December 12, 2016 OTTAWA – Media reports about the rising cost of daycare services in Canada’s biggest cities may have some parents naturally worried. But how would parents want decision-makers to respond to this news? When Cardus and Nanos Research asked Canadian parents in the Canada Family Life Project about their preferences, 62% of respondents called for policy measures that involve helping parents directly, rather than giving money to centres, spaces, or schools. Only 15.3% of those surveyed wanted subsidies for child-care centres to improve quality and/or create more spaces. “Canadians have repeatedly said they want to have the ability to decide for themselves how to take care of their children,” says Andrea Mrozek, Cardus Family Program Director. “The research shows that big government programs don’t rate highly with parents. And institutional centre-based daycare certainly is not parents’ favourite option.” Previous research has also shown that 76% of Canadians with at least a high school diploma agreed that it's best for a child to be at home with mom or dad instead of some other caregiver. And when parental care isn’t possible, 73% of Canadians prefer that kids be with a relative, or in home-based daycare. Only 19% of respondents chose non-profit or for-profit daycare centres as the best option. To arrange an interview with Andrea Mrozek, contact Daniel Proussalidis, Director of Communications.-30-MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

Three practical ways to rein in high-cost borrowing HAMILTON – Canadians are in a spending mood with 39% of respondents to a recent survey saying they intend to spend more money this year than last on Christmas gifts and other holiday purchases. While many will load up credit cards or dip into savings over the next few weeks, others will turn to companies promising “Christmas loans” or easy cash to give children “the Christmas they deserve.” But many of those borrowers who are already struggling to pay their bills will end up trapped in a cycle of repeat loans that will create unsustainable debt lasting well into 2017.“Growing efforts in Canada to regulate the payday loan industry are good, but they aren’t enough,” says Brian Dijkema, Work & Economics Program Director at Cardus. “Our research shows that Canadians with bad credit also need alternatives to payday loans – something regulations can’t provide.” The Cardus report Banking on the Margins recommends three practical measures to help consumers:Municipalities can freely promote and encourage low-cost small loan alternatives that are often available through community organizations. Those who turn to payday loans often don’t know they have access to alternatives. Governments, community foundations, houses of worship, or charitable organizations could help to backstop loan losses for financial institutions like credit unions, decreasing the risk of making small-dollar loans available. Governments can reform the payday loan industry. Colorado passed a law in 2010 that required all loans to be repayable over at least six months, established a new fee structure, and provided consumers the ability to pay back loans early without penalty. This goes beyond recent efforts in B.C., Ontario, and Newfoundland & Labrador to reduce the cost of payday loans for consumers.To arrange an interview with Brian Dijkema, contact Daniel Proussalidis, Director of Communications.-30- About Cardus Cardus is a think tank dedicated to the renewal of North American social architecture. It conducts independent and original research, produces several periodicals, and regularly stages events with Senior Fellows and interested constituents across Canada and the U.S. To learn more, visit: www.cardus.ca and follow us on Twitter @cardusca. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT WORTH A ROBUST DEFENCE Dr. Andrew Bennett, Cardus Senior Fellow, testifies before Senate Human Rights Committee December 7, 2016 OTTAWA – Dr. Andrew Bennett, Cardus Senior Fellow, is defending religious freedom as a fundamental human right that cannot simply be lumped in with other concepts, such as inclusion and tolerance. “Without religious freedom, we cannot then move on to give utterance to our beliefs (freedom of speech), gather with others to share those beliefs (freedom of assembly), or form groups of our fellow human beings who share similar beliefs so as to advance the common good,” said Dr. Bennett on Wednesday. His comments came during his appearance before the Senate Human Rights Committee as an expert witness as on the issue of religious freedom. Informed by his previous experience as Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, Dr. Bennett says Canadian foreign policy needs to deal head-on with the issue of religious freedom. “In many of the countries in which our diplomats serve, religion and religious faith does not find expression simply in a perceived cultural discourse, but rather religious faith guides the social, political, cultural, and economic lives of billions of our fellow human beings,” he said. “To not understand this is to perpetuate a very serious diplomatic blind spot.” At Cardus, Dr. Bennett helps to promote religious freedom in Canada and abroad. He is also chair of the Cabinet of Canadians, a multi-faith group of almost 40 distinguished individuals, which aims to commemorate the role of faith in our country, our institutions, and our common life.-30-MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

GIVING TUESDAY: HELPING CHARITIES IN CHALLENGING TIMES Cardus identifies key questions for Canada’s charitable sector. November 28, 2016OTTAWA – Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, which is an excellent reminder that charities are critical to our civil society and face the challenge of change alongside other key organizations in Canada. This is especially true for the numerous smaller organizations that must navigate personnel and funding challenges. The work charities do in counselling, poverty alleviation, education, and many other areas helps promote the common good. These benefits may not always be visible but they are vital. However, in conversation with charities, Cardus has learned these organizations face four major challenges:80% of the resources charities have come from only 18% of Canadians Only half of Canada’s 86,000 registered charities have paid staff; the rest depend solely on volunteers Organizations with big lobbying budgets, including big charities, unions, and corporations, mean small charities are massively outweighed in advocating for change Canada Revenue Agency audits and information requests can be intimidating for the significant number of small charitiesIn response to these findings, Cardus is calling for additional research and collaboration to help improve the climate in which charities big and small operate. Key questions that need answers include:How can reporting standards change so that small charities aren’t overloaded, but larger organizations are still held accountable? How can the Canada Revenue Agency collect better information from charities? What new challenges are charities facing in fundraising? How can charities cope with the competitive environment of their sector even when they aren’t designed as competitive bodies?“Charities are an important part of Canadian life, but like other facets of our society, they face change and challenge,” says Milton Friesen, Social Cities Program Director for Cardus. “We need to find ways to enrich grassroots expressions of charitable work across Canada to increase the common good contributions they are already making.” To access new Cardus research on charities, please click here.-30-About the Social Cities Program The Cardus Social Cities Program tries to find answers to the question: “What makes a great city and how do we get there?” Cities that are enriching for all citizens require that all of the resources within and around them interact as effectively as possible. The complex network of relationships between people, institutions, and culture represents what we call social architecture. We explore the existing social architecture and propose ways in which it might change to better serve the common good. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

TORONTO HAS OPTIONS OTHER THAN TOLL ROADS If Toronto opened construction projects for competitive bids it could reduce the need for tolls by 50% November 24, 2016 HAMILTON – Turning the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway into toll roads may raise revenue for infrastructure projects, but it leaves a major problem unsolved: Toronto taxpayers are paying too much for construction projects. “Since the mid 1970s, Toronto has been paying a completely unnecessary premium on its construction projects,” said Brian Dijkema, Work & Economics Program Director at Cardus. “Because of an obscure section of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, the City of Toronto must restrict which companies are allowed to bid on city work to a small group of unionized Ontario companies.” Cardus studied projects that were subject to this arcane rule. We found more than half a billion dollars worth of projects per year in Toronto are restricted from the fair, open, and competitive tendering rules that the rest of the province follows. International research indicates opening up city infrastructure projects to truly competitive bids leads to savings of up to a quarter of a project’s cost. Toronto could have saved almost $150 million in 2012 alone – half of the $300 million the city wants to collect annually through highway tolls. Opening Toronto’s construction to competition would be a huge step towards fairness for Torontonians and towards maintaining the mayor’s reputation as fiscally responsible. It means that the limited pool of money available to Toronto for infrastructure would go a lot further, and would have the happy benefit of keeping more money in the wallets of those driving the DVP and the Gardiner. It’s time for Toronto to open up infrastructure projects to truly competitive bidding. To arrange an interview with Brian Dijkema (DYE’-kuh-muh), contact Daniel Proussalidis, Director of Communications.-30-MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

CANADA’S POET LAUREATE AMONG NOTABLE CANADIANS JUDGING NEW NATIONAL LITERARY PRIZE Ross and Davis Mitchell Prize for Faith and Writing will award a total of $25,000 November 21, 2016 HAMILTON, ON— Some of the best minds in Canadian literature will judge the new Ross and Davis Mitchell Prize for Faith and Writing – a Faith in Canada 150 initiative designed to give voice to Canadians who recognize and write about the powerful truth, goodness, and beauty that faith brings to Canadian culture. More specifically, this award will call attention to our poets and short story writers from all across this nation whose faith animates their imagination and ours.Poetry JudgesDr. George Elliott Clarke  Canadian Parliamentary Poet LaureateDr. Todd Swift Poet, author, and writer-in-residence for Pembroke College - University of Cambridge, EnglandDr. Deborah Bowen Professor of English at Redeemer University College and poetry criticShort Story JudgesDr. Randy Boyagoda       President of PEN Canada, Professor of English, Principal & Vice-President of University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto Susan Lynn Reynolds   Novelish, poet, and triple winner of the Timothy Findley Creative Writing AwardDr. David Staines Editor of the Journal of Canadian Poetry and Professor of English at the University of OttawaThe recognition of the role of religious belief in Canada’s past, present, and future is an important part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Canadian writers and poets are invited to submit previously unpublished short stories or suites of poetry by 11:59 EST June 30th 2017. Winners will be recognized at a fall gala. For further contest details, please, visit the Faith in Canada 150 website.-30- About Faith in Canada 150 Faith in Canada 150 is a program of Cardus that exists to celebrate the role of faith in our life together during Canada’s anniversary celebrations in 2017. For more than 450 years, faith has shaped the human landscape of Canada. It has shaped how we live our lives, how we see our neighbours, how we fulfill our social responsibilities, and how we imagine our life together. To learn more, visit: faithincanada150.ca/about About Ross and Davis Mitchell When Ross Mitchell passed away in December, 2013, he left behind a legacy of story telling. Although he was many things—lawyer, entrepreneur, philanthropist—his wife Davis recalls that what most people remembered about him were his stories, and particularly how his faith was expressed through his stories. Davis, with a Masters in Theological Studies and a career as a spiritual director, is no stranger to the powerful role that stories play in spiritual growth, and much of her work has focused on the importance stories and faith play in healthy lives. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a BA in English literature, Ross went on to Law school at the University of Toronto. After just over half a decade of practicing law, he left to establish Madison Chemical, a company that would grow into a successful, international corporation. Ross and Davis leveraged this success to launch The Mitchell Foundation in 2000, whose goal was to sponsor and support faith-based organizations who were seeking to bring their message into the contemporary Canadian society. About Cardus Cardus is a think tank dedicated to the renewal of North American social architecture. It conducts independent and original research, produces several periodicals, and regularly stages events with Senior Fellows and interested constituents across Canada and the U.S. To learn more, visit: www.cardus.ca and follow us on Twitter @cardusca. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

November 18, 2016 OTTAWA—Cardus unequivocally condemns the expressions of hatred that have appeared recently through graffiti in several places within Canada, including in Ottawa and Montreal. The appearance of swastikas and other hateful messages targeting synagogues, as well as a church and a mosque, have no place in Canadian society. These incidents run counter to the message that Cardus tries to underline each day through its Faith in Canada 150 program—that faith has always had a positive place in Canadian public life and will continue to do so well past the 150th anniversary of Confederation. We extend our heartfelt support and encouragement to the faith communities that have been shocked and saddened by the recent expressions of hatred.-30- About Cardus Cardus is a think tank dedicated to the renewal of North American social architecture. It conducts independent and original research, produces several periodicals, and regularly stages events with Senior Fellows and interested constituents across Canada and the U.S. To learn more, visit: www.cardus.ca and follow us on Twitter @cardusca. About Faith in Canada 150 Faith in Canada 150 is a program of Cardus that exists to celebrate the role of faith in our life together during Canada's anniversary celebrations in 2017. For more than 450 years, faith has shaped the human landscape of Canada. It has shaped how we live our lives, how we see our neighbours, how we fulfill our social responsibilities, and how we imagine our life together. To learn more, visit: faithincanada150.ca/about MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca 905-528-8866

STERLING LEGAL MINDS EXPLORE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUES IN NEW BOOK Cardus hosts official release of newly published compilation Religious Freedom and Communities. November 17, 2016 OTTAWA – – Dr. Dwight Newman, who is the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Rights in Constitutional and International Law and a University of Saskatchewan law professor, has gathered together the writings of some of Canada’s top legal minds for a fresh examination of religious freedom issues. The result is Religious Freedom and Communities, a new book that takes a fresh look at some of the most vexing issues that have found their way into Canada’s courtrooms. More than a dozen authors have contributed to this rich compilation, including retired Supreme Court Justice Louis LeBel who highlights the collective aspects of religious freedom. Law professors Carissima Mathen and Michael Plaxton dive into the controversy over Trinity Western University’s effort to open a law school amid questions about LGBTQ rights. Newman himself explores religious freedom as it relates to Canada’s Indigenous communities.“Religion is a vital part of the lives not only of individuals, but of communities as well,” says Newman in the new book. “Religious freedom jurisprudence needs to continue to recognize this reality effectively through strong protections even in the context of challenging questions.” Religious Freedom and Communities was officially released at the Ottawa office of Cardus during a panel discussion on the issue of religious freedom. The book is available through the LexisNexis Online Store.-30- About Cardus Cardus is a think tank dedicated to the renewal of North American social architecture. It conducts independent and original research, produces several periodicals, and regularly stages events with Senior Fellows and interested constituents across Canada and the U.S. To learn more, visit: www.cardus.ca and follow us on Twitter @cardusca. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613.241.4500 x.508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

Imagine a place where your work is clearly tied to the core values that animate you. A place where your technical expertise and leadership skills are given room to flourish, and have a meaningful impact on an organization and even society at large. You're imagining Cardus. Cardus is looking for a Senior PHP Developer. This position has three main elements: communications, technical work and project management. This is a full-time, permanent position working with the rest of our staff in our Hamilton office. Does this appeal to you, or someone you know? Find full job description and application here.