November 11, 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’s some great news out of Alberta this week. Delegates at the United Conservative Party (UCP) convention passed a number of pro-family and pro-parental rights policy book additions.
These include: 1) banning sexually explicit content in schools, 2) requiring teachers and school boards to obtain written consent of parents of a student prior to changing the child's name or pronouns at school, 3) and establishing “a comprehensive Bill of Parental Rights” which would require all parents to be informed and empowered to make decisions for their children when provincial services are in play.
Thanks to all Albertans who used our online action tool to reach out to your MLA demanding a Parents’ Bill of Rights. You’re building up pressure that is translating to positive change. Keep the pressure up! While Alberta Premier Danielle Smith responded favourably to the resolutions, coming out strongly in defence of parental rights in the education of their children during the UPC convention, she fell short of promising such legislation. There is still more work to do!
The Ontario city of Hamilton, where our national office is located, is sadly moving in the direction of creating a bylaw that would censor the display and distribution of “graphic images” related to abortion. My boss Jeff Gunnarson has penned a must-read piece about why this move should be opposed and how to oppose it.
Don’t miss the inspiring story of a young Canadian woman who is fighting against euthanasia and slowly turning the tide. Bravo to Amanda Achtman for fighting the good fight!
A new episode of Focused on Life Podcast is out featuring CLC's Matt Wojciechowski and African pro-life leader Obianuju Ekeocha. This episode focuses on all things UN. Joining Matt and Obianuju is UN expert Stefano Gennarini, VP for Legal Studies at the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam). Listen to it here.
Finally, don’t miss my reflection at the end about Remembrance Day.
Top Canadian pro-life stories you need to know about
Campaign Life Coalition: Say NO to Hamilton’s censorship bylaw
“Freedom of expression using abortion victim photography and fetal development images, must both be safeguarded from the City of Hamilton’s plan for a censorship by-law.”
Campaign Life Coalition: Stand with Josh Alexander
“Josh Alexander is about to face off against the Catholic School Board that had him arrested and thrown out of school.”
Epoch Times: Alberta UCP Delegates Vote to Uphold Parental Rights, Reject Medical Coercion and 2035 Net-Zero Targets
“UCP delegates on Nov. 4 voted to adopt policies to reject Ottawa's 2035 net-zero emission targets, along with a number of other policies, such as upholding parental rights in schools and not having sexually explicit content in schools.”
LifeSiteNews: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith strongly defends parental rights in the education of their children
“Regardless of how often the extreme left undermines the role of parents, I want you to know that parental rights and choice in your child's education is and will continue to be a fundamental core principle of this party in this government.”
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition: Globe and Mail editorial urges federal government to withdraw euthanasia for mental illness
“There are too many uncertainties, most crucially the inability to determine who is suffering from a truly irremediable mental disease and who will recover given enough time, treatment and hope.”
“A female competitive powerlifter for Team Canada who spoke out after a trans-identified male athlete set a women’s national record at a championship in Manitoba has been informed that she is facing a two-year suspension from her sport as a result.”
Inspiring stories to give you hope
The Catholic World Report: Fighting euthanasia in Canada: Amanda Achtman is a millennial on a mission
“When the Canadian government began discussing the legalization of euthanasia for those whose deaths were “reasonably foreseeable,” 32-year-old Amanda Achtman said something in her began to stir. Her grandfather was in his mid-90s at the time and fit the description.”
Live Action: I survived assault and addiction. Then an unplanned pregnancy opened my eyes to God’s grace.
“My son was the catalyst towards a truly fulfilling life of stability, love, and faith.”
Live Action: Micro-preemie home after 16 months in hospital: ‘He’s a miracle baby’
“A little boy who spent the first 16 months of his life in the hospital recently reached a big milestone — he was able to go home with his family.”
Awesome pro-life social media posts this week
CLC Youth
LifeNewsHQ
Dr. Calum Miller
Must-see video of the week
‘I stand for a culture of life’: Florida Governor DeSantis on abortion
During a Republican Presidential debate this week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis showed how a pro-life politician responds when asked hardball questions about abortion. Pro-life politicians can take some pages from his playbook.
Take Action
If you live in Alberta, please use our online Action Alert platform to send a message to your MLA asking them to follow the lead of Saskatchewan by passing a bulletproof Parents’ Bill of Rights. Tap here.
Sign our new petition asking Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to steer clear of enacting ‘bubble zone’ legislation. Tap here to add your name.
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Maureen, Remembrance Day is a time to honour those who have sacrificed their lives so that you and I may live in freedom and in peace. It’s a time to honour our brave soldiers in various wars who have paid the ultimate price in laying down their lives for others.
Every Remembrance Day, I cannot help but think about the heroes of the pro-life movement in the war to end abortion who are willing to give everything they’ve got, not unlike our brave soldiers, so that babies may live, in freedom and in peace.
I think about Mary Wagner, Linda Gibbons, and the Red Rose Rescuers who were willing to give up everything in witnessing to the value of life in the womb. They, not too much unlike the Canadian soldiers from World War II who are currently resting in Flanders fields, were willing to fight, sacrifice, and suffer for others, for the most vulnerable and defenceless among us, for their right to live in freedom and in peace.
They endure arrest and imprisonment for a belief they share with our brave fallen war heroes, namely, that other people’s lives are precious and their right to live, freely and in peace, is worth fighting for.
As we remember and honour our brave dead this weekend, let us also take a moment to honour and pray for those who are on the frontlines of the greatest assault on human life the world has ever seen – the war against the child in the womb.
One day, when this war is over, and the right to life is protected for every person, from the moment of fertilization to natural death, there should be enacted a day of remembrance for the over one billion victims of abortion and for all those heroes of the pro-life movement who sacrificed so much to bring the killing to an end. Such a day would be necessary, “lest we forget” about the great tragedy of this loss and fail to remember those who laboured to end it.
A baby in the womb photographed by Lennart Nilsson in 1965.
This weekend, let us remember and honour those on the battle lines from yesteryears while we pray for those who are fighting the battles of today. Let us thank God that there are still people willing to sacrifice everything they’ve got so that others may live, in freedom and in peace. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Be bold and daring for life!
Pete Baklinski
Director of Communications
Campaign Life Coalition