Liberal Minister Implies that Women Need Abortion to Succeed
The Story: Federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault stated this week that abortion is necessary for women to succeed. Standing in the House of Commons, the Minister bragged that the Liberal’s bill to make contraceptives—including The Pill—taxpayer-funded is an integral aspect of the Liberal’s plan to set up Canadian women for success.
Boissonnault further stated that the Liberals stance on “choice” is the differentiator between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party in terms of supporting women and their ability to succeed in Canada.
The Significance: The idea that women cannot succeed without the government offering to pay for the death of their children is unfathomably insulting to women and shows the Liberal Party’s abhorrently low view of motherhood.
The reasons why it is difficult for mothers to “succeed” in Canada have nothing to do with abortion and everything to do with the Liberals mismanagement of the economy, the cost of groceries, housing, and basic necessities. Nevertheless, millions of Canadian mothers succeed without any assistance from the Liberals—in murder or otherwise—because mothers form a societal and familial plank that no government program or handout could ever duplicate.
The Liberals are simply echoing the same type of progressive view that sparked outrage after multi-Super Bowl-winning kicker Harrison Butkner gave a speech where he dared to suggest that many women will be more fulfilled by motherhood than by their careers.
Success may look different for everyone, but one thing is certain: true success never requires the killing of an unborn child.
Read More: Anthony Murdoch, LifeSite News, “Canadian employment minister claims women need contraception, abortion access for ‘success’”
BC Conservative Candidate Resigns Over Old Tweets
The Story: BC political candidate Damon Scrase has announced his resignation as the BC Conservative Party’s nominee for Courtenay-Comox following the resurfacing of old tweets in which he criticized public nudity at pride parades and issued other comments that the BC United Party described as “homophobic, racist, and anti-women.” In announcing his resignation, Scarce stated that “I’m a blue-collar guy who never aspired to be a public figure, and certainly not a politician, I do not want my old, unfortunate comments to distract from the important work currently being done to fix our incredible province.” Despite expressing regret over some “unfortunate comments,” Scrase maintained his opposition to public nudity: “I stand by what I said against public nudity and fringe elements in the pride movement.”
The Significance: Damon Scrase’s decision to stand by his comments regarding public nudity is admirable. Even in the face of extreme pressure, he refused to recant on his traditional beliefs about human sexuality. His decision to resign as a candidate, however, is shortsighted. As long as candidates step away following so-called “homophobic” remarks that merely convey the truth about human sexuality, progressives will know that they can simply bully their opponents out of the public square. Although resigning to avoid becoming a “distraction” may seem prudent, it only serves to reinforce the idea that those who hold a traditional sexual ethic are not allowed anywhere near public office. Christians should be determined to be represented at all levels of government—not only for ourselves but also for the world that desperately needs the truth and freedom that only Christ can offer.
Read More: Noah Jarvis, TrueNorth, “BC Conservative candidate who resigned over Pride tweets stands by some of his comments”
Homelessness Surges Despite Spending Increase
The Story: Homelessness has increased by 20% since 2018, despite the federal government increasing anti-homelessness spending by 374%. The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has found that the $561 million annual budget for homelessness reduction has successfully placed over 17,800 people in stable homes, 5,000 in emergency homes, and provided 31,000 with “core prevention services” that have kept them from homelessness. Despite these successes, homelessness overall has only increased—with chronic homelessness increasing by 38%.
The Significance: If homelessness were merely about money, government spending would solve the problem. Some causes of homelessness—affordability, job loss, lack of supply—are certainly economic in nature. The underlying issue for many, however, is not economics but meaning. We should not be surprised that an era of mandated social isolation, government dependance, and enforced church closure has coincided with an increase in homelessness. Meaninglessness drives dysfunction (be it addictions to drugs, alcohol, or pornography) and dysfunction drives homelessness. In the words of Viktor Frankl: “When a person can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.”
Some conservatives argue the solution to a lack of meaning is to simply give people jobs. Undeniably, work gives man dignity. Christ proves this by spending a great deal of His life as a carpenter. But work is not enough. Ultimate meaning can only come from the recognition that we are meant to know, love, and serve the God who made us and loves us.
The problem is spiritual, not economic.
Read More: Isaac Lamoureux, True North, “Homelessness on the rise despite Liberal government’s spending: PBO”
Gunmen Open Fire on Jewish Schools in Toronto, Montreal
The Story: Gunmen opened fire in separate incidents at Jewish schools in Toronto and Montreal this week before arsonists set fire to a Vancouver synagogue. In Toronto, two men dressed in black approached the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School in the early hours of May 25 before unloading five rounds and fleeing the scene. In Montreal, police are investigating after two bullets struck the front door of the Belz School at the Young Israel of Montreal synagogue. In Vancouver, arsonists set fire to the Schara Tzedeck synagogue, which was doused before it grew out of control. No injuries have been reported and no suspects have been arrested in any of the cases.
The Significance: An ideology that motivates grown men to shoot at a school for little girls is an ideology that cannot offer any measure of lasting peace or justice. The hatred stoked by antisemitism is an incipient evil that will quickly corrupt any society it infiltrates. Sadly, this antisemitism, in both extreme and non-extreme forms, now dominates the campuses of Canada’s major universities. Although this sad fact has only recently become obvious, we should not be surprised that ideologies of hate are already so prevalent.
Decades ago, Canadian society cavalierly tossed aside the ancient and tested Christian Faith— assuming that its moral stipulations are nothing more than shackles restraining true human freedom. What we have discovered, however, is that those “shackles” were, in fact, the foundation of Western Civilization and its commitment to the dignity of every human being. In its place, the new shackles of hatred and discord bind the heart of Canada’s culture. Today, the whole nation can repeat the words of Henry Longfellow: “In despair I bowed my head; ‘there is no peace on earth,’ I said; for hate is strong, and mocks the song, of peace on earth, good-will to men.”
A deep, palpable darkness hovers over the face of our nation and over every human heart. Thankfully, amid the darkness, a light appears in Longfellow’s poem: “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; the Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men.’”
Antisemitism leads only to chaos, death, and destruction. However, the door to peace stands open for all who call upon the name of the Prince of Peace who takes our hatred upon himself so that peace will again return to the earth.
Read More: National Post, “Gunmen open fire on Jewish girls school, Toronto police say”
Read More: The Canadian Press, “Jewish organizations demand action after Montreal Jewish school hit by gunfire”
Read More: Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press, “Rabbi says members of Vancouver synagogue were inside during arson attack”
Quick Hit
Sex-Ed Group Breaks New Brunswick Law and Receives Ban from Premier: Premier Blaine Higgs has banned Quebec-based HPV Global Action from presenting at New Brunswick schools after they were caught going well beyond their agreed-to presentation to high school students on the human papillomavirus. In a slide entitled “Thirsty for the Talk,” the organization had a series of questions in chat bubbles, including “Is it normal to watch porn like people watch TV series?” and “Is it good or bad to do anal?” Premier Higgs stated he was “furious” and that the content was “not flagged for parents in advance,” a violation of the Province’s parental rights legislation.
HPV Global Action is the second organization in Canada to be banned from presenting at schools after Planned Parenthood was barred from Saskatchewan schools earlier this spring.
Read More: Derek Haggett, CTV News Atlantic, “’We were vetted’: Sex-ed organization ‘disappointed’ over Higgs’ comments”
A Truth to Consider
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua 24:14-15