Ontario Premier Ford Calls Snap Election
The Story: Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called a snap election only days before American tariffs are expected to hit Canada. After his request to dissolve the Ontario Legislative Assembly was granted by Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont, Ford claimed that he needed a clear mandate to fight President Trump’s tariffs. At the time of dissolution, Ford’s Progressive Conservatives had over a year left on their term and held a comfortable 79-seat majority. However, Trump’s threats had caused the PCs to see their highest levels of support in some time, incentivizing an early election call.
The Significance: Two weeks ago, Doug Ford stood in front of Canadian media and lectured Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for refusing to allow her province’s economy to be gambled in a trade war. “That’s her choice,” he said, “I have a little different theory: protect your jurisdiction but country comes first, Canada’s the priority.”
Now, Doug Ford is pretending that a snap election which will leave Ontario without a legislature to respond to tariffs for nearly a month is necessary—and not a partisan move that places party before country. As Ford wraps himself in the Canadian flag, the statue of our first Prime Minister shamefully remains in a wooden box outside Queen’s Park at his behest and the Toronto District School Board announced plans to rename buildings honouring Canadian heroes such as Macdonald, Ryerson, and Dundas. The hypocrisy is astonishing.
Ford has been Premier since 2018. He was elected to high hopes from Christians who expected him to reverse radical sex education, push back on anti-religious and anti-life social pressures, and bring Ontario back to the days of “Toronto the Good”. While there have been victories, his tenure has largely been an exercise in stagnation.
Sadly, the primary alternatives are not truly alternatives for Christians. Both the Liberals and NDP are radically anti-life, anti-Christian, and in favour of indoctrinating children. If ever there were a time to remember the Psalmist’s plea to “put not your trust in Princes” (Ps. 146:3), it is now.
But it was not without reason that Christians once believed in Doug Ford. Then, as now, he had the potential to do great good. We should pray that, should he win re-election, he finally fulfills that promise.
Read More: Leyland Cecco, The Guardian, “Ontario premier Doug Ford to call snap election to fight Trump tariff threat”
US President Trump Signs Order Stopping Childhood Gender Transition
The Story: On Tuesday, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order that widely inhibits gender transition procedures on individuals under the age of 19.
The order requires the United States budget office to remove funding for all hospitals and medical organizations that offer gender-transition surgeries to minor-aged children and prevents federal insurance programs from covering said procedures. The order also allows families to sue doctors who conducted gender-transition surgeries on minor-aged children.
Although the full criminalization of childhood gender transition is within the jurisdiction of the several states, this executive order represents a significant blow to the transgender movement.
The Significance: As the West’s largest, most powerful nation ends its assault on the bodily integrity of minor-aged children, other Western nations will be faced with a choice: whether to continue allowing for the biologically impossible, but physically irreversible “transition” of minor-aged children, or to instead embrace the truth that children should be protected from such harm.
If Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party forms a Majority Government following the next election, they will have a big opportunity to pass a Criminal Code amendment prohibiting gender transition procedures for minor-aged children. The cultural moment for bold action is now and the incoming Government must not miss the chance to act. Christians, caring deeply about the created order and the well-being of young children, should demand such legislation loudly and repeatedly.
Read More: Christina Grube, WORLD News, “Trump order cuts federal support for trans procedures for those under 19”
Pro-Life Student Reaches Settlement Victory Against University
The Story: Talia Battista, a former Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson University) student, has reached a settlement with the University after a years-long complaint process at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. In 2017, Battista—a sexual assault survivor—attempted to attend an on-campus healing event for survivors of sexual assault. However, Battista was denied entry to the event because of her work with Toronto Against Abortion, a pro-life group that regularly protests abortion on campus. Following the University’s refusal to allow her to participate in the on-campus student activity, Battista filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
As a result of the settlement, TMU will repeal a campus policy that prevents pro-life students from participating in student organizations and on-campus events.
The Significance: Talia Battista’s fight is a noble one. The most beneficial tasks are often the most arduous and Talia’s perseverance throughout this years-long battle should be emulated.
There are no shortcuts to meaningful cultural change, only small steps of faithfulness that God may use to advance his purposes. Whether fighting long court cases, protesting abortion outside clinics, or working stressful hours inside a pregnancy care centre, we must choose to do the hard things—the fruit of which may not be seen for generations to come. However, this should not deter us from watering the small saplings which may one day stand as large oaks shading our entire nation. In a culture obsessed with immediate success, let us stand as those who are focused on eternal treasure and content to pursue difficult faithfulness over instant gratification.
Bravo to Talia Battista who never backed away from a difficult case and has now struck a blow for the pro-life movement across the country.
Read More: Ari David Blaff, National Post, “Rape survivor reaches settlement with TMU student union after she was barred from event over anti-abortion activism”