Pro-life supporter argues for better treatment
I write out of concern that the federal Liberals are increasingly treating pro-lifers as second-class citizens.
Early in 2016, the Federal Liberals boosted the Canada Summer Job Program to $113 million annually from 20162018, allowing 70,000 summer jobs for students ages 15–30. This was up from 34,000 in 2015.
That April, after MP Iqra Khalid approved pro-life groups through the program, The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, which supports unrestricted abortion up to the day of birth, contested funding pro-life groups. The government said it was an oversight but no more. Oversight means, this restriction was predetermined but not spoken or written in the paperwork at the announcement of increased funding. They then pulled funding from some already approved grants. A few of these sued the government and were reimbursed.
Employment Minister Patty Hajdu set out to change how the program was administered. In April, 2017, the government advised pro-life groups they were no longer eligible for funding and in December added that applicants must sign an attestation supporting individual human rights including abortion, transgenderism, same-sex unions, etc. They stated concern for students as young as 15 being exposed through employment to prolife groups.
Also in 2017, the Liberal government announced $650 million for sexual/reproductive rights in poorer countries; $241 million of it to go to abortion groups; walk out of a Status of Women meeting due to a prolife woman’s nomination to chair the committee; backed Gov. Gen. Julie Payette for deriding people who believe God created life; and appoint Sheilah Martin, the first judge to approve assisted suicide in Canada, to our Supreme Court.
In 2016, it pledged $81 million to the UN Population Control Fund, in part to fund abortions overseas; closed the Office of Religious Freedom, defending rights of persecuted religious overseas; put intense pressure on the PEI government, threatening to withhold general health funding, to force them to provide abortions; and shut down debate before legalizing assisted suicide and euthanasia, refusing conscience rights.
The rise to power of Justin Trudeau’s government in October 2015 followed a campaign forbidding pro-life membership in his party. Why force through laws without allowing public debate and conscience rights? Why are they afraid of youth working with pro-lifers? Why, in a democratic country, are pro-lifers treated so badly, like they are their number one enemy?
It’s your country and mine. Democratically we still have a say in it’s future. I say, reinforce democracy. Angela MacDougall Jamesville, Victoria Co.