National Anti-Poverty Organization - Organisation nationale anti-pauvreté

Louise Casselman
Social Justice Fund Officer
Public Service Alliance of Canada,
233 Gilmour Street
Ottawa, ON
K2P 0P1

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Dear Ms. Casselman,

I am writing to follow-up on our meeting of September 12th , 2006.  It was a pleasure to meet with you to discuss the work of the Social Justice Fund.  Reviewing the grass roots projects that you have funded over the last year is absolutely thrilling. 

As a long-time anti-poverty and human rights activist, I would like to congratulate yourself and your steering committee on the impact you have made to the anti-poverty movement in Canada with the funding you have provided to groups across Canada.

Increasingly it is becoming more difficult for citizen-based grassroots groups from disadvantaged communities to obtain funding in order to promote social justice causes, especially in the area of poverty.  In fact at the federal level, all grants and contributions programs are currently being reviewed by an independent three personal panel and the future of organizations such as mine is not secure. I have attached an executive summary from the Canadian Council on Social Development of their submission to the panel.

As I indicated during our meeting I am more then happy to assist your work in anyway, the mandate of the National Anti-poverty Organization includes providing support to anti-poverty groups across Canada and we are more then happy to assist groups in their work.

In Solidarity,

Sherrie Tingley
Executive Director