The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Advocacy

Turn Debt Into Hope — Parliamentary Paper Petition

Filed Under: Advocacy, Take Action

Have you already signed the Turn Debt Into Hope online petition? Wonderful. As we enter the final stretch of the Jubilee 2025 campaign, ORCIE is launching one final coordinated effort to translate broad public support into meaningful political action.

From Global Petition to Parliamentary Action

The Turn Debt Into Hope parliamentary paper petition is the next strategic phase of our debt justice work. Building on more than 60,000 public signatures gathered globally, this petition enables Members of Parliament to formally present the issue in the House of Commons—bringing the global debt crisis directly into federal political discourse.

From January to April 2026, our goal is to create sustained visibility by encouraging 10–15 MPs to table the petition throughout the session. Each presentation strengthens public pressure, elevates media attention, and signals to federal leaders that debt justice and climate finance remain urgent national priorities.

How You and Your Congregation Can Participate

If you—or your congregation—would like to support this effort by gathering signatures, approaching your local MP, or contributing to this coordinated four‑month advocacy push, we warmly welcome your involvement. ORCIE is ready to accompany and support you every step of the way.

To confirm your participation, please contact:
Genevieve Gallant – Executive Director
📧 ggallant@orcie.org

Next Steps for Participating Members

To participate in the paper petition effort:

  1. Visit the Instruction Page for step‑by‑step guidance on how to use the paper petition and engage your MP.
Instructions Turn Debt Into Hope Parliamentary Paper PetitionDownload

2. Download the Printable Parliamentary Paper Petition and begin collecting signatures within your congregation or community.

Turn Debt Into Hope Paper Parliamentary PetitionDownload

Renewed Call for Action on Clean Water in First Nations Communities

Filed Under: Advocacy

Access to safe, reliable drinking water remains a fundamental human right. In our earlier reflection on Clean Water for All, we explored the promise of Bill C‑61 and the urgent need for federal leadership to ensure that every First Nation has the infrastructure, resources, and authority required to protect this basic human right.

Today, we continue that call.

ORCIE has submitted a new advocacy letter to the Honourable Mandy Gull‑Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, urging the federal government to reintroduce strong, rights‑affirming legislation in early 2026. The delays surrounding Bill C‑61—and the continued boil‑water advisories affecting communities across the country—underscore the human cost of inaction.

Our message is clear: safe drinking water cannot be postponed.
It is a matter of dignity, health, and reconciliation.

We invite you to revisit our original post on the First Nations Clean Water Act to understand the broader context and the voices calling for change:

👉 Read: Clean Water for All

Together, let us continue advocating for transparent, adequately funded, community‑led solutions that honour First Nations’ inherent jurisdiction over water and uphold the human right to clean water for all.

Minister Gull-Masty 2025-12-19Download

🌍Budget 2025 Does Not Reflect ORCIE’s Focus on Integral Ecology

Filed Under: Advocacy, Communications

By Joe Gunn, Board Co-Chair & Treasurer, ORCIE

After the spring 2025 election, Canadians had to wait until November 4 to see the “generational budget” promised by their new federal government. It was then that ORCIE saw proof that environmental justice has been massively downgraded in importance – as well as in planned future action by our leaders.

The federal government wanted to highlight three buzzwords to describe their priorities: Build, Protect, and Empower. But the main takeaways are headlined in a massive $78 billion deficit, sharply increased military spending to immediately total 2% of GDP (moving quickly to 5% of GDP by 2035), and state “investments” and tax reductions to move the private sector economy forward, especially on newly selected PONIs (“Projects of National Interest.”)

How does Budget 2025 measure up to the demands of the climate emergency, when ORCIE members are advocating for approaches of integral ecology?

ORCIE’s recommendations for a federal budget defined by our vision of integral ecology was clearly outlined in our brief to the budget consultation process at the end of August. In short, ORCIE recommended action to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future, create meaningful new jobs for young people (in this moment of high youth unemployment), as well as for Canada to fulfill our promised international commitments to climate action.

The government’s “Climate Competitiveness Strategy” was finally released, a text of 14-pages in the 493- page “Canada Strong” budget document. What are the major headlines there?

Most importantly, there is no mention of Canadian commitments to achieve emission reduction targets. This represents a huge failure of government resolve. Canada’s target had been to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. Much more concerted action is required to meet this promise, since the latest reports show we have only managed an 8.5% reduction to date. By refusing to acknowledge this targeted commitment, much less offer a strategy to get there, the federal government has chosen to abdicate its responsibility to all Canadians, other international actors as well as God’s creation.

More specifically, Canada’s Climate Competitiveness Strategy bows down in homage to the fossil fuel industry’s refusal to proceed with an emissions cap on oil and gas production. The federal government now asks Canadians to believe that other unspecified measures, like industrial carbon pricing, enhanced regulations to lower methane emissions, and providing massive subsidies to industry for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) schemes “at scale” are enough. The document states that an oil and gas emissions cap “would no longer be required” as it would then have “marginal value in reducing emissions.”

ORCIE is left to wonder if Canada’s Climate Competitiveness Strategy is not really a blueprint for exorbitant earnings to increase in the corporate sector controlled by the fossil fuel giants. MP Elizabeth May stated that extending CCUS tax credits for another five years, costing $3 billion, is just another fossil fuel subsidy. The Green Party leader said she cannot vote in favour of this budget.

Caroline Brouillette, executive director of Climate Action Network Canada (of which ORCIE is an active member) summarized by stating: “We were looking for much-needed clarity on how Ottawa would diversify the economy away from volatile fossil fuels, meet our international climate obligations, and steer Canada towards a safer and more affordable clean energy future. We’re still waiting,”

On a hopeful note, ORCIE was pleased to see the budget commit to spend $40 million over the next two years to establish a Youth Climate Corps, providing young Canadians with a range of work experiences in green endeavours that can help build more environmentally resilient communities. (ORCIE had advocated for $1 billion for this program over five years – the amount granted will only support 350 jobs in 2026.)

ORCIE was also dismayed to read how this federal budget will reduce Canada’s International Assistance Envelope by $2.7 billion over the next four years. The government has clearly chosen to prioritize building a “hard power” future for Canada through arms spending, rather than “soft power” to build relationships of solidarity among global citizens through development cooperation. These cuts suggest that the Jubilee 2025 campaign for the cancellation of odious debts of countries of the Global South will have much more work to do.

When COP30 will be taking place in Belém, Brazil, this same month, Canadian officials will have the unenviable task of explaining why our country seems to be lowering our commitments to climate action at home and abroad. ORCIE will be present to continue to advocate for better ways to build and protect our common home, and empower actions towards a future of integral ecology.

Learning & Lobbying 2025: Canada for Global Climate Justice

Filed Under: Advocacy, Take Action

In September 2025, ORCIE organized a successful multi-day “Learning & Lobbying” series that culminated in meetings on Parliament Hill in Ottawa with MPs and senior policy staff from Environment and Climate Change, Natural Resources, Finance, and Foreign Affairs.

Productive lobbying meetings were held with Rob Oliphant (Liberal), Elizabeth May (Green), Garth Ehrhardt (ECCC), Don Davies (NDP).

During these discussions, ORCIE emphasized Canada’s responsibility to do its fair share in confronting the climate emergency—by capping fossil fuel emissions and production, accelerating investment in clean energy, and fulfilling its international commitments. The delegation also raised how unsustainable debt burdens, reduced aid, and an unjust global financial system continue to disadvantage countries in the Global South.

Preparation began with an online webinar featuring Seth Klein and Anjali Appadurai from the Climate Emergency Unit, who shared insights on climate policy and effective advocacy. Facilitated by Genevieve Gallant, Executive Director of ORCIE, and Sue Wilson, CSJ, PhD, from the Office for Systemic Justice, Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada, the session helped 43 participants build their confidence and refine messaging using the Fair Shares Platform.

An in-person advocacy training followed at St. Paul University, led by Genevieve Gallant, Executive Director, and Sasquia Antúnez Pineda, Advocacy and Communications Officer at ORCIE. Participants reviewed ORCIE’s lobby guide, policy briefs, and key talking points before practicing in small groups to prepare for meetings on the Hill.

We ended the day with a beautiful dinner at the home of Joe Gunn, ORCIE’s Treasurer—a warm and inspiring gathering that offered time to connect, share encouragement, and build community ahead of the meetings.

The final step brought together ten ORCIE participants—including members from several congregations and ORCIE staff—for in-person meetings with six MPs and three senior policy staff on Parliament Hill. Each conversation focused on ORCIE’s policy asks rooted in the Fair Shares Platform and our domestic climate policy brief. These meetings opened space for meaningful dialogue, and participants gathered thoughtful feedback from MPs that will guide future engagement, including follow-up meetings with regional representatives.

Productive lobbying meetings were held with Alexandre Boulerice (NDP), Corey Hogan (Liberal), Eric St. Pierre (Liberal), Steven Kuhn (AADM International Trade & Finance), and Sophie Kiwala (Chief of Staff for Yasir Naqvi, International Development).

The experience wrapped up with a debrief and drinks at a local Ottawa restaurant, where participants reflected on their conversations, shared insights, and explored next steps together—closing the series with a strong sense of collaboration, community, and shared purpose for global climate justice.

Watch the full webinar recording at orcie.org/resources.