Anti-Pornography Bill Passes House of Commons Vote
The Story: A Bill implementing meaningful age-verification to protect children from online pornography has passed Second Reading in the House of Commons, sending it to the committee stage.
Bill S-210 mirrors efforts in Europe, Australia, and the United States to implement obstacles to stop minors from accessing online pornography.
The Bill passed with full support from the Conservatives, the NDP, and the Bloc Quebecois. Prime Minister Trudeau and his Cabinet voted against the bill and only 15 Liberal MPs voted in favour.
The Significance: Bill S-210 moving to the committee stage is good news for Canadians who believe that human beings are valuable and that the consumption of their bodies for the selfish pleasure of others is morally wrong.
The porn industry has been fighting these efforts with all their might because children viewing violent sexual acts is not a byproduct of their industry—it’s their business plan. Recently released undercover videos of top industry executives revealed that the industry is aware of illegal videos and even purposefully introduces “trans performers” in order to alter the sexual preferences of prepubescent children.
While the Liberals claim they aren’t supporting the bill because they “are working on their own approach” to protect Canadians online, this is the second time they have voted against such efforts to protect children. Several libertarian-minded advocates for online freedom have also argued against the Bill over concerns about Government control.
Although some arguments might be well-meaning, the online pornography industry is inherently exploitative and threatens to destroy children’s lives. A just Government would take every effort to stop the attempts of evil pornography companies to invade our children’s lives and corrupt their ideas about sex, sexuality, and human identity. Bill S-210 should be celebrated as a good step in this direction.
Read More: The Canadian Press, ”Senate bill would require age verification for Canadians accessing porn sites”
Canadian Government sends mixed messaging with Israel-Hamas Ceasefire at United Nations
The Story: The Canadian Government has voted in favour of a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel. The resolution, which received support from Russia, Iran, and North Korea, does not mention Hamas.
The Liberal Government has issued multiple contradictory statements on the Israel-Hamas war. This week alone, statements from Liberal Cabinet ministers included calls for Hamas to give up control of Gaza and stated that there can be no ceasefire without surrender from the terrorist group—a viewpoint that contradicts the UN resolution.
The Significance: The Liberals have worked to thread an impossible needle in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre—attempting to stand with Israel while also trying to maintain their electoral advantage with Canadian Muslim communities.
The most recent set of conflicting messages comes after a large Muslim political group threatened to stop donating to the Liberal Party if the Government did not demand a ceasefire.
The Liberals have executed their jumbled strategy by using different messengers to send different messages. While Prime Minister Trudeau has (predominantly) supported Israel, others—such as Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly—have routinely questioned Israel’s tactics and parroted disproven Hamas allegations.
With the Liberals sending mixed signals, it’s not surprising that Canada’s state broadcaster, the CBC, has neglected to send reporters to view footage of the October 7 attack.
If the Government is willing to play politics with the truth, why shouldn’t journalists? The high responsibilities of both require more.
Read More: Ryan Tumilty, Christopher Nardi National PostLiberals split over UN vote calling for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict
50-year-old Man Competes Against Underage Girls at Barrie Swim Competition
The Story: A 50-year-old biological man in Barrie, Ontario, will face no legal repercussions after competing in an organized swimming competition with girls as young as 8-years-old. Prior to the competition, the man—who goes by the name Melody Wiseheart—changed into his swimsuit using the girls’ locker room. After seeing the man, concerned parents used towels to create an improvised barrier for their underage daughters. Swim Canada responded to the incident with a statement indicating that the event was an “open competition” and that “people of all shapes, sizes, genders, beliefs and backgrounds should have the opportunity to swim to the best of their ability.”
In a related policy implemented this week, the Canadian Government will now require all federally regulated buildings, such as military bases, to provide menstrual products in public washrooms—including men’s washrooms. According to the Government’s directive, the policy is designed to “better protect menstruating employees.”
The Significance: Although these events may appear to be isolated, they both result from a cultural subversion of God’s natural order. The ideology that places menstrual products in a men’s washroom is the same ideology that pretends as if a grown man belongs in a change room with little girls. In both cases, the meaning of manhood and womanhood has been distorted beyond recognition. In particular, the meaning of manhood has come under assault.
By seeking to destroy manhood, modern progressivism has destroyed the societal benefits men were designed to provide. Men are no longer encouraged to protect vulnerable women and children from predators. Instead, they are encouraged to invade women’s washrooms—sacrificing the security of young girls for their own self-identity. Make no mistake: men are designed to provide and protect for women and children. When these natural characteristics are not properly directed, men become a threat to the same women and children they were designed to protect. No amount of makeup, dress-up, or self-identity will alter the danger that bad men pose to vulnerable women and children. If these men are given access to vulnerable girls, they will take advantage.
Our culture needs good men who have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and who will joyfully fulfill their masculine responsibilities. Let us pray that God would have mercy and grant us more of them.
Read More: Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun, “Transgender female swimmer, 50, uses change room with young girls at Barrie event”
Whistleblower: Government Misappropriated $150M
The Story: Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is under scrutiny after a whistleblower testified before a Parliamentary committee that the Federal Government has covered up approximately $150 million in misappropriated funds. The alleged misappropriations of the $1 billion “green technologies slush fund” include alleged favouritism, conflicts of interest, and abuse of COVID stimulus money. This includes an apparent $200,000 subsidy to a company owned by the head of SDTC.
The original whistleblower report, which surfaced in October, caused the Trudeau government to suspend the program and launch an independent inquiry. The inquiry’s report validated many of the whistleblower’s concerns.
The Significance: In his first letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim 6:10). We may look at the outrageous corruption alleged in this case and find ourselves disgusted. That is not an unjustified response: public corruption, especially on this scale, harms real people and public officials have a grave responsibility of stewardship to taxpayers and to God himself.
However, love of money does not begin with large-scale public fraud. Instead, like many sins, it often starts on a much smaller scale. Sadly, many of us are guilty of more innocuous expressions of this disordered love: fudging taxes, failing to contribute to our churches, or stiffing the waiter on a deserved tip.
We should all examine our consciences and consider how we might be placing the love of money ahead of love for God. We cannot serve two masters.
Read More: Catherine Lévesque, The National Post, “Whistleblower accuses Liberals of ‘egregious cover-up’ over controversy at green tech fund”
Wife of Conservative Leader Vows Support for Abortion
The Story: In an interview with Le Journal de Québec, Anaida Poilievre—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s wife—stated in French that, “[Pierre and I] are pro-choice. We decided on this. I am a woman from Quebec, I grew up here. And it’s part of my values.” Despite a predominately pro-life voting record during the majority of his parliamentary career, Pierre Poilievre began identifying as “pro-choice” during the 2022 Conservative Party Leadership race.
The Significance: Pierre Poilievre’s decision to reverse his position on abortion is a sad indictment of Canada’s political situation: even right-wing party leaders believe they must support legal abortion in order to form Government, abandoning the cause of preborn children in the process.
However, the most important implication of this story is Anaida Poilievre’s involvement in the public defence of abortion. As she indicated, Anaida grew up pro-choice and the defence of abortion is an essential feature of her personal value set—a value set that vastly contradicts Pierre’s public value set at the time of their marriage in 2017.
We should never underestimate the importance and influence of a spouse on the public life of an elected official. Letters from constituents, assurances from lobbyists, and even deeply-held personal values, are all likely to fade under the influence of a persistent spouse. In this case, Anaida Poilievre’s pro-abortionism appears to have won over her previously pro-life husband.
Aside from a decision to follow Jesus Christ, the decision to marry is the most important decision a person will make in their lifetime. For the Christian, this decision is likely the difference between a shared pursuit of godliness on one hand and limping through the Christian life with an unequally-yoked spouse on the other. As King Lemuel’s mother asks her son, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (Prov. 31:10-12). Marriage is a one-flesh union. Be careful with whom you choose to unite.
Read More: Jon Dykstra, Reformed Perspective, “What does Pierre Poilievre think about the unborn?”
Quick Hit
An Ontario-based research project has uncovered widespread fraud in Canada’s “safe supply” system: According to the report’s findings, many supposed “safe supply” drug users sell large portions of their allotted supply in order to purchase stronger drugs. The revelations are just the latest in an increasingly long line of failures in the safe supply process. Perhaps Canadian governments should return to a treatment model based on human dignity rather than fuelling the ravaging effects of drug use.
Read More: Adam Zivo, The Line, “‘Safe supply’ drugs are flooding communities: the evidence piles up”
A Truth To Consider
