May 26, 2023

Dear Maureen, I’m Pete Baklinski and this is your Canadian Pro-Life News Bits where I let you know what’s happening on our country’s pro-life and pro-family front.

There are a few items to highlight in this week’s collection of news stories. CLC’s Jack Fonseca has penned a report showing conclusive evidence that mainstream reporters are told to misrepresent numbers when it comes to crowd sizes in events like the Freedom Convoy rallies in Ottawa as well as the National March for Life. Why does this matter? Because numbers are downplayed in media reports to suggest that not many people really care about such and such a cause. It’s a dirty way to belittle a movement.

A freedom of information request in Quebec has revealed that the province is spending millions of dollars to euthanize the sick and elderly. This is the terrible reality of our culture of death where killing is promoted and funded while palliative care is downplayed and underfunded. It truly is a scary time to be alive. We must pray for a return to respect for the commandment “Thou shalt not murder.”

A bill introduced in the Senate to ensure that pornography is not easily accessible to children recently passed unanimously. While Bill S-210 has some genuine good in it, it also raises some red flags. As CLC’s David Cooke explained to me, the bill only bans "commercial" pornography targeted to youth and it has an exemption for material used in "education" for youth. David told me that this exemption could potentially add new protection for explicit LGBT and comprehensive sex-ed materials under Canadian law. So, the bill is a bit of a mixed bag.

The good news story about the pregnant mom who saved a toddler who fell from the second story made my day. I love stories about people who are in the right place at the right time to save lives. Praise God!

On a side note, we celebrated yesterday Campaign Life being founded 45 years ago in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The word “Coalition” was added to our name in 1987 when we merged with the Coalition for the Protection of Human Life. Alberta-based Kathleen Toth was our first president. Jim Hughes took over the reins in 1984. Jeff Gunnarson has been at the helm since 2018. Please join me in praying that God blesses our organization and aids us in doing this critical work of defending life from conception to natural death.

Top Canadian pro-life stories you need to know about

Campaign Life Coalition: Mainstream reporter: We lied about numbers at Freedom Convoy, March for Life

The reporter explained that it is the policy of the National Post to falsify attendance figures by reporting “hundreds” of people when they know there are “thousands.” 

Run with Life: Quebec government spends $6 million to euthanize Quebec citizens

“Imagine instead of killing these people, we spent that money on helping them with their poverty, their mental illness, their pain, and their suffering? Isn't that what a caring society is supposed to do?”

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition: Bill C-314: Parliamentary debate to prevent euthanasia for mental disorders

“On Wednesday, May 17 Canada's parliament debated Bill C-314 for one hour. Bill C-314 will prevent euthanasia for mental disorders. Bill C-314 will receive its second hour of debate in late September.”

LifeSiteNews: Ontario mom asks Catholic school board why fourth graders are playing ‘sexual grooming’ games in class

“Jack Fonseca of Campaign Life Coalition told LifeSiteNews that the teacher who had the children play the sex game should be investigated by police.”

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition: Disability activists pushing back against euthanasia in Canada

“…the disability rights movement opposes euthanasia based on the fact that they are being killed by medical practitioners who question their right to live.”

REAL Women of Canada: It’s pro-abortion centres that need to be stripped of their charitable status

“The Liberal government’s attempt to remove the charitable status of pro-life pregnancy help centres has exposed the fact that their own favourite institutions, funded by the taxpayers, have been improperly allowed a charitable tax status.”

LifeSiteNews: Bill to protect children from online pornography moves forward in Canadian Parliament

“This is a very important Bill to ensure that pornography is not easily accessible to children – we know there is a strong correlation between intimate partner violence and pornography. We do not want children to think that what they see on the Internet is real life.”

True North: New Brunswick premier says parents have right to know if kids change genders

“New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs wants his province to review policy around LGBTQ issues in schools and believes parents have a right to be told if their children change genders.”

3…2…1…Action! - CLC videos

School Board: Cost Of Democracy Too High To Run By-Election

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board claims that the cost of democracy is too high to run a by-election to replace disgraced trustee Wendy Ashby. The board wants to select its own candidate. Parents are outraged. See our video outside the meeting last night, May 25, 2023.

Inspiring stories to give you hope

LifeNews: Woman Who Survived Abortion Thanks God, “That is How Powerful He Is”

“Abortion survivor Gianna Jessen credits God with saving her life, not just once but twice as an infant.”

Right to Life UK: Doctors write ‘miracle’ on discharge papers for premature baby

“A baby born at 23 weeks and two days went home after 14 weeks in hospital and had ‘miracle’ written on her discharge papers.”

Live Action: Former abortionist describes how God opened her eyes to the truth

“…former abortionist Dr. Beverly McMillan spoke about her conversion from being pro-abortion to being pro-life — and recalling the moment she realized she could never commit an abortion again.”

Epoch Times: Premature Baby Whose Hand Was Smaller Than the Size of His Mom’s Wedding Ring Is Thriving

“A premature baby who was given just a 10 percent chance of survival at birth is now thriving.”

Live Action: Pregnant mom saves toddler who fell from second-story window

“A pregnant woman in Iowa is being hailed as a hero after she caught a toddler who fell out of a second-story window.”

Awesome pro-life social media posts this week

CLC Youth

Amanda Achtman, Canadian Physicians for Life

Secular Pro-Life

Must-see video of the week

Catholic Dad to School Board: Pride flag Promotes Sexual Immorality

Catholic father and CLC Vice President Matthew Wojciechowski speaks to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School board on May 23, 2023, about why the board should not fly the rainbow "pride" flag in the month of June.

Take Action

Sign our petition demanding that the Manitoba Legislative Assembly reject bill to make the province an abortion haven for the U.S. Sign here.

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Maureen, I want to share with you a moving moment that happened during the National March for Life earlier this month.

A single mom from Quebec spoke at the rally on Parliament Hill prior to the march about how she almost aborted her baby. When Tanya Patry found out she was pregnant, she was unsure about keeping the baby.

“My relationship wasn’t stable enough,” she said.

She made an appointment at an abortion centre where she was given information about abortion procedures. But, she began to experience guilt about wanting to end the pregnancy.

“Guilt was really, really consuming me,” she told thousands of attendees gathered on the Hill on May 11.

Social workers were pressuring Tanya to go through with the abortion. It was then that she remembered seeing a video clip from a pro-life YouTube channel in Quebec called Théovox.

Tanya reached out to the show’s directors, who referred her to a pro-life organization. With this newfound help, Tanya was empowered to choose life for her baby girl. She named her daughter Lily-Rose.

“So, I chose life, I chose her life, I chose my baby, my daughter,” she told the cheering crowd as she brought her daughter on stage and held her high for everyone to see. 

Tanya Patry with her daughter Lily-Rose at the 2023 National March for Life.

It was a profoundly moving moment. Some had tears in their eyes as they beheld this amazing mother and her beautiful daughter.

And, this is what the pro-life movement is all about. It’s about empowering mothers to choose life over death, love over loss, joy over sadness, and happiness over misery.

We are all indeed privileged to be part of this wonderful movement. One at a time, lives are being saved and hearts are changing. Tanya and Lily-Rose prove it.

So, let us be bold and daring for life!