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Social Justice and Advocacy

The Social Justice and Advocacy Consultant, with the Social Justice and Advocacy Committee, coordinates and advances the public witness of our Diocese on issues of social and ecological justice. We seek to be faithful to God’s call to compassion and justice, live out our baptismal vows, and engage faithfully with the world.

To learn more or get involved, contact Elin Goulden, Social Justice & Advocacy Consultant, at egoulden@toronto.anglican.ca or 416-363-6021 (1-800-668-8932).

Get started with our Social Justice and Advocacy Parish Outreach Guide 

Find the Outreach and Advocacy Prayer Cycle on our Prayer Resources page

Read our 2024 Social Justice Vestry Motion.

What’s new:

Federal/Municipal Advocacy: Tell Parliament to fund Shelter for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Over 300 people are turned away from Toronto shelters every night.  About 40% of those seeking shelter are refugees and asylum claimants. 

This year, an influx of refugees claiming asylum has led to the deplorable situation of new arrivals sitting on sidewalks while awaiting shelter. Most of them are wholly unprepared for Canadian winters. Last month, a refugee claimant died in a Mississauga encampment, attempting to keep warm. 

Refugees and asylum seekers are a federal responsibility, yet so far the City has borne the costs of sheltering them.  A recent provincial commitment to provide $200 million in shelter funding each year over 3 years is contingent on the federal government doing its part. The federal government must commit to matching the funds from the province.

You can sign a petition to federal leaders here.

You can also use this  template letter, created by members of our Housing Advocacy subcommittee, which can be sent to elected representatives at all three levels of government, urging greater cooperation to resolve this humanitarian crisis.

Provincial Advocacy - Speak Up for Rent Control

Average rents in Ontario increased 27% from 2016 to 2021 and are still on the rise. The lack of rent controls on new buildings and the lack of vacancy control puts tenants at risk of skyrocketing housing costs when they move or when their building is renovated.

The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights is calling for strong legislation to protect renters across Canada.  Their Ontario letter calls for fair rents for all tenants, regardless of when their homes were built, and rent stability for renters impacted by repairs and renovations. Learn more and send your message here.

Anglican Outreach Support Network

Many parishes have contacted the Diocesan Office for guidance on continuing outreach programs during COVID-19.  See the Amber/Red Guidelines for Outreach Ministries and the Guidelines for Outreach Ministries Offering Indoor Food Services documents on our COVID-19 Updates page.

We urge all parishes to follow public health protocols for screening, hygiene, PPE and distancing when offering outreach services.

What we do

We facilitate communications between the diocesan and suffragan bishops and various levels of government. We also educate, equip and support parishes and individual Anglicans in advocacy on social and ecological justice.

Priorities

Our ongoing social justice work is focused on three priority areas:

  1. poverty reduction
  2. affordable housing and homelessness
  3. environmental issues

Other areas of concern, where we support the work of other church ministries, include:

Some of our key activities include: