conservative – We Need A Law

A Pro-Life Victory!

WNAL Staff — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 02:59:19 +0000

Delegates at this past weekend’s Conservative Party convention in Calgary voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution that sets their party apart from all others in the House of Commons. The party now officially condemns gender-based abortions.

“This is definitely a victory,” said Mike Schouten, the director of WeNeedaLAW.ca. “We worked extremely hard, both inside and outside the convention, to ensure that delegates had the information they needed to make an informed decision.”

Volunteers inside the BMO Centre distributed over 3,000 leaflets during the three-day event and it clearly had an impact on the outcome of the vote. “Party members have now spoken and clearly they want their party to address gender selective abortions,” said Schouten.

See more PHOTOS of the rally

While delegates were voting inside, there were 130 women, men and children just outside the BMO Centre who braved the cold, snowy weather to rally in support of the resolution to condemn gender selective abortions. “This country has been known for representing equality, and that’s what we are here for today,” said Rosey Rosenke, one of the organizers for the rally.

“Countries around the world understand that protecting women’s rights begins in the womb and we are pleased that Canada’s governing party has now taken the first step in also recognizing this,” said Schouten. “The fact that we were able to ensure this policy was adopted is a clear sign that Canada’s pro-life movement is organized, competent and not to be taken for granted.”

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Prime Minister Harper has acknowledged that pro-lifers comprise a significant portion of his base and that they should work on changing “hearts and minds”. That the resolution from Langley passed so easily shows that hearts and minds have changed. “There is a gap between public opinion and public policy in regards to sex-selective abortion,” Schouten went on to say. “Hearts and minds have changed, and we look forward to the government enacting policy which reflects that.”

Will the Conservative Party support women’s rights?

WNAL Staff — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 07:58:59 +0000

With the beginning of a new legislative session last week, the Prime Minister has once again successfully pressed the proverbial reset button. Some have referred to this latest prorogation as nothing more than an attempt to distance his party from some of the controversies that have been garnering negative publicity. While the ongoing Senate scandal involving Mike Duffy and former chief of staff Nigel Wright grabs the majority of the headlines, there have been a number of other incidents which signal to Canadians a weakened unity in the governing party.

First there was the alleged interference with the rights of individual members in putting forward statements. If not for a favourable ruling by House Speaker Andrew Scheer, the potential was there to make the Prime Minister look as though he were a dictatorial ruler.

Then there was the controversy surrounding backbench MP Mark Warawa’s motion condemning gendercide and the political manoeuvring that prevented it from being brought to a vote.

And many will recall the harsh criticism Edmonton area MP Brent Rathgeber leveled against the party when he resigned from the Conservative caucus earlier this year after his private member’s bill calling for increased transparency was gutted at committee level.

All in all, the past couple of years have seen the Prime Minister putting much of his focus on simply keeping together the many facets of conservatism that make up the Conservative Party. Certainly, the Speech from the Throne is an excellent tool to change the channel in the eyes of the public, but at the end of this month Harper will have to be at his best when he has an even more important audience on the other side of his lectern – the grassroots supporters who collectively volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours to ensure success at the ballot box who will be gathering at the Conservative Party’s policy convention in Calgary.

Whether the Prime Minister is able to strengthen party resolve when they meet at the annual convention remains to be seen, but there is one resolution that has the potential to either be unifying or divisive – depending on how party leaders handle it. The Electoral District Association (EDA) of Langley, BC is proposing an amendment to Section K 70 (Women) which, if accepted, would see the phrase “The Conservative Party condemns discrimination against girls through gender selection” added to the existing statements in this section. That this modification is sponsored by the EDA represented by MP Mark Warawa is only natural; it was Mr. Warawa who put forward Motion 408 asking for the House of Commons to condemn sex-selective pregnancy discrimination.

As I have said before, the Prime Minister missed a glorious opportunity to build support within his caucus by his treatment of Mr. Warawa and Motion 408. This resolution presents an opportunity for Mr. Harper to reach out to the socially conservative wing of his party and send a clear message to all Canadians, and will only be controversial if the Prime Minister decides to make it so by opposing it.

Day of Action in Calgary, AB!

WNAL Staff — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 00:56:32 +0000

You are invited to participate in a ‘Day of Action’ in Calgary, Alberta on November 2nd!

The Conservative Party of Canada will be discussing sex-selection discrimination and they need to know we support them!

For more details contact: Rosey Rosenke at director@albertaprolife.com or Mike Schouten at mike@test.weneedalaw.ca