Cuts to KAIROS: decision not financial but punitive

By Andréa Ledding

SASKATOON — People of various ages and denominations gathered to march in support of KAIROS May 15. Carrying banners and signs, the group marched downtown, ending in front of TCU Place where a conference on AIDS/HIV was being held. KAIROS, an ecumenical partnership working to promote human rights and sustainable development, justice and peace, and ecological justice, was recently denied its usual CIDA funding by the Harper government.

“The $7 million denied KAIROS is a drop in the bucket to the government, so it’s not about saving tax dollars,” said Deb Walker, one of the organizers of the march. “The Canadian Snowmobiling Association was given $25 million to groom trails and improve their clubhouses.”

The funding was pulled shortly after the agency criticized some of the Harper government’s policies — environmentally, internationally and in areas like health and poverty. Various reasons were given, but the belief is that the government wanted to silence criticism.

KAIROS works locally and internationally with the HIV/AIDS crisis, and a few attendees of the conference who came out of TCU Place were very supportive.

“It was KAIROS House in Edmonton, run by Catholic Social Services, that helped me dealing with my initial diagnosis and care,” said Ken Ward.

“And it’s voices like yours that are making the difference. Stay united, and keep the circle — some of us are surviving, and some of us are finding hope because of you.”

Art Zoocole of Toronto, representing the national organization Two Spirited People of the First Nations, added that the work KAIROS does is invaluable, as they support not only those who are HIV positive, but people who are marginalized by racism and poverty.

Someone needs to represent the conscience of the nation, said Jake Buhler, one of several others who spoke to the gathering in front of TCU Place. “They are putting conditions on our funding. The government is us — we ARE the government — and they need to be reminded of that instead of silencing our voices.”

Deb Walker agreed, adding that it is pointless to support government research and not also give traction to what is going on in people’s lives at a basic level.

“We need both — science and a social network that cares. This cut wasn’t a financial decision, it was a punishment.”

Jan Bigland-Pritchard, representing the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, noted that all the work of unity and reconciliation was under attack with this manoeuvre, and urged all in attendance to spread the word at their local churches, put pressure on their government representatives, and above all to support these initiatives with work, words, and finances.

KAIROS has 11 member churches at the national level and has been active for 35 years.