made the erroneous charge during a recent visit to Israel. During a speech in Jerusalem on December 16 Kenney stated”: “"We have defunded organizations, most recently, like KAIROS, who are taking a leadership role in the boycott, divestment and sanctions against (Israel)."  However, a document published by KAIROS in January 2008 explicitly stated that the organization did not support “any general boycott of Israeli products” nor “any use of sanctions against Israel.”

“KAIROS is a respected ecumenical organization that works to improve the lives of millions people living in poverty and conflict around the world,” added New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.  “Mr. Kenney owes them and their member churches an immediate apology.”

KAIROS member churches include the Anglican Church of Canada, The Christian Reformed Church in North America, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, The United Church of Canada, The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Canadian Religious Conference, The Mennonite Central Committee of Canada, The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF).