The Cardus Institute is a Canadian think tank based in Hamilton, Ontario, which describes its mission as "clarifying and strengthening, through research and dialogue, the ways in which society's institutions can work together for the common good," and notes that it is "formed by the Christian social thought tradition as it has developed over centuries." [1][2][3][4]

Etymology edit

Cardus comes from the root cardo, which was a north-south oriented street in Roman cities considered an integral element of city planning and city life.

History edit

Cardus has its roots in a charity established in 1974 as the Work Research Foundation (WRF).[5] Spearheaded by Harry Antonides and Bernard Zylstra, the work of the Work Research Foundation consisted primarily in the publication of a quarterly newsletter, Comment, and occasional conferences.

In 1996, WRF received a project grant from the Donner Canadian Foundation to deal with freedom of association in Canadian labour relations. This project included a survey of Canadian attitudes towards unions[6] done in cooperation with Gallup; the publication of Buying a Labour Monopoly,[7] and numerous smaller publications and presentations. Ray Pennings directed this project and, together with Gideon Strauss, developed a proposal to turn the Work Research Foundation into a full-fledged think tank that would be "public, credible, and Christian." Michael Van Pelt, at that time the President of the Sarnia Chamber of Commerce, was hired as the first full-time employee and began work in September 2000. Ray Pennings joined the full-time staff in 2002, having previously served as the Public Affairs Director for the Christian Labour Association of Canada. They developed a threefold strategy of utilizing publications, research, and networking events in order to map the institutional space that exists between government and the markets.

Early research projects looked at leadership in the business sector, patterns of trade between Canada and the United States, and labour mobility in Canada's construction sector. The publication of Comment magazine as an anchor magazine commenced in 2002 and regular events, many of which involved Senior Fellows recruited to the organization, were held across the country.

Research edit

From its guiding principles, Cardus currently works on five fronts:

  • Education – Cardus studies the independent school sector. It partners with Baylor University to conduct the Cardus Education Survey, an ongoing study of outcomes in both public and independent high schools in North America.
  • Work & Economics – Cardus develops arguments and policy related to labour relations and the dignity of work. This includes work on predatory lenders, gambling, and work opportunities for working class and Indigenous Canadians, as well as Canadians with disabilities.
  • Family – Cardus studies families, marriage, and child care, as well as the ways those can help strengthen civil society. It publishes and maintains the Canadian Marriage Map, which compiles Canadian national and provincial/territorial marriage data.
  • Spirited Citizenship – Cardus studies the complex relationships of people, culture, and institutions that make up North American urban spaces.
  • Health – Cardus studies how best to support those who desire a natural death while also providing proper support for patients and caregivers. It develops policies aimed at the full spectrum of care for those nearing death.
  • Faith Communities – Cardus studies Canadians’ freedoms of religion and conscience, the place of religious faith in public life, and the contributions faith communities make to broader society.

Research Methodology – Cardus says it uses “standard social-scientific methods” and puts its research reports “through a process of peer review” with outside experts. [8]

Publications edit

Cardus produces: Comment,[9] a "journal of public theology for the common good." From 2011 to 2022, it produced Convivium,[10] a "journal of faith in our common life".

  • Cardus Policy in Public
Cardus's research in public policy covers the fields of urban planning, work and labour, and education. This research is released regularly throughout the calendar year. In addition to its regularly issued periodicals, Cardus also produces more in-depth reports.
  • Comment
Edited by Anne Snyder, Comment magazine aims to be a journal of "public theology for the common good."
  • Convivium
Published by Peter Stockland[11] and Edited by Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, Convivium was a periodical concerned with "faith in our common life"[12] and published a range of writers of all faith traditions. It was discontinued in February, 2022.
  • Lexview
Started in 1998, Lexview attempts to provide timely analysis to the court cases shaping Canadian Law.
  • Cardus Audio (podcast)
A defunct podcast and CD series of lectures and interviews conducted by Cardus on a range of topics.[13]
Cardus produced a podcast from 2020 to 2022 called The Long Way. It was billed as “short episodes with long perspectives on building the common good.”
Comment produces two podcasts, The Whole Person Revolution, hosted by editor Anne Snyder, and Zealots at the Gate, hosted by Muslim political thinker Shadi Hamid and Christian theologian Matthew Kaemingk.

Conferences and Events edit

Cardus hosts a variety of private and public events across North America for business, educational and political leaders.

Among its notable events, Cardus has held:

  • Education Fallout: Learning Loss, Collateral Damage, and Recovery in Canada’s Schools Post-Pandemic An event in Ottawa to release a Cardus research report on learning loss by Dr. Paul Bennett, one of Canada’s leading education policy researchers and commentators.[14]
  • Best Practices for Implementing Community Benefits Agreements An event in Edmonton featuring Albert Flootman, the author of a Cardus report about implementing Community Benefit Agreements in government contexts.[15]
  • Asking Bigger Questions: An International Women’s Day Panel A panel discussion in Ottawa focused on the unique opportunities and challenges women face when navigating the institutions of which they’re a part.[16]
  • People over Profits: Holding Up Human Values Against Market Values A webinar featuring Fr. Raymond de Souza in conversation with former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney on Carney’s book, Value(s): Building a Better World For All.[17]
  • Faith in Canada 150 MIllennial Summit A multi-faith gathering of millennials in Ottawa in 2017 to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary to discuss deep pluralism and explore the connection between religion and the common good.[18]


Views edit

The organization describes itself as "non partisan" but has been criticized as holding socially conservative views, with large portions of the organization's research focusing on criticizing abortion laws and same-sex marriage. It has been described as “an obscure right-wing think tank with questionable expertise”.[20]

Cardus has argued that “abortion is the destruction of a developing human being, and a civilized society would not permit it,” “the time has come for the government of Canada to use its coercive powers to legislate that a couple being married must be one man and one woman,” and referred to Vaccine hesitancy as “sterling critical thinkers.” [21]

Cardus's report on “The Daycare Lobby's Misogyny” was removed from their website following negative press coverage drew attention to its argument that public investments in childcare are coercive and serve a “dystopian fantasy.” [20][21]

Funding edit

Cardus is supported through its publications and from private donors. It is a registered charity in Canada and in the United States. One researcher affiliated with Cardus is financially supported by the American Charles Koch Foundation.[22]

Individuals associated with Cardus edit

Notable scholars associated with Cardus include James K.A. Smith, Stanley Carlson-Thies,[23] Jonathan Chaplin,[24] Janet Epp Buckingham, Fr. Raymond de Souza, Peter Stockland, and Paul Williams,[25] and the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks,[26] Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013.

Cardus has also cooperated with:

  • Dr. Angus Reid[27]
  • Dr. Paul W. Bennett[28] - Director of Schoolhouse Institute and Adjunct Professor of Education at Saint Mary's University
  • Darrell Bricker[29] - CEO, Ipsos Global Public Affairs
  • Ginny Roth[30] - Partner, Crestview Strategy
  • Jon Coleman[31] - Member of the Cowichan First Nation and owner of Jon-Co Contracting
  • The late Rabbi Reuven Bulka[32]

Cardus also maintains a roster of senior fellows.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.cardus.ca/about/our-mission/
  2. ^ https://www.chch.com/chedoke-estate-reopens-at-the-hands-of-cardus-after-restoration/
  3. ^ https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/calls-rise-for-options-as-high-cost-lenders-warn-coming-rate-cap-will-cut-some/article_e341d78e-92d3-5bae-9d35-8135f34f8d34.html
  4. ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-child-care-cost-less-in-2023-but-is-harder-to-find-according-to/
  5. ^ Mackie, Richard (January 23, 2002). "Support for Unions Up, Study finds". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  6. ^ Versace, Vince (December 10, 2008). "Study recommends Ontario develop a more competitive labour pool". Daily Commercial News. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  7. ^ Pennings, Ray. "Buying a Labour Monopoly?". Research Paper. Cardus. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  8. ^ https://www.cardus.ca/about/research-approach/
  9. ^ Comment
  10. ^ 'Convivium
  11. ^ Allemang, John (March 7, 2014). "Pope Francis is making me think about my life". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  12. ^ Nethersole, Julia (2014-03-25). "Convivium Magazine – Volume 2, No. 13 | Cardus". Cardus.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  13. ^ Pennings, Ray. "Audio | Cardus". Cardus.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  14. ^ "Education Fallout: Learning Loss, Collateral Damage, and Recovery in Canada's Schools Post-Pandemic". Cardus. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  15. ^ "Best Practices for Implementing CBAs". Cardus. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  16. ^ "Asking Bigger Questions: An International Women's Day Panel". Cardus. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  17. ^ "People over Profits: Holding Up Human Values Against Market Values". Cardus. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  18. ^ "Faith in Canada 150". www.faithincanada150.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  19. ^ Kelley, LaPointe (May 24, 2013). "A Return to Core Values a Must for Banks: Carney". Daily Commercial News. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Why is the Media Citing This Social Conservative Group as Experts on BC's New Local Jobs Agreement?". 2023-09-07. Archived from the original on 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  21. ^ a b "Ontario Education Minister Discussed Childcare With a Religious Lobby Group That Likened Public Childcare to 'Misogyny'". 2023-09-07. Archived from the original on 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  22. ^ "Kenney Government Appointed Foreign, Koch-Funded Researcher to Rewrite Alberta's Education Curriculum". 2023-09-07. Archived from the original on 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  23. ^ Center for Public Justice
  24. ^ "Clear thinking on religion and society". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  25. ^ "Paul S. Williams | Regent College". Regent-college.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  26. ^ "Religion is not a threat: In conversation with Father Raymond de Souza at Cardus",
  27. ^ https://www.cardus.ca/research/faith-communities/reports/polling-with-the-angus-reid-institute/
  28. ^ https://www.cardus.ca/personnel/dr-paul-w-bennett/
  29. ^ https://www.cardus.ca/news/events/culture-canadian-demographics-and-climate-change/
  30. ^ https://www.cardus.ca/news/events/culture-canadian-demographics-and-climate-change/
  31. ^ https://www.cardus.ca/news/events/best-practices-for-implementing-cbas-bc/
  32. ^ https://www.convivium.ca/writers/bio/rabbi-reuven-bulka/

External links edit