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CJ Canada’s 2003 financial statements will disclose an unpleasant surprise. Our administrative costs have increased by 50%, leaving a projected deficit of $12,000. This negative outcome is the result of very positive accomplishments that reflect a more active ICJ Canada, including our new website, a new and improved newsletter, an increased administrative burden resulting from increased activities in Canada, and our CIDA-sponsored projects in the former Yugoslavia. In addition, several one-time expenses were incurred last year when the Canadian Bar Association, where we have our office, moved out of downtown Ottawa.

As a registered charity whose members consist of those who support the philosophical objectives of the International Commission of Jurists, we do not offer a product or service through which we might raise revenues. Instead, the dues and donations of the ICJ Canada community itself are the only current source of annual revenue, and membership has remained constant, bringing in approximately $30,000 annually, while expenses have significantly increased.

To deal with the current situation, the Executive has struck a committee under the direction of Brian Crane to urgently address the goal of increasing our revenues. We hope that a way will be found to recover more overhead costs from the CIDA projects, and we are investigating other avenues of raising and generating income. You may recall that we were fortunate last year to receive a generous and unexpected gift of $5,000 from Justice Pierre-Claude Fournier on behalf of the Paul A. Fournier Foundation. Increasing our donor base further will go a long way toward meeting our goal of increasing revenues to a point where we can afford the administrative expenses required to support our expanding range of activities, some of which are reported in this Newsletter.

ICJ Canada is a member-driven organization, and we hope that you will want to get involved in getting ICJ Canada back on stable financial ground. Your help or suggestions in the matter of fund-raising or any suggestions you may have about potential donors are welcome. A potential fee increase, a measure we would like to avoid, will be discussed at the Annual Meeting in Winnipeg on August 16, 2004.

A parting thought - we are at the top of our game but considerable effort and commitment will be needed to restore ICJ Canada to our previous sound financial position.