Last time I checked Canada was a democracy. The majority rules but the minority is respected. Our PM, Justin Trudeau, has gone out of his way to tell us that our values are tolerance, inclusion, accommodation and diversity. As long as it fits his definition of what can and cannot be tolerated or accommodated in our diverse culture.
And it seems the right to choose is now no longer tolerated or accommodated. Our leader has declared that everyone must agree with access to unfettered abortion. Period.
Jewish, Catholic, Christian and Muslim organizations were held hostage to his decree these past two summers. If they refused to sign the pro-abortion attestation, no funds for summer jobs for students.
“The Government of Canada defines sexual and reproductive health services as including comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, safe and legal abortion, and post-abortion care.”
Joyce Arthur, executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, which had played a role in pushing the Liberal government to take this into account when deciding who gets the money, was thrilled:
“It seems like the government is doing a pretty good job in terms of scrutinizing the applications.”
Now, unfettered abortion is not his personal motto. “He is personally very opposed to abortion, but still believes nobody can tell a woman what she should do with her body,” but one he has decreed infallible in order to pander to the left and get elected. It’s official, one must agree to undeterred abortion. Sounds a tad fascist to me. Then again, he has professed his admiration for China’s “basic dictatorship” for its ability to get things done.
I’m not sure why organizations that don’t stand up screaming yippee over abortion in the third trimester should be forbidden from receiving funds for summer students. How many of these organizations were involved in family planning? What difference does it make to the policies we have in law? Why does everyone have to be in lock step with our leader? Dissent is permitted, or it was the last time I checked. Perhaps things have changed.
Our PM seems to be unaware of the ethic upon which this country sits; all life is sacred. All people are born with equal intrinsic value. We have free-will. And that free-will allows us to personally disagree with government policies as long as we do not harm others. How are religious organizations providing summer jobs to students harming the rights of women to abort; whenever they want?
Andrew Bennett, Canada’s former religious freedom ambassador says the Trudeau government is displaying “totalitarian” tendencies with its controversial changes to the student summer jobs program.
Bennett said the attestation compels people with no particularly strong religious views – the owner of a small construction company who just wants to hire a few seasonal workers, for instance – to take a moral stand on a divisive issue in order to apply for public funds.
Bennett told The Canadian Press.
“Whether you’re a person of religious views or a person who just doesn’t want to have an opinion, the government through this action is compelling belief.”
For a Prime Minister who values diversity, he seems unaware of the values of other countries, countries to which he is sending billions of dollars for abortion. Canada will increase funding for women’s health services worldwide from the current $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion by 2023. How much for other services beyond abortion?
According to a June 2, 2010 statement by The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada:
“80% of maternal deaths in low resource countries take place during delivery, caused by postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, dystocia (prolonged childbirth) and sepsis (infection)…complications during labour and birth are the main reason mothers are dying. It seems clear that this should be the primary focus of any Maternal and Child Health Initiative.”
I am pro-choice. All choice. And that includes the right to choose to fight against unfettered abortion: abortions that take place in the third trimester when the fetus can feel pain as its limbs are cut off and its organs saved.
I am pro-choice allowing Members of Parliament to express their concerns should the topic ever be re-opened. Any why not re-open? As we learn more about the fetus and pain perhaps we need to have another discussion about responsibilities as well as rights as we are a nation that teaches all life is sacred. Or we used to be.
There is an America policy that bars non-governmental organizations from receiving U.S. funds if they provide or advocate for reproductive health or abortion services. It is called a “global gag rule.”
Our PM is against that rule. Yet he has imposed his own gag rule against free speech and freedom of religion.
Trudeau said he would “always be unequivocal about defending a woman’s right to choose.” Really? What about the right to be against abortion?
From the Ethics of the Fathers: “Rabbi Tarfon used to say, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but you are not exempt from undertaking it.”
