As Canada is gearing up for its upcoming federal election, I came across and article in my local newspaper announcing a 5th party has joined the race in my small South-Western Ontario city. We now have the Liberals, Conservatives (the incumbent), the NDP, the Green Party and the Christian Heritage Party. They have ran before here, but tonight I decided to learn more about them (‘know thy enemy’ if you will). Looking at their detailed policies, it is just shocking to think that (some) people in my city are voting for this party. Here are a few gems:
National Defense: 9. ROLE OF WOMEN
Without diminishing the worth of the individual, government should respect the inherent God-given differences (physical and psychological) between men and women within the context of national defense. The role of women in the armed forces should be restricted to non-combat roles.
1. SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE
We believe that the human body is the property of God, and that no one but God has the authority to terminate human life except in accord with the express provisions of the Bible (2). No person, institution, or government shall tolerate, encourage, or decree death by means such as abortion, euthanasia, or suicide.
(1) Ex.4:11, (2) Gen.9:6; Lev.24:17, Gal.3:17
2. ABORTION
We favor the elimination of all public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortion. Abortion is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being, and therefore is a crime against God, the pre-born child, the mother and father, and society. It should be treated as such by the Government and must not be permitted or supported. The pre-born child has the right to life, liberty and security of the person from the moment of conception. These rights of the pre-born must be protected in Canada's laws through appropriate amendments to our Criminal Code and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Once this protection is in force, any person who performs or assists in an abortion, or arranges for a woman to have an abortion, should be charged with a criminal offense. (…)
6. REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY
(…) Forms of reproductive technology and methods of birth control leading to abortion, non-therapeutic experimentation, and assaults on the fidelity of the husband/wife relationship, are contrary to our principles (e.g. embryo experimentation, in-vitro fertilization, artificial insemination by donor, surrogate motherhood, I.V.F. and insemination of lesbians)
(Sanctity of Marriage and Family) 7. MOTHERS AND HOMEMAKERS
We affirm that a vital role in society which mothers can perform is that of homemaker and rearer of children; further, that failure in this role imperils the rising generation and the future of society and the state.
Those were some of the most anti-feminist sections. Also interesting they are against gambling and pornography. But they are for citizens carrying guns to protect themselves and for capital punishment. They also believe the government should create a national advertising campaign “which stresses that virtue is a necessity, not an option”. I’m new at any sort of activism, any suggestions on what I could do to voice my concern about this party and their beliefs?
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Once this protection is in force, any person who performs or assists in an abortion, or arranges for a woman to have an abortion, should be charged with a criminal offense. (…)
So once again, we have the strange dichotomy where abortions are murder, but only by the people who 'perform or assist' them, and not by, y'know, the WOMAN WHOSE BODY IT IS. (I mean, I guess if she was the one who had arranged the abortion, you could charge her with that...) Do they think the poor, helpless females are chloroformed and dragged into back rooms where other people perform abortion for fun and profit?
Not only would they deny us the right to choose, but they fail to acknowledge or respect that we have free agency, that we, not the 'providers' are in fact the ones consciously making that choice in the first place.
I am forced to ask: If you're convinced abortion is murder, how long a prison sentence should the woman receive?
I remember when I lived in Northern Ontario during the last election seeing a number of these religious wingnut "political" parties popping up... they are totally ridiculous and fortunately there aren't nearly enough Canadians who are into this crap for them to get in power. At least I hope not, oy vay.
I didn't include their whole policy on abortion (my post was getting too long) but here is the section on who specifically would be charged:
Once this protection is in force, any person who performs or assists in an abortion, or arranges for a woman to have an abortion, should be charged with a criminal offense. Any medical practitioner convicted of performing an abortion, or assisting in an abortion, or arranging for a woman to have an abortion should have his or her license suspended. Any individual or corporation that manufactures, distributes, sells, or administers any drug or device for the purpose of procuring an abortion should be charged with a criminal offense.
They are conveniently not mentioning anything about charging the woman. I think it is rather hypocritical of these groups to say that abortion is murder and then not charge the woman herself, who is, arguably the person most responsible. I know why they don't say it, because they can't sell it. People might shy away from these 'pro-life' groups if they start imagining all the desperate and scared women locked up for believing abortion is their only option.
As far as I know, the Christian Heritage Party has been around for awhile and is scattered across the country, much like the Green Party. At this point, they can't get much power in government unless they decide to merge with the Conservatives (which is not impossible, look how it happened in the Republican Party in the US).
I'm registered in Alberta (currently living abroad). Voting liberal there is equal to throwing your vote away. Sigh.
Have you seen Bill C-537? The Conservatives proposed this atrocity back in April (May?). It's a conscience clause for healthcare providers so that they don't have to be part of any procedure their religious beliefs say is wrong, with regard to "the sanctity of life".
Bastards. So help me God if they get a majority, I may just have a mental breakdown. Not to mention, my husband will likely lose his job. :(
As to activism and what to do: for starters, talk about it. Share your discoveries with friends and ask them to share it. It may seem small and minor, but it's a start. Share it online, through various media (facebook groups and posts, ranking youtube videos, digging articles - all of this creates greater visibility, particularly if other people start doing this too, because as videos get ranked higher and articles get dugg, they tend to show up on the main page and so on).
Write op-eds. If they don't get published, write again. Call or write to lawmakers and people who have influence. Basically, raise hell, but do it politely (as bizarre as it sounds).
Just some suggestions...
Yay! Canadian politics for once!
I just discovered this page now, so I guess I'm a little late to respond. This party is unbelievably extreme. One of the things that really sucks about activism is that no matter how much hell you raise, and how many other South-Western Ontarios protest this party, they'll never be forcibly disbanded, because our laws pretty much allow any party to run, no matter their views. And, unfortunately, if you're vocal about this, controversy stirs awareness and can result in the party gaining more support. On the other hand, though, they're clearly a fringe party, and I don't see them taking a seat. So do as Saira said, get loud and get mad. But do it in a way that highlights their most unacceptable stances so that less people will be inclined to sympathize with them. (More people will be offended by their stances on the role of women than their stance on abortion, for example, so give most of your attention to that topic.
And on that note, this part:
"We believe that the human body is the property of God, and that no one but God has the authority to terminate human life except in accord with the express provisions of the Bible (2)."
When I read this, I was like, hmmm....I wonder what their stance on the death penalty is? And I read the last paragraph, and said to myself. "Yup. That's what I thought."