Ontario Court Upholds Anti-Prostitution Law
The Story: The Ontario Superior Court has upheld a Harper-era law that criminalizes prostitution by targeting buyers and pimps. In his ruling, Justice Robert Goldstein found that the law did not violate Charter protections for “life, liberty, and security of the person” and deferred to Parliament’s authority on the matter. Examining the Charter implications of criminalizing the sex trade, Justice Goldstein stated: “I find that there is a clear link between sex work and human trafficking. In fact, there is a considerable body of evidence that many sex workers are manipulated or coerced into sex work or trafficked while in it.” The ruling comes after pro-prostitution advocates had challenged the law, stating that it violates fundamental liberties and harms so-called “sex workers.”The Significance: Scripture asserts that God has empowered civil government to “punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (1 Peter 2:14). Sadly, corrupted human governments often invert this requirement by praising evil and punishing good. In this broken political environment, Christian citizens who possess a clear-eyed understanding of morality have both the opportunity and responsibility to declare the nature of the evil that all governments are called to punish. On this, one thing is clear: selling the bodies of women in exchange for cash is, by any moral standard, unquestionably evil and worthy of severe governmental wrath. Although Canada has, in many cases, praised evil and rejected goodness, this anti-prostitution legislation is a God-honouring law that protects women and prohibits the beastly practice of selling human flesh. Read More: ARPA Canada, “Big win as Ontario court upholds Canada’s prostitution laws.”
Canadians Gather to Support Parental Rights at Million March 4 Children
The Story: Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in cities across Canada on Wednesday to show support for parental rights as part of the Million March 4 Children. The multi-faith protest was organized in opposition to teachers hiding pronoun changes from parents, mixed-sex school bathrooms, and the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) content in school curriculums. Despite a union-backed counter-protest and claims that the March was promoting “hate”, the March succeeded in outnumbering the counter protestors and gaining attention for its “leave our kids alone” message from governing officials across the country.While Prime Minister Trudeau called the various marches “manifestations” of “transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia,” Conservative Leader Pierre Polievre responded by stating that the Prime Minister is “demonizing concerned parents” and that “parents should be the final authority on the values and lessons that are taught to children.”The Significance: Canadians who believe in parental rights and protecting the innocence of children should be encouraged by the sheer size of this protest. The willingness of Canadians from different religions and political affiliations to work together in defense of parental rights is a positive sign of changing cultural winds. In politics, strange alliances often form over shared enemies but, in this case, Canadians are joining together to fight for a shared value: the protection of children. Finally, it should not be forgotten that this growing movement started when one man, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, chose to stand against the progressive tide and defend parental rights. Premier Higgs has proven that standing up for truth is not just the right thing to do, but can also lead to lasting cultural change—even in Canada.Read More: Dave Naylor, The Western Standard, “Tens of thousands of Canadians march for parental rights”
Saskatchewan Premier Willing to Use Notwithstanding Clause for Parental Rights
The Story: Premier Scott Moe has stated his willingness to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause if Canada’s courts overturn Saskatchewan’s recent parental rights protections. Premier Moe’s comments come after out-of-province activist groups initiated a legal challenge against the widely supported policy. The Notwithstanding Clause (Section 33 of the Charter of Rights) allows elected officials to override a court’s interpretation of certain parts of the Charter for a period of 5 years. Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall previously used Section 33 to protect school choice in the province.The Significance: Despite Quebec’s regular use of the Notwithstanding Clause on provincial language legislation, Section 33 has historically acted as a constitutional “nuclear option” with little political upside. Recently, however, Canada’s increasingly-brazen judicial overreach has led to a new political readiness to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause. Nevertheless, Premier Moe’s willingness to use every constitutional power at his disposal to protect parental rights demonstrates the deep unpopularity of LGBTQ-activist attempts to target children. Premier Moe should be applauded for wielding his constitutional power and protecting Saskatchewan children from radical gender ideology. Living under the shadow of an expansive federal government, many Canadians have failed to recognize the significant power of the ten provincial legislatures over healthcare and education—power that can be used to protect Canadian children against radical gender ideology, abortion, and many other social ills. Christian citizens should encourage their local provincial officials to employ those constitutional powers by enacting protections for God’s most vulnerable image-bearers. Read More: Quinn Patrick, True North, “Saskatchewan prepared to use notwithstanding clause to defend parental rights”
Trudeau Accuses India of Assassinating Canadian Citizen
The Story: According to a statement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canadian intelligence has linked India to the recent killing of Canadian citizen and Surrey, BC, resident Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, a Sikh man who immigrated to Canada in 1997, had been an active proponent of independence for Khalistan—a Sikh-majority area of India. Nijjar was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Surrey temple on June 18. The Indian government had previously sought Nijjar’s extradition over allegations that he was connected to a 2007 bombing in India’s Punjab region. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded to Prime Minister Trudeau’s accusations by denying any connection to the incident and by accusing Canada of harbouring Khalistani terrorists. Canada has not yet released any evidence for Prime Minister Trudeau’s allegations. The Significance: The details of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing remain largely hidden. Because of this, a thorough review of this story’s significance will only be possible as more information becomes available. However, every Canadian should understand the gravity of Canada’s Prime Minister accusing the world’s most populous country of assassinating a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. This kind of accusation is nearly unprecedented and could have drastic effects on international trade and military relations. As Christian citizens obey God’s command to pray for their governing officials, three particular requests should be offered: that the truth of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death would be discovered, that true justice would be executed, and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, and Canada’s top intelligence officers would handle this developing situation with wisdom, conviction, and a commitment to truth over political expediency. Read More: National Post, “What we know about the man India allegedly killed on Canadian soil.”
Report: Left-Wing Organization Influenced Federal Emergencies Act Decision
The Story: A new report on the influence of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN) shows that CAHN, a left-wing activist group, may have had significant influence on the Liberal’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act during last year’s freedom convoy. The report, authored by independent journalists Caryma Sa’d and Elisa Hategan, purports to show how the Canadian Anti-Hate Network fabricated claims of terrorist-infiltration in the Freedom Convoy. According to the report, CAHN, which has been at the forefront of many anti-Conservative government programs and regularly promotes radical gender ideology, started the false accusation that Convoy-associated activist Jeremy McKenzie and his “Diagalon” group were a terrorist organization. Those claims were reported by the media, repeated by the Government, and even influenced RCMP intelligence. After international intelligence agencies requested information from the RCMP on the supposed terrorist organization, the RCMP admitted that there was no evidence to support the designation. Nonetheless, the false claims continued to be reported in media coverage and Government talking points, justifying the use of the Emergencies Act, harming McKenzie’s reputation, and stoking fear about the Freedom Convoy. The Significance: Sadly, this story will likely only accelerate Canadians’ already declining trust in key institutions such as the Government, the media, and the police force. For Christians, the answer to this web of falsehoods should not be “an-eye-for-an-eye” or, in this case, “a-lie-for-a-lie”. Instead, we must remain committed to truth and honesty. While it may be discouraging, and even disorienting, to watch what sounds like a conspiracy theory come to life before our eyes, we must remember that “a false witness will not go unpunished and he who breathes out lies will not escape” (Proverbs 19:5).Trusting in this, we can fight for truth, honesty, and goodness. We can continue to be the hands and feet of Christ without fear. Because even though our nation’s institutions totter and fall, the Foundation upon which we stand will never be shaken. Read More: Carma Sa’d and Elisa Hategan, “The Hate Gate Affair”
