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12-18-2009, 11:23 AM
Group loses funding over position on Middle East
By ELIZABETH THOMPSON - Parliamentary Bureau
OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says a Canadian church-based group lost its federal funding because of its position on the Middle East.
Speaking at a forum in Israel, Kenney cited the decision to cut funding to KAIROS as an example of one of the steps the Conservative government has taken to fight anti-Semitism.
“We have de-funded organizations, most recently like KAIROS, who are taking a leadership role in the boycott,” Kenney said in a speech Wednesday.
However, news that their funding wasn’t renewed because of their position on the Middle East came as a surprise to KAIROS, which says Kenney has his facts wrong.
“It’s incorrect and if in fact the decision was a political one then that is very disturbing for the integrity of Canadian aid,” said Mary Corkery executive director of KAIROS, a church-based non-governmental organization that represents some of Canada’s largest religious denominations.
Corkery, who said she was shocked by Kenney’s comment, said her group has been critical of some of Israel’s actions but has not supported a boycott.
On Nov. 30, after positive assessments and 35 years of federal government funding for its work on international social justice, KAIROS was told its funding wouldn’t be renewed.Article continued at http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/12/17/12195181-qmi.html
By ELIZABETH THOMPSON - Parliamentary Bureau
OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says a Canadian church-based group lost its federal funding because of its position on the Middle East.
Speaking at a forum in Israel, Kenney cited the decision to cut funding to KAIROS as an example of one of the steps the Conservative government has taken to fight anti-Semitism.
“We have de-funded organizations, most recently like KAIROS, who are taking a leadership role in the boycott,” Kenney said in a speech Wednesday.
However, news that their funding wasn’t renewed because of their position on the Middle East came as a surprise to KAIROS, which says Kenney has his facts wrong.
“It’s incorrect and if in fact the decision was a political one then that is very disturbing for the integrity of Canadian aid,” said Mary Corkery executive director of KAIROS, a church-based non-governmental organization that represents some of Canada’s largest religious denominations.
Corkery, who said she was shocked by Kenney’s comment, said her group has been critical of some of Israel’s actions but has not supported a boycott.
On Nov. 30, after positive assessments and 35 years of federal government funding for its work on international social justice, KAIROS was told its funding wouldn’t be renewed.Article continued at http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/12/17/12195181-qmi.html