Last Friday, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff was the only national political party leader to stand up for the right of four Canadian Sikhs to wear their ceremonial kirpans into the Quebec legislature building. Many in Canada who have an interest in religious freedom, myself included, cheered this defence of religious practice that is genuinely connected… Read More
Marriage commissioners in Saskatchewan and across the country have been wronged. Any employment (or appointment) with government or in the private sector requires accommodation of the individual for one or more of a prescribed list of circumstances identified in human rights legislation. One of the listed circumstances in every province and territory in Canada is… Read More
Yesterday, one-third of Canada’s Members of Parliament, from two of Canada’s national parties, unhesitatingly stood with pregnant Canadian women who choose to give birth to their unborn children. Still, Roxanne’s Law was defeated by a margin of 178-97. MP Rod Bruinooge (Winnipeg South) who introduced Bill C-510 is reported to have noted both his disappointment… Read More
Universities across the country are facing criticism because student unions are refusing to allow discussion of “abortion” and university administrators are not insisting on the free exchange of ideas on campus. The situation has brought unity of cause to groups as diverse as The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. The… Read More
Later today or tomorrow, Members of Parliament will vote on Bill Siksay’s (MP, Burnaby–Douglas) private member’s bill Bill C-389 which proposes adding “gender identity” and “gender expression” as prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act. If passed the bill will proceed to the Senate, where hopefully Canada’s chamber of sober second thought… Read More
Justice Marc Rosenberg of the Ontario Court of Appeal has decided to stay the decision of Justice Susan Himel in the Ontario prostitution case Bedford v Canada (A-G). What’s that mean? Justice Himel’s decision proposed striking down three provisions of the Criminal Code which would have made it legal to operate a “common bawdy house,”… Read More
Media headlines proclaimed that Ontario could become a free zone for prostitution starting last Saturday. But the Ontario Court of Appeal has reserved its decision on the interim request to stay the September 28 ruling of Justice Susan Himel (striking down certain provisions of the Criminal Code pertaining to prostitution) until the full appeal is… Read More
The EFC opposes the passage of private member’s bill Bill C-389, which is intended to add “gender identity” and “gender expression” as prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act. First, the bill would create a federal anomaly in that no other human rights legislation in the country specifically addresses the issue of… Read More
Most agree that it is difficult to think of anything more reprehensible than an adult violating a child’s trust for personal sexual gratification. Where some might disagree is on the degree of punishment that is warranted for such violation. Thursday’s introduction of Bill C-54, An act to amend the Criminal Code (sexual offences against children),… Read More
A man and a woman, lying on their backs in bed and sharing a single cigarette. That image populated many movies as the signal that two people just had sex. But the proverbial cigarette in bed, or in the hands of someone who had fallen asleep on a couch or easy chair, also caused numerous… Read More