Once again the Mayor of Ottawa has refused to proclaim Respect for Life Week, but this year’s refusal conveyed an interesting attitude towards the phrase
“Respect for life”, in her letter to Action Life, Ottawa’s pro-life group, Mayor Marion Dewar wrote, “… our policy precludes proclamations that would serve to divide the community. Regrettably the very phrase “respect for life” would result in such a division and I am therefore not able to comply with your request.”
Action Life wrote to the mayors of the four major cities that comprise the Ottawa-Carlton region-Gloucester, Kanata, Nepean and Ottawa-seeking proclamations of Respect for Life Week to be held during the second week of May. Only the city of Gloucester agreed, although the mayor of the city voted against it. Kanata and Nepean chose not to reply to Action Life’s letter.
It should be noted that Action Life, was not seeking a “Ban Abortions Week” or even a “Pro-Life Week”, but simply “Respect for Life Week”. However, as we in Ottawa know all too well, “you can’t fight city hall.”
