On Nov. 30, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty introduced Bill 13, The Accepting Schools Act. This arrived on the heels of a tragic and much-publicized suicide involving Ottawa teenager, Jamie Hubley. The teen suffered with depression and happened to also be openly gay. The media dutifully painted the picture that Hubley committed suicide primarily due to “homophobic bullying” despite the fact his father [...]
In defense of the pernicious proposition that all mentally competent Canadians should have a legal right to medical assistance in committing suicide, the “expert panel” of the Royal Society of Canada on end-of-life decision making contends, in its recent report, that: “Autonomy (or the capacity for self-determination) is a paramount value to Canadians. Respect for autonomy requires respect for competent individuals’ [...]
In November and December, the British Columbia Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case challenging the Criminal Code prohibition on euthanasia and assisted-suicide. Last April, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) brought forward a suit on behalf of the family of Kay Carter to challenge the constitutionality of provisions in Canada’s criminal code which protect people from euthanasia [...]
National Post columnist Lorne Gunter explains why pro-choice advocates are actually pro-abortion: The default position of pro-choicers, whether or not they frame it this way themselves, amounts to a belief that abortion is always the right choice for women who have given it even a moment’s consideration. Once a woman has so much as considered the possibility of abortion, any effort to [...]
As the year came to an end, Campaign Life Coalition’s petition campaign to defund abortion in Ontario had garnered nearly 10,000 signatures over the previous two months. CLC national president Jim Hughes told The Interim the campaign “was going well” and that “other provinces will benefit from Ontario’s experience.” Hughes also said the petitions will be presented to MPPs when they return [...]
Politically, this past year might have been one of the busiest we ever had. Campaign Life Coalition and its provincial wings were busy with the federal election, elections in five provinces, and local elections in British Columbia (and municipal elections in Ontario near the end of 2010). The Conservatives have a majority so there will not be a federal election until [...]
Honourable mentions: There are notable stories that would typically make the top 10 list, but do not – although they still warrant acknowledgment: the media fury over the 7 billionth person in the world being born; the British Columbia Supreme Court ruling against polygamy; the Supreme Court of Canada decision to keep the Insite “safe injection” clinic in Vancouver open; the release [...]
case. 1. Is it true that Canada has rejected assisted suicide and euthanasia? Yes. Just last year, Parliament defeated Bill C-384, which would have legalized physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in Canada. The vote was 228 to 59. 2. What is the Carter Case? Carter vs. Attorney General of Canada is a constitutional challenge to Canada’s laws prohibiting physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Carter [...]