Funding for "Alternative Justice"

Finally, we have a government that appears to be doing all the right things. Oops, many of the right things. Just as no one person is perfect, so too is no aggregation of people - those that represent a political party, for example - capable of perfectly satisfying all of the country's voting constituents. Suffice, for the moment, that they have taken serious steps to remedy situations that have not reflected well on Canada.

As, for example, using public funding in support of ideological groups whose agendas may not quite accurately reflect the universal values of the free democracy that Canada represents. Funding groups which may at one time have represented a legitimate purpose in a multifarious society with many viewpoints, but whose steeply-left-leaning values have found common cause with astute groups representing a threat to free societies, skilled in manipulating the latter.

Members of the country's intelligence community have noted, as have more casual observers with a keen interest in the politics of their country, that there is glaring evidence that the hard left has found itself an exciting new focus, in stoutly and emphatically identifying with supporters of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah as worthy of their support, representing authentic 'freedom' movements.

One such group, the Canadian Arab Federation, whose vice president claims Hezbollah to be a "symbol of the struggle against Israeli oppression, injustice and occupation", calling on the federal government to recognize them as "legitimate political parties", insists also on their removal from outlawed terror status in the country. That vice-president has made significant inroads in labour and the left. CUPE and the NDP, to be precise.

The organization Kairos, faith-based and vigorously acting as an involved human rights group has had its federal funding removed. On the face of it, given its activism in various causes, from ecological awareness and criticism of the Alberta tarsands, representing input from the United, Anglican, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches, the Mennonites and the Quakers some of those issues are worthwhile of support.

CIDA, which has funded Kairos in the past, points out that their priorities are food security, children and youth, and sustainable economic growth in 20 countries. That the environmental focus of the group doesn't really fall within their mandate. Which includes criticism of bottled water use in Canada and elsewhere, and incidentally the defence of a Palestinian activist protesting a Canadian company involved in the building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Less ambiguous is the likely cessation of funding for Montreal-based NGO Alternatives which has, among other things, been critical of Canada's presence in Afghanistan. The Alternatives challenge to the Government of Canada to pressure Israel to halt its oppression of the Palestinians and to invite dialogue with the Taliban may not have endeared it to the government. The kind of social justice they envisage is likely not the same kind Canada is geared toward.

The "education camp" they organized last year in Quebec which featured "500 motivated militants" from countries such as Lebanon, Iraq, "Palestine" and Venezuela, would raise any eyebrows. That their board includes vocal Hezbollah and Hamas supporters clearly identifies them as an NGO whose agenda does not quite parallel that of the government's. Nor, for that matter, the bulk of Canadian society.

They have the option of seeking private funding. And no doubt will do very well at that enterprise. That government will no longer sponsor them through tax dollars represents another kind of justice.