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Budget vigil begins March 2
Catholic Register Staff
February 6, 2009
TORONTO - The people who run the church-sponsored food banks, shelters and social agencies in Ontario want a better budget out of Queen’s Park, and they’re willing to pray for it.
Starting March 2 and continuing until Finance Minister Dwight Duncan brings down the 2009 budget, the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition will stage a prayer vigil on the front lawn of the provincial legislature. No date has been set for the budget, though it is widely expected in the third week of March.
Starting March 2 and continuing until Finance Minister Dwight Duncan brings down the 2009 budget, the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition will stage a prayer vigil on the front lawn of the provincial legislature. No date has been set for the budget, though it is widely expected in the third week of March.
The vigil brings ISARC back to its roots when in 1989 the then new alliance of churches, mosques and synagogues prayed for two weeks in Queen’s Park. The Liberal finance minister of the day, Bob Nixon, brought down a budget with a $1-billion increase in social spending.
The Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Ontario arm of the Canadian Religious Conference are members of ISARC, along with a number of Catholic social agencies.
ISARC will maintain a tent and 24-hour presence at Queen’s Park.
Bruce Voogd and Murat Ortanca will co-ordinate a daily schedule to ensure the prayers are uninterrupted. To get in on prayers for Ontario’s poor get in touch with them at [email protected].
The Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Ontario arm of the Canadian Religious Conference are members of ISARC, along with a number of Catholic social agencies.
ISARC will maintain a tent and 24-hour presence at Queen’s Park.
Bruce Voogd and Murat Ortanca will co-ordinate a daily schedule to ensure the prayers are uninterrupted. To get in on prayers for Ontario’s poor get in touch with them at [email protected].