In the House of Commons – March 5, 2010

 
Mr. Francis Valeriote (Guelph, Lib.): Valeriote.F@parl.gc.ca 
 
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister said that other faith-based organizations would not face the same intimidation and attacks from the government that KAIROS did. That is not the issue. The issue is KAIROS, after advocating for human rights and environmental progress, issues on which the government has shown no leadership, was maliciously and wrongfully slandered as anti-Semitic by a senior minister of government.
 
Will the government reverse these crippling cuts and apologize to KAIROS and the churches it represents for its malicious attacks?
 
Hon. Jim Abbott (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation, CPC):  AbbotJ@parl.gc.ca
 
Mr. Speaker, the fact is the Liberals came out with a whole potpourri of ways of distributing money. It was without any organization.
 
Our government has established priorities that were well publicized. KAIROS, along with every other organization, was aware of what those priorities were. Its application was inadequate and insufficient against the priorities of which it was aware. It is that simple.
 
Mr. Francis Valeriote (Guelph, Lib.): 
 
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. It met those priorities.
 
In a letter dated January 21, 10 of the most influential national faith leaders from the Anglican, Catholic, Christian Reform, Anglican Lutheran, Presbyterian, Quaker, Mennonite and United churches requested a meeting with the Prime Minister to understand why his government made KAIROS a target for such vicious attacks.
 
When will the Prime Minister meet with these faith leaders as they requested, offer a full apology for his government’s slanderous attacks and restore these politically motivated cuts?
 
Hon. Jim Abbott (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation, CPC): 
 
Mr. Speaker, again, it is very interesting that the majority of those organizations he named did take a look at the priorities when they applied. Taking into account the priorities, many of those organizations received funding.
 
It is simply the case that we will not simply shovel money out the door, as the Liberals would. We want to ensure we get proper results for taxpayer money.