The Mary Ward Centre, the Ministry for Social Justice, Peace, and Creation Care (Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto), and the Office for Systemic Justice (Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada), have worked together to prepare a civil society report concerning Canada’s progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our report provides an ‘on the ground’ perspective of how Canada is achieving the SDGs. It is informed by current policies, research, and the experience of frontline and grassroots organizations, including the voices of youth aged 13 to 29 years. Using intersectional and equity lenses, we are attentive to the voices of people who were among those most impacted by pandemic disruptions, seeking to learn from their experiences and insights. These experiences point to troublesome patterns found in intersections between SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), and SDG 11 (infrastructure – housing). Our report also argues that climate change has had, and will continue to have, similarly disruptive impacts on individual lives, society, and the economy. These parallels impel us to learn lessons from the pandemic so that we might respond more effectively and fairly to the climate crisis. A copy of our report is available below. The collaborative team are actively advocating at the UN High Level Political Forum in New York City (July 10-20) to ensure the voices of those most at risk of being left behind are included in conversations and action on the SDGs.