The news of the imminent closure of the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton, New Brunswick will mean that women seeking abortion in that province will have greater difficulty in doing so. This is a good thing. All too often women who find themselves in an unanticipated pregnancy will feel as though abortion is the only option they have. When that option is not readily available, other options will be considered.

Obviously there will be some who attempt to polarize the discussion by flippantly stating that the back alley will be her next option. Resorting to this shock and awe language is nothing short of extremist, and severely lacks any sentiment of love and compassion towards pregnant women in desperate need of help.

The decreased availability of abortion in New Brunswick will provide opportunity for improved care for women and their pre-born children. It will certainly require an increased focus by those directly involved with organizations like New Brunswick Right to Life in highlighting the options available, including that of adoption.

The pro-life movement in Canada has a long standing history of putting most of its resources into pregnancy care centres – showing love and compassion for pre and post-abortive women as well as care for their children and families. I am confident that they will embrace this opportunity with renewed vigour in New Brunswick, and you can be assured they will do it even without any public funding.

            Please speak for me! I have no voice.

My only option is mom’s choice!

And therefore it’s to you I give

The right to speak, so I might live,

Appeal to mom, plead with her, “Why

Would you consider I should die?”

“Unseen, and yet my heart beats strong,

Is it my fault? Have I done wrong?

I’m human, though I have no name,

Is it for lack of love you blame

My father, but that’s neither fair,

I’m me! Not some imagined air.

Yes me! I’m in His image made

Beyond a shadow nor a shade,

My life’s as real to me, as you!

Deep in your heart you know that’s true.

Then for God’s love, hear my appeal

I’m here, it’s me, Yes mom, I’m real.”

A. Blokhuis

April 9/14

These words are not my own. They came from the mouth of, wait for it… a sitting member of the governing Conservative Party of Canada. Michael Chong, Member of Parliament for Wellington-Halton Hills delivered this quip in one of his numerous replies Jay Hill, the former government whip for the Conservative Party. during a polite debate over Mr. Chong’s democratic reform bill.

The setting was the Manning Networking Conference, an annual gathering of conservative minded Canadians held in the nation’s capital. In a plenary session titled, Democratic Reform 2.0: Restoring the influence of Members of Parliament, MP Chong was advocating for his recently introduced Reform Act, 2013, a bill he believes will, “reinforce the principle of responsible government.”

Much has been written about the Reform Act and from media reports it appears that, although there are some detractors, it is receiving support from all political parties. One criticism leveled by Mr. Hill (also expressed here and here) is that by decreasing the power of the party leader there is an increased risk in having special interest groups take over entire riding associations.

In response, Mr. Chong stated, “We need one issue candidates. One issue candidates are good. William Wilberforce was a single issue candidate.” Chong then went on to single out the pro-life issue as a current example.

Chong is not an outspoken pro-life leader.

His point is not to champion the issue of abortion but rather to challenge the way in which Canadian policy is built, limited only to what the leadership of political parties are comfortable dealing with. Our readers know that abortion is a perfect example of an issue where nothing is being done because of a lack of political will or interest from the party leaders’ offices.

This is not just about forcing pre-born human rights onto the public agenda.

History shows that our country has always had elected officials focused primarily on one issue. For better or worse we have seen Tommy Douglas (health care), Svend Robinson (gay rights), Chuck Cadman (youth criminal justice), and Joy Smith (human trafficking) affect the Canadian landscape with their time dedicated to one issue.

Putting the Reform Act in context, one can’t help but think of Motion 408 and MP Mark Warawa’s attempt to have the House of Commons condemn sex-selective abortion. After Warawa’s motion was dropped from the parliamentary agenda on dubious grounds of not meeting proper criteria, there has been an ongoing public discussion about the state of democracy in Canada. And it’s getting louder all the time.

As Chong stated when introducing his bill,

Since Confederation, numerous and gradual changes have eroded the power of the Member of Parliament and centralized it in the party leaders’ offices. As a result, the ability of Members of Parliament to carry out their function has been curtailed by party leadership structures. The Reform Act proposes to address this problem by restoring power to elected Members of Parliament.”

Canada needs single-issue candidates. Michael Chong is absolutely correct. We should not be afraid of this in spite of party leaders maintaining a stranglehold on power by silencing any discussion that falls outside of their limited and mushy platform.

William Wilberforce’s campaign not only changed how Britain viewed slavery and the slave trade – it changed how the world thought about these injustices. The Reform Act will go a long ways towards allowing an elected official to put forward measures that would advance justice in the face of controversy. Canada, of all places, needs that today.

Action Item: Send this email to your Member of Parliament asking for something to be done to end this practice from occuring in Canada.

My life rests with you dear mother!

It’s the secret we both share,

Yet it’s true, there is One other,

One who’ll teach you how to care.

Mom, I know you feel rejected,

That you hurt and are afraid,

Yet inside I feel protected,

We’re both in God’s image made.

You may wish things to be different…

T’was His will that I should be,

I know mom, you’re not indifferent

Deep inside, know, “You love me.”

[Turn to Him in joy or sorrow

He’ll assuage heartache and pain,

Each day brings His new tomorrow

Making lives worthwhile again.]

Life is filled with much frustration.

Now it’s hard to sing a song,

But your love will bring elation,

And God’s love will keep you strong.

Life is dear and oh so precious,

Love me mom and you will see

That our joys will be infectious

Shared with all, especially me.

We’ll love life and laugh together,

Pain and anguish? Maybe some,

But I promise, nothing’s better.

Me? To learn, “I love you mom!”

A.Blokhuis                                                                                                                                         Oct. 14/13