This letter to Premier Ford reminds the government that “it is more important than ever to have ongoing and careful assessments of the frequency and quantity of water-taking permits [which] requires strong structures for tracking, evaluating, and managing cumulative withdrawals across water sources…”
January (2026) - Joint Statement on the Development of a National Strategy on Environmental Racism and Justice
The Office for Systemic Justice has co-signed a Joint Statement expressing support for the important work that Environment and Climate Change Canada is undertaking to develop Canada’s first national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice.
January (2026) - Statement on Venezuela
We urge the government of Canada to work with other democratic nations to ensure, at a minimum, the safeguarding of Venezuela's sovereignty …
December (2025) Letter to Ontario Government - Clean Drinking Water for First Nations
The Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada expresses concern that the long-promised First Nations Clean Water Act (Bill C-61) -- which would have set minimum standards for drinking water on reserves, acknowledged First Nations’ jurisdiction over water on their lands, and recognized safe drinking water as a human right -- will not be passed as part of the Fall 2025 legislative agenda.
December (2025) - Holding the Tensions 2
This Federation newsletter article underscores how, through the lens of integral ecology, everything in life is interconnected and interacts most effectively when it works with contemplative practice.
November (2025) - Letter to Ontario Government to Protect and Expand Rent Controls.
This letter to the provincial government expresses concern about the impact that Bill 60 (the "Fighting Delays, Building Faster, Act", 2025) will have on renters in Ontario, and calls on the government to maintain tenant protections by removing Schedule 12 of Bill 60 and enacting legislation that would protect and expand rent control.
September (2025) - Call for More Robust to Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
This letter to Prime Minister Carney (dated Sept. 12, 2025) calling for a much more robust response from the government of Canada to the violence and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza had 52 congregational signatories from across Canada and insists that we can and must do more such as: cut off all military exports to Israel to Israel from Canadian manufacturers; use targeted sanctions against Prime Minister Netanyahu and his cabinet if an immediate ceasefire by the IDF is not declared; collaborate with other countries to help establish a peacekeeping presence in Gaza to facilitate the distribution of food and other humanitarian aid; help secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in addition to curbing the tangential violence which is occurring on all sides; and, join with other nations to build the capacity of Palestinians to govern themselves.
September (2025) - Holding the Tensions
In this Federation newsletter article, Sr. Sue Wilson describes the FOSJ’s pre-budget submission to Minister Champagne with a reminder that every budget is a moral document as it reveals our national priorities and values and deeply impacts our capacity to care for each other and all life on earth.
May (2025) - Joint Statement on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Read the letter to PM Carney signed by 30+ Catholic religious orders (including our in Canada, Sault Ste. Marie, and Toronto congregations) to offer gratitude for, and solidarity with, the Joint Statement from Canada, the UK, and France regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
April (2025) - Earth Week Statement
Read the recent Earth Week Statement – to which the Sisters of St. Joseph are signatories – which reminds us to ‘lean into transformation and choose the deep systemic change that will enable us to face together the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and the gap between rich and poor’.
March (2025) - "Holding the Tensions" article
In this article, Sr. Sue Wilson describes the recent United Nation’s Commission on Social Development and the participation of the Office for Systemic Justice a panel organized by the UN Major Civil Society Group and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
2025 (January) - Civil Society Declaration
The FOSJ has signed on to the attached Civil Society Declaration for the 63rd session of the UN Commission for Social Development on the priority theme “Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion and social cohesion to accelerate the delivery of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. This Declaration outlines several calls to action related to: equal access to food, healthcare, housing and other basic rights; establishment of social protection systems; debt relief for developing nations; and, the meaningful participation of vulnerable peoples.
2024 (December) - Open Letter to Establish a Youth Climate Corps in Canada
Recently, the Office for Systemic Justice joined 180+ (Indigenous, faith, labour, climate and education) groups calling for the establishment of a Youth Climate Corps in Canada in this open letter. The Corps would be a national paid job training program where anyone 35 and under could apply and sign-up to do climate adaptation and mitigation work in their communities.
2024 (December 9) - Letter to Premier Citing Ethical Concerns About Dismantling Encampments
The Office for Systemic Justice sent a letter to Premier Ford and Minister Calandra today which cites ethical concerns with the recent proposed legislation for dismantling encampments.
2024 (September) - Climate Change Mitigation and Financing: What is Canada's 'Fair Share'?
In this Federation newsletter article, Sr. Sue Wilson details the FOSJ submission to the Canadian government with respect to climate change mitigation efforts.
2024 (April) - Support for Chief Haymond's Presentation About Nuclear Waste
The Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada supports Kebaowek Chief Lance Haymond’s call for more consultation, study, and mitigation measures to safe guard water near a planned nuclear waste facility close to the Ottawa River.
2024 (April) – Need to Respond to the Humanitarian and Housing Crisis
Stemming from the FOSJ’s long-standing work with the Interfaith Social Assistance Coalition, this letter to the federal and provincial governments urges action in response to the humanitarian and housing crisis facing so many.
2024 (March) - Urge to Introduce a Comprehensive Regularization Program
This letter to the Prime Minister urges the federal governmental to act on its commitment to introduce a broad and comprehensive regularization program that would provide permanent residence and access to basic rights to people living in Canada without status.
2024 (March) - Repairing Relationships, Changing Systems
This year’s United Nations’ Commission on Social Development (CSocD) brought together government representatives, businesspersons, academics, and members of civil society organizations from around the world to examine how, collectively, we can contribute toward the elimination of poverty. Read more about the Commission and our CSJ participation.
2024 (January) - Ontario Pre-Budget Submission
The Office for Systemic Justice’s 2024 Ontario Pre-Budget Submission gives public voice to the social, economic, and environmental concerns of hundreds of Sisters and Associates of the Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada.
