Canadian Anglican Primate, Fred Hiltz is never reticent about telling the Canadian Government how to run the affairs of state, particularly when it comes to money. As a contributor to Kairos, a Canadian ecumenical organisation that agitates for its version of social justice, he has this to say:

KAIROS understands this financial crisis as a systemic failure in global financial markets. Over the last 30 years, governments have increasingly deregulated these markets, allowing them to be manipulated in favour of short-term interests of the wealthiest and most powerful.

“Canadians look to their Members of Parliament for strong leadership to address poverty, adequate housing and affordable health care,” says Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. “We also call for action in making the eradication of poverty the top priority for our foreign aid policy. Now is the time for the federal government to affirm our place as a responsible neighbour in the global village.”

Obviously the answer is more government intervention in the financial markets.

Let’s see how well Fred Hiltz manages his own organisation:

The Council of General Synod (CoGS) on Nov. 16 approved, but not without dissent from some members, the 2009 General Synod budget. Although pruned by $1.3 million, the budget still projects a deficit of $745,639, with revenues anticipated at $8.6 million and expenditures at $9.4 million.

And:

Major developments in the financial management of General Synod took place in the fall and winter with the resignation, effective Dec. 31, of treasurer Peter Blachford, and the layoffs Nov. 25 of seven staff at the national office in Toronto.

The layoffs were part of a plan to cut the 2009 budget by $1.3 million, reduce the deficit to $800,000 and to try to put an end to what had been a pattern in recent years of incurring deficits.

And we mustn’t forget:

The Anglican Church of Canada has experienced a huge decline over the past 40 years, according to a new independent survey.

Over the period of 1961 to 2001 the Canadian region of the worldwide Anglican Church has lost 53% of its members, with numbers declining from 1.36 million to just 642,000.

An even more worrying sign for the worldwide Church is that the survey suggested that the decline is accelerating. In the period between 1981 and 1991 the Church membership decreased by 13%, however between 1991 and 2001 the numbers reduced by a greater proportion of 20%.

So, Fred, what’s the solution to your mess in the Anglican Church of Canada?

Obviously, more government intervention in the Anglican Church of Canada.