​CLWR

Request for support for Government Budget Support

 

We don’t speak often on political issues, but I need to share my concern with you after yesterday’s federal budget announcement. The budget sees Canada stepping back significantly from its long-held commitments to providing international assistance — the kind of work CLWR does. This work represents a fraction of Canada’s spending — less than 0.3% — but to people in places like Ethiopia, Haiti and Gaza, that support is life-saving.

 

Yesterday, I joined the leaders of more than 100 Canadian organizations in expressing concern about these cuts. You can read the letter here. But I wanted to say a bit more to you directly.

 

I don’t envy the job of political leaders who must make difficult decisions about important and competing priorities, but I will say two things:

 

First, budgets are moral documents, and they shape the world in dramatic ways. They reveal what — and who — will matter to us, and sometimes, who lives and dies while others maintain their comfort. When the U.S. government slashed its own spending on aid earlier this year, humanitarian organizations around the world — including our partners in LWF — laid off staff, cancelled programs, and watched people die. Canada’s shirking of its commitments (which have been made as recently as this year) will mean more of the same.

 

Second, budgets are political documents, which probably seems obvious, but here’s what I mean. A budget like this one sets the bar for what Canadians will accept. When the government proposes a cut and nobody objects, it tells them that issue isn't a priority for Canadians. Big business will have its lobby in full gear, as will the mining sector, oil and gas, the tech sector, the defense industry and more. If the axe comes anywhere near those interests — they will hear from people who care. But the people we serve have no one to speak for them unless it is you and me. I’m thinking of people like Akoi Riak Akech in South Sudan, who told us the support he received has kept his five kids alive since his wife passed away.

 

The Church’s call is steady and simple: love God, and love your neighbour. Or as the Epistle of James put it, “look after orphans and widows in their distress, and keep yourself from being polluted by the world.”

 

I want to ask you to pray for our partners, and to pray for our leaders. And I encourage you to do one step more than that — perhaps you’d consider writing or calling your local MP to let them know: if they thought nobody would care, they’re wrong. Canadian Lutherans care. Deeply. You can find your MP by postal code here: ourcommons.ca/members/en.

 

Thank you for standing with us in this work. Rest assured that CLWR is strong and with your support, we will be there for our global neighbours, sharing tangible hope in the name of Christ.

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

Rev. Dr. Michael Pryse

Interim Executive Director

Canadian Lutheran World Relief