‘When greater social goods are at stake’

Archdeacons Michael Pollesel and John M. Robertson wrote to Industry Minister Tony Clement earlier this week on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada. Here is their letter.

As you are well aware, a great deal of the charitable work carried out in this country is done in support of the sick, the poor, the marginalized, and on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who are in dire need of a loving human response on a daily basis.

In spiritual terms this loving human response comes by the Grace of God, but in practical terms it is emboldened and upheld by reliable information and sound methodologies that are pillars of our social infrastructure.  The Anglican Church of Canada recognizes the power our country’s statistical  information has to help transform thought into action in profound and life giving ways.  Indeed to potentially compromise the integrity of a system – one that is recognized as global leader – without a broad consultation with other levels of government, nonprofits and the private sector seems unnecessarily risky, particularly when greater social goods are at stake.