FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2018 British Columbia’s independent schools are far ahead of public schools in meeting a key provincial educational requirement: getting high school students ready for “real life.” The provincial government recently implemented changes to high school curriculum in order to help graduates better prepare for real life decision-making as young adults. But the latest Cardus Education Survey (CES) indicates BC independent schools – both religious and non-religious – were achieving the same ends years ago. “Looking back on their high school years, graduates of BC independent schools were more likely than their public school counterparts to say their school prepared them for relationships, university or college, work, and religious life,” says Dr. Beth Green, who directs education research at think tank Cardus. “That’s remarkable when you consider that most of these schools are not elite institutions and all of them get, at best, just half the per-student government funding of public schools – with zero funding for capital costs.” The 2018 CES for BC surveyed adults aged 24 to 39 who graduated from public, Catholic independent, evangelical Protestant independent, or non-religious independent schools in BC. It also found: Non-religious independent and Catholic independent school graduates reported average annual incomes up to $16,000 higher than public or evangelical Protestant school grads.   Evangelical Protestant school graduates are just as likely as public school grads to have a friend who is gay or lesbian, is a recent immigrant, is of a different race, is a co-worker, has a university degree, makes more than $100,000 annually, or makes less than $25,000 annually.   Non-religious independent schools produce graduates who are 2.2 times more likely than public school grads to volunteer in the community. (Evangelical Protestant school grads are also 2.2 times more likely to volunteer, thanks to family and church influence.)   Non-religious independent school and independent Catholic school graduates are more likely than public school grads to attend university or a graduate program. “Our social science research indicates that B.C.’s independent school graduates cultivate diverse social ties, are active and engaged members of their communities, are committed to the well-being of their neighbours, and are ready to give of both time and resources,” said Dr. Green. Today, more than one in 10 BC students attends an independent school – up from just four percent in 1977 – and enrollment continues to grow. “The independent school sector is too large to ignore and comprises a significant, productive, and positive part of the province’s education system,” said Dr. Green. “That’s important for educators, unions, policy-makers, and all British Columbians to recognise.” The CES is the only study in Canada that uses repeated measures to report on the outcomes of religious, non-government schooling and compare it to public school outcomes. The 2018 report is the first to include provincial-level results, as opposed to national results. The 2018 CES British Columbia Bulletin, including details on methodology, is available online. To book an interview with Dr. Beth Green, please, contact Daniel Proussalidis. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2018 HAMILTON – James K.A. Smith, editor-in-chief of the flagship Cardus journal Comment, has decided not to seek re-appointment after December 31, 2018. For six years, Smith’s intellectual power and presence shaped the direction of Comment and its parent Cardus.  “I am incredibly grateful for the years I’ve been able to work on Comment,” said Smith. “It has been a gift to work with such a marvelous team committed to ‘public theology for the common good.’ But I’ve discerned that the next season of my vocation is calling me to attend to different ‘cracks in the secular’ in the realm of beauty, imagination, and the arts. " Ray Pennings, publisher of Comment and executive vice president of Cardus, noted that Smith's editorship of Comment since January 2013 has influenced broader Christian intellectual discourse.  "Under Jamie’s leadership, Comment has become the dominant source of ‘Worldview 2.0’ education for tens of thousands of readers worldwide,” said Pennings. “He has helped root the work of Cardus in a solid Christian tradition and made it relevant to the big questions North America is facing.” Smith will continue to serve as a contributing editor for Comment in 2019. “I want to see Comment continue to thrive,” said Smith. “It will remain nourished by good people and sharp thinkers and it will serve the Cardus mission of promoting a flourishing society. I look forward to continuing my contributions to that work in a new way.”  Pennings expressed confidence in Comment’s prospects for the future. “Comment has always been blessed with strong editorial leadership that was discerning of its times,” he said. “Cardus will assess the landscape carefully and take time to identify what we need in Jamie's successor to take Comment to the next level." - 30 - MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2018 OTTAWA – Canada’s businesses must do a better job of honouring the diversity of their employees, argues think tank Cardus in a new guide for workplaces. The four-step guide, Navigating Religious Diversity in the Workplace, offers concrete recommendations to make Canadian businesses and workplaces truly welcoming for people of faith. Cardus Executive Vice President Ray Pennings says the guide is more necessary than ever. “We know that having a diverse workplace is good for business,” says Pennings. “And religion is part of that diversity. Eight in 10 Canadians claim some connection to spirituality, while at least half of Canadians have a religious identity at some level.” Navigating Religious Diversity in the Workplace comes as part of a special Cardus presentation to a meeting of the Conference Board of Canada’s Council on Inclusive Work Environments in Toronto this week. The guide, which is freely available for download, recommends that organizations undertake four steps: Awareness: Build religious literacy and awareness within your organization by learning about various traditions, holy books, or major beliefs. Affirmation: Institutionally recognize the importance of religious diversity and religious freedom in the workplace—just as other aspects of individual identities are being publicly affirmed, so too should religious identities. Engagement: Look outside your organization to learn and work with religious communities by collaborating with religious charities or hosting training sessions. Accommodation: Complex issues require complex solutions, such as allowing scheduling changes because of religious holidays, changing employees’ duties if tasks conflict with religious convictions, or allowing the use of work facilities for religious observance. “Religion is not merely a private thing that only belongs in our homes or houses of worship; it’s a deep part of the identity of many Canadians and is present wherever they are, be it a public or private space,” says Pennings. “Because Canadian society is as religious as it is, we need to be more attentive to matters of faith, especially in our workplaces and other public spaces. Simply put, business can do better.” Download a copy of Navigating Religious Diversity in the Workplace from the Cardus website. To book an interview with Ray Pennings, please, contact Daniel Proussalidis. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2018 HAMILTON – A new report finds outdated Ontario labour laws are now sheltering almost $2.5 billion worth of publicly funded municipal infrastructure work from fair and open competition. That is over three times more than the $750 million worth of work blocked from competitive bidding in 2012 – prior to the start of many major projects since then and the addition of the Region of Waterloo to Ontario’s closed jurisdictions. The findings appear in the newly published Shortchanging Ontario Cities: A Cardus Competitiveness Monitor Update.  “Ontario cities need enormous help in getting infrastructure built, which only becomes more expensive without fair and open bidding for construction contracts,” says Brian Dijkema at think tank Cardus. “With fair and open bidding, projects in Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region, and Sault Ste. Marie would save taxpayers more than $370 million – and that’s just taking the median estimate of how badly inflated construction prices are because of an outdated provision of the Ontario Labour Relations Act.”  Estimated Costs of Projects Sheltered from Fair and Open Bidding in Ontario City of Toronto $1,697,580,770 Region of Waterloo $317,227,933 City of Hamilton $235,628,000 City of Sault Ste. Marie $45,429,750 Toronto District School Board $177,514,336   Gross Total $2,473,380,789   Estimated 15% savings from open bidding $371,007,118 The research is clear. Residents of Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region, and Sault Ste. Marie would be able to afford much more infrastructure if the province brought outdated labour laws in compliance with Ontario’s own procurement directives, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development best practices, and procurement expert recommendations. “The longer outdated laws are on the books, the longer Ontario cities will be shortchanged,” said Dijkema. To book an interview with Brian Dijkema, please, contact Daniel Proussalidis. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 13, 2018 OTTAWA – The federal government’s target of welcoming almost one million new immigrants to Canada by the end of 2020 will mean a major boost to the country’s faith communities. New public opinion research by the Angus Reid Institute, in partnership with think tank Cardus, has found that almost four in 10 first generation immigrants to Canada are religiously committed – largely certain in their beliefs, and most likely to attend religious services, pray to God, and read the Bible or other sacred text regularly. That’s almost double the proportion of the general Canadian population. The data suggest the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada departmental plan for increased immigration will lead to a religious influx to this country. “Newcomers to Canada enrich this country, in part, by bringing a faith commitment with them,” says Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett, director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute. “That means faith and religion are an inseparable and growing part of Canada’s diversity – one that requires a deeper understanding of each other’s beliefs beyond a superficial acknowledgment of holidays or traditions.” Another 21 percent of immigrants are privately faithful, identifying with a religious tradition, but infrequently reading sacred texts or attending religious services. Less than a third of immigrants are spiritually uncertain – lacking strong convictions on matters of faith – while just 11 percent reject religion altogether. Meanwhile, the same poll finds 64 percent of first generation immigrants agree that religion’s overall impact on the world is positive. That’s stronger than the 55 percent of Canadians in general who agree. “The polling reinforces what fair-minded Canadians know to be true: There must be room for religious expression in public life if Canada’s commitment to diversity is to mean anything,” says Bennett.  To book an interview with Rev. Dr. Bennett, please, contact Daniel Proussalidis. To see full poll results and methodology, please, click here. MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-241-4500 x508 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2018 A new study finds that Saskatchewan’s 2012 expansion of independent school funding made educational options more affordable for parents without disrupting the public school  system.  In the first year that partial funding became available for Qualified Independent Schools, half the non-funded independent schools in the province joined the new category, receiving 50 percent of the per-student average funding that government schools get.  Since 2012/13, QIS enrolments have grown by about 37 percent, but overall numbers are small, moving from 608 to 834 students. “Any major changes occurred only in the first year of the policy change, probably reflecting pent up demand for more alternative and affordable options,” says Dr. Deani Van Pelt, a Cardus Senior Fellow and author of the new Cardus report. “And the new funding led to benefits for all stakeholders. Parents and students have more options. Schools have improved stability, credibility, and professional development, and government benefits through improved transparency of independent school operations.” In order to receive funding, non-profit QIS schools must meet a series of requirements, including adherence to the Saskatchewan curriculum, employing only fully certified teachers, and submitting to provincial supervision and inspection. The Cardus study also found that while the independent school sector as a whole grew by 24 percent over the period,  religious independent schools enrolled 77.3 percent of independent school students in 2017/18, an almost 5 percentage point decline since 2012/13 the number of specialty schools such as Montessori, Waldorf, and online schools has grown, rising almost 3 percentage points since 2012/13 to comprise 46 percent of Saskatchewan’s independent schools the independent school sector remains small, enrolling only 2.4 percent of Saskatchewan students  A PDF version of Qualified Independent Schools in Saskatchewan: An Examination of a Recent Policy Change for a New Category of Funded Independent Schools is freely available online. For interviews with Dr. Van Pelt, please, contact Daniel Proussalidis at dproussalidis@cardus.ca.  MEDIA INQUIRIESDaniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-899-5174 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2018 Ontario can make educational options more affordable for families without disrupting public schooling . A newly released Cardus study examines the Saskatchewan government’s 2012 move to extend partial funding to previously unfunded independent schools in that province. In the first year that funding became available for Qualified Independent Schools, half the non-funded independent schools in the province joined the new category, receiving 50 percent of the per-student average funding that government schools get for operational expenses.  Since 2012/13, QIS enrolments have grown by about 37 percent, but overall numbers are small, moving from 608 to 834 students. Of particular interest is the fact that the number of qualified independent schools has remained virtually unchanged over six years. “The major change in the number of schools participating occurred only in the first year of the policy change, probably reflecting pent up demand for more alternative and affordable options,” says Dr. Deani Van Pelt, a Cardus Senior Fellow and author of the new Cardus report. “It is possible we’d see a similar effect in Ontario if the province adopted a similar policy: An initial adjustment in schools qualifying for participation in the new category of funded schools, followed by a period of relative stability.” Saskatchewan requires Qualified Independent Schools to meet a series of requirements in order to receive partial funding, including adherence to the Saskatchewan curriculum, employing only fully certified teachers, and submitting to provincial supervision and inspection. “All stakeholders won in Saskatchewan,” says Dr. Van Pelt. “Parents and students had more options. Schools received improved stability, credibility, and professional development, and government benefitted through improved transparency of independent school operations.” A PDF version of Qualified Independent Schools in Saskatchewan: An Examination of a Recent Policy Change for a New Category of Funded Independent Schools is freely available online. For interviews with Dr. Van Pelt, please, contact Daniel Proussalidis at dproussalidis@cardus.ca.  MEDIA INQUIRIESDaniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications 613-899-5174 dproussalidis@cardus.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 26, 2018 Comment Magazine has launched the Seerveld Prize for New Writers. The prize offers an opportunity for new or experienced writers – who’ve never been published in Comment – to hone their craft, receive public recognition, and contribute to the public theology journal published by think tank Cardus.  The first place prize winner will collect $1,500 CAD, and the runner-up win $1,000 CAD. Winning articles will be published on the Comment Magazine website and given consideration for publication in the Winter 2018 print issue. Seerveld Prize essay entries can focus on one of three themes: public theology and public life, New Minimalism, and the Cardus Manifesto. Full explanations of the themes are available online. For contest details, click here. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2018. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications dproussalidis@cardus.ca Office: 613-241-4500 x508

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2018 Hamilton, ON – If the new Ontario government eliminated the practice of restricting bidding on construction projects based on union affiliation, the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Community Housing Corporation would stand to gain billions of dollars. According to the new Cardus report, Skimming off the Top: How Closed Tendering Weakens our Ability to Pursue the Public Good, restricted bidding based on union affiliation adds up to 25 percent to project construction costs and reduces the pool of bidders by 84 percent. With bidding on TDSB and TCHC construction contracts limited to firms affiliated with a subset of building trades unions, the research suggests both organizations are overpaying significantly as they seek to chip away at their $4 billion and $2.6 billion repair bills over the next decade. “With fair and open bidding for construction projects, the TDSB could find school repairs up to $1.8 billion more affordable,” says Skimming off the Top author Brian Dijkema. “Similarly, the TCHC could find housing repairs $560 million more affordable without asking taxpayers for a penny more.” The Ontario government could help both the TDSB and TCHC by moving to eliminate the outdated provisions of the Labour Relations Act, which allow them to restrict bidding based on union affiliation. Dijkema notes, the provisions of the Act are fundamentally unfair. “To disqualify a firm whose workers have made a choice to join one union or another is completely contrary to the purpose of government, whose job it is to rule for all, and which has a constitutional obligation not to discriminate against people for exercising their rights,” Dijkema says in Skimming off the Top. To access Skimming off the Top, click here. -30- MEDIA INQUIRIES Daniel Proussalidis Cardus - Director of Communications dproussalidis@cardus.ca Office: 613-241-4500 x508