Many are pushing for a national daycare system on the premise that it would contribute to post-pandemic economic recovery. However, there are more efficient, responsive and creative ways to both meet the care needs of families and spark new life in the Canadian economy. Cardus family research director Peter Jon Mitchell and senior fellow Andrea Mrozek share the reasons in this insightful article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light an important civil society institution of our country which needs re-examining: Our school system. David Hunt, Cardus’ Education and B.C. Director asks some important questions. What state is the school system in, and how, as Christians, are we to respond where it falls short?

In Langley, township council is considering whether to repeal and even recoup permissive property tax exemptions from any organization that holds events or gatherings while B.C. is under lockdown. David Hunt, Cardus B.C. Director and Education Director says that threatening tax-exemption status of all places of worship due to one congregation’s non-compliance is extraordinarily short-sighted.

Rabbi Reuven Bulka, often dubbed “Canada’s rabbi” is a well known spiritual leader in Ottawa’s Jewish community. More than 2,000 people will be joining in a virtual “worldwide prayer rally” hosted by Congregation Machzikei Hadas following news of his cancer diagnosis. Father Deacon Andrew Bennett, director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute, seconded what many in the faith community are saying about Rabbi Bulka. Honoured with the Order of Canada in 2014, Rabbi Bulka is well known as a man who has devoted his life to promoting kindness.

With Christmas just days away, some provinces are finding themselves feuding with churches that are resisting lockdowns meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. “The vast majority of churches have complied,” said Ray Pennings, the executive vice-president of Cardus. Fines and closures have been slapped on a number of religious groups in several provinces, and Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario have been forced to defend their COVID-19 restrictions in court. So far, they have emerged victorious.

An uncertain year looms ahead in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Already there are nearly two million dead worldwide; 80 million sickened with families torn apart by death, disease and border closures and economies have been devastated. Father deacon Andrew Bennett, the director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute spoke into the situation noting that faith communities are going to need to address many challenges in Canada's post-pandemic religious landscape.

A recent poll by The Angus Reid Institute and Cardus found that 20 per cent of Manitobans plan to meet with friends and family to celebrate the holidays. Anxiety about contracting COVID-19 or passing it on to friends and family was also recorded: three in four Manitobans polled say they believe the worst of the pandemic's effects are yet to come. Cardus executive vice-president Ray Pennings said, "The poll speaks to a "dissonance" between the data and how people are approaching the holidays...I think people are saying there's more to life than just health - family, faith, all these other dimensions of life which are sort of captured in Christmas - matter to us."

B.C. announces new restrictions in place for Christmas and New Years. CTV News Vancouver Island mentions the recent poll by Angus Reid Institute and Cardus to conclude that many are planning to use technology for religious and family connections. Cardus executive vice president, Ray Pennings notes that there is anxiousness surrounding this Christmas season, but still there is hope in the midst of it all. (Skip to 1:30 segment for the Angus Reid Institute & Cardus poll insight)

A new poll by the independent Angus Reid Institute in partnership with Cardus an independent think tank, conducted the online survey of 5,003 Canadians about their attitudes and intentions during this holiday period. It showed that most were reducing social contacts. In 2019 just over half of respondents said they visited friends or family in other communities or provinces (51%). This year 10 per cent said they would do so this year.