Comments on: KAIROS fights CIDA cuts

by: Jennifer Wheeler

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:19:31 +0000

Re Kairos. I have just received a response from Bev Oda. Trying to formulate a response which will engender another response from her. I would like to know what other groups have had funding cut. Has anyone else done this. Sample letter please! jennifer

Dennis replies: Thanks Jennifer. The group Alternatives has lost its funding and I am told that the Canadian Council for International Cooperation has received only a portion of its money for this year. If anyone else has info on other organizations who have lost funding, please post it here in the Comments section. You can get loads of information about the KAIROS cutbacks (and the response) on the KAIROS website: http://www.kairoscanada.org/en/who-we-are/cida-funding-cuts/

by: Jan Slakov

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:52:16 +0000

This decision is especially outrageous when you think of the real value of what Canadians are funding. In the name of improving security, we are spending billions on the war in Afghanistan with very dubious results.
Meanwhile, we could be doing much more work like the work Kairos does, which would certainly make this world a fairer place and contribute to efforts to have a livable world to pass on to the world’s children.

by: Nik Beeson

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:51:19 +0000

KAIROS received rave reviews from CIDA (see Dec.9 Briefing Note on this page: http://kairoscanada.org/index.php?id=654) and spent many months in close conversation with CIDA re. its proposal.
The funding cut was by the Minister on the very last day of an extension, with no reason given to date.

Re. “Where is it written that the government must fund those opposed to its policies.” Well, in the Charter. It’s the Gov’s responsibility to fund the electoral process, the Court system, the CBC etc, regardless of whether they agree with them or not. It’s called democracy….

by: EmilyDee

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:58:26 +0000

There is something else that I think we are overlooking here. I agree that the criticism of the tar sands was no doubt a factor, but I think there was another reason.

On a Global TV report found on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ZfgPW2-oA&feature=player_embedded)

both Jason Kenney and Stockwell Day claim that Kairos was antisemitic, because they criticized Israel.

And guess who had the last word? None other than Charles McVety of Christians United for Israel. He calls Kairos ‘left-wing ideologues’. I can’t help but think he may have had a lot to do with this.

by: dirk

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:43:02 +0000

This as just typical of the Conservatives,after all they are motivated by ideology,positive results do not matter. That said I am also in agreement with the above…”Where is it written that the government must fund those opposed to its policies”….

Now don’t get me wrong its not that I do not support NGO’s etc doing good works but I do have problems with them accepting government monies. I believe to do so opens up these well meaning people/groups & their works to government manipulation and to a lessening of their ability to hold the government(s) to account.On top of all that, years of good work can be undone without a moments notice. The lesson should be made even more clearer,accept government monies at your peril.

Dennis replies: Thanks for your comment. I have looked at the 2008 annual report posted on the KAIROS website. The organization had a budget of just over $4 million. CIDA provided $1.6 million, or 39 per cent, of that amount. The remaining $2.4 million, or 60 per cent, came mainly from member churches, religious groups and individuals.