The first appearance of the word “euthanasia” in English occurs in Francis Bacon’s discussion of incurable diseases. He exhorts doctors to tend to the terminally ill, for the “office of the physician” is “not only to restore health, but to mitigate pain and dolors,” even when it may only “serve to make…de euthanasia exteriore.” That doctors should assist their suffering patients in [...]
The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent declaration that our country’s prohibitions against euthanasia and assisted suicide “unjustifiably infringe” on the rights articulated in Section 7 of the Charter – those rights, ironically, to “life, liberty and security of the person”– is a flagrant affront to the will of the people. As recently as 2010, our elected officials rendered a clear and firm [...]
Taylor Hyatt Dear Supreme Court Justices: On Feb. 6, you unanimously ruled that existing prohibitions against assisted suicide be struck down. In their place, three recommendations were made for Parliament to propose new legislation: (1) the person requesting “assisted death” must be a competent adult who consents to ending their life, (2) they must have a “grievous and irremediable” health [...]
On Feb. 6, the Supreme Court of Canada threw out sections of the Criminal Code prohibiting euthanasia and assisted-suicide, saying they unjustifiably infringe the Charter rights of individuals who might consider killing themselves and would want assistance at the chosen moment of death. Canada joins the ranks of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Luxemburg, and the American states of Oregon and Washington, [...]
Reps Rene Ellmers (4.N.C.) left and Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) right had initially backed the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act but withdrew their support and called for a weaker bill. The US House of Representatives passed the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” on the 42 anniversary of Roe v. Wade, hours after the March for Life in the U.S. [...]
Former University of Victoria student Cameron Cote In a stunning reversal of recent rulings in nearby provinces, British Columbia Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson has ruled that Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not apply to pro-life students seeking space on the University of Victoria campus to demonstrate. Former U Vic student Cameron Cote and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association [...]
Light is Right Joe Campbell As I used to compose them, headlines rarely excite me. Recently, though, I read one that did. It said Climate change could be the cause of record cold. I was excited because my meteorological mentors also call climate change global warming. As both labels contain the same number of letters, the headline writer might as easily have typed Global [...]
Canada During the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership debate in London, Monte McNaughton repeatedly brought up the issue of parental rights in education, referring to “parents as first educators.” Christine Elliott stressed the party should be “fiscally conservative and socially compassionate” ... Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that Ontario would enforce tough new federal strictures against prostitution after musing that the province would [...]
Michael Coren Journalist for Life Supporting and fighting for life is a broad and deep ambition. It necessitates, surely, a love and defence for all life at all stages and for all people. Our opponents claim that we are single-issue obsessives; let us show them that they are totally wrong. Which is how I justify what is I suppose a [...]
The Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton, N.B., which closed last July, is reopening under a new name and new management, as a “family practice” that offers a “full-scope of reproductive care, including abortions.” Clinic 554’s new director is Adrian Edgar, a “transguy” who specializes not only in abortion but providing “primary care services” to people who self- identify as LGBTQ . He received [...]
Conservative MLA Dorothy Shephard tried to get new permissive abortion regulations debated. On Dec. 18, the New Brunswick legislature did not debate a motion put forward by Progressive Conservative MLA and status of women critic Dorothy Shephard (Saint John Lancaster), calling on the government to delay implementing “any changes to abortion services” until they could be debated in the provincial House. [...]
Numerous times speakers were interrupted with chants of “we say no” and “save our children.” Patrick Brown and Monte McNaughton, two Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership hopefuls, spoke. They both vowed to oppose the curriculum, urged those in attendance to let the government know they will not accept the curriculum, and insisted it was not yet a done deal. “This fight is not [...]
The rhythms of the year are unsurprising and predicable; as inevitable as winter snow and spring showers is a declaration of the death of the pro-life movement. This year’s annual pronouncement ran in the National Post shortly following the floor-crossing of several MLAs from the Wild Rose Party to the Progressive Conservatives in Alberta. The party’s then-leader, Danielle Smith, explained that this [...]
A new campaign launched in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 22 at the U.S. March for Life will reach out to everyone affected by abortion and help them find healing. Officially announced at a press conference held by Priests for Life and the Silent No More Awareness Campaign on Jan. 8 at the National Press Club in Washington, the yearlong “Healing the Shockwaves [...]
A brain-dead pregnant Irish woman was taken off life support on Dec. 26 in wake of a Dublin High Court ruling that found that the unborn child would not have a chance of surviving. The woman, who was in her late 20s and already had two young children, was declared brain-dead on Dec. 3, four days after suffering a serious head injury [...]