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29 Apr 2021 Abortion: A Federal Budget Priority

Posted at 16:58h in Abortion, Blog, Economics 0 Comments

A government budget tells us what their current priorities are. This year’s Federal budget shows multiple priorities for the government in the upcoming months. Among other details listed, the government includes a section which focuses on ‘Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Information and Services.’ It’s not very long, but there are a number of items in this section that stand out. The government treats abortion (as a part of ‘sexual and reproductive health care') as something which Canada needs to support wholeheartedly and provide unfettered access to. According...

26 Apr 2021 Bill C-22 and Restorative Justice: How the Liberal plan to drop minimum sentences for drug crimes could actually be a good thing

Posted at 13:21h in Blog, Criminal Justice 0 Comments

1 Like

I will always remember my first experience visiting a prison. I was in my University choir, and we stopped at a medium-security prison while on tour to sing for their chapel service. Throughout our performance and through our brief interaction with inmates afterwards, many of them were brought to tears and were amazed that a group of University students would sing for them and chat with them. The whole choir received a letter from one of the people imprisoned there following the visit, and he explained how that performance reminded...

22 Apr 2021 The Government of British Columbia’s Priorities for 2021

Posted at 15:08h in Politics 0 Comments

4 Likes

On April 13, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Janet Austin, delivered the government’s annual Speech from the Throne and, a week later, British Columbia’s Finance Minister, Selina Robinson, presented the annual provincial budget. Both documents lay out the government’s priorities for the legislative year. In their Speech from the Throne and budget, the NDP government re-committed themselves to the pragmatic style of government that has characterized their administration over the past four years. It is clear that the provincial government and Christians prioritize very different issues. There were no announcements in...

21 Apr 2021 The Federal Budget Misses the Mark

Posted at 10:54h in Economics 0 Comments

0 Likes

On April 19, the federal government released its 2021-2022 budget, its first budget in two years and the first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in September, ARPA called on the government and all the opposition parties to craft a fiscally responsible plan aimed at returning Canada to a balanced budget or at least a declining debt-to-GDP ratio. This budget misses that mark by $155 billion dollars – that is the projected size of this year’s federal deficit. As for the debt-to-GDP ratio, that is not projected to decline...

21 Apr 2021 Let the Church be the Church Campaign

Posted at 10:47h in Campaigns, Fundamental Freedoms 0 Comments

38 Likes

It’s been over 13 months since the first Covid-19 restrictions were enacted across Canada. Since then, ARPA has launched targeted campaigns in British Columbia and Ontario and encouraged Reformed Christians in all provinces to use emails, phone calls, petitions, letters to the editor, and social media to ask their provincial leaders to allow church leadership to make the decision on how Christians can safely gather for corporate worship. We argued that corporate worship is an essential activity and that these restrictions are unconstitutional. At various times and places, we have pointed out that the...

20 Apr 2021 Bill C-268: Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act

Posted at 11:20h in Bills and Motions, Euthanasia, Fundamental Freedoms 0 Comments

3 Likes

Since the legalization of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2016, there has been little effort to protect the consciences of those who refuse to participate in providing MAiD. The recent euthanasia legislation has increased access to MAiD, and doctors will increasingly run into conscientious problems with patient requests for MAiD. Currently, the province of Manitoba is the only province that specifically protects the conscience rights of physicians. Under Manitoba’s legislation, medical professionals can refuse to participate in MAiD if it violates their personal convictions. They cannot be required to provide...

19 Apr 2021 Liberal and NDP Convention Debrief

Posted at 17:10h in Politics 0 Comments

0 Likes

Two weekends ago, both the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party of Canada held their bi-annual conventions. Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, these conventions were held online this year, like the Conservative party’s convention a few weeks ago. Conventions are opportunities for members of political parties to come together, build the party, and prepare for the next election. Although conventions are attended by and intended for committed party members, the policies discussed and voted on at these conventions provide outsiders a blueprint as to what the party grassroots...

15 Apr 2021 Our Presence Matters

Posted at 13:31h in Blog, Public Theology 0 Comments

0 Likes

Should Christians attend or organize public protests of bad laws, or rallies in support of good laws? That was the question I asked myself when presented with an invitation to attend an event on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The rally was being organized in support of a father who is in jail for the “crime” of going against a court order by expressing concern about how transgender ideology is affecting his child. I admit I was not especially excited to attend this rally on the steps of the...

14 Apr 2021 ARPA Submits Recommendations for Freedom of Conscience for Ontario Physicians

Posted at 14:22h in Fundamental Freedoms 0 Comments

6 Likes

Freedom of conscience is an issue that is increasingly at stake in our society. While freedom of conscience has a role in many areas of life, one specific area is in the medical field. In light of legalized and recently expanded access to euthanasia, doctors are at risk of being forced to participate in providing euthanasia to patients, whether directly or indirectly, even if their consciences do not permit it. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is requesting feedback on their policy and guidelines for Ontario physicians regarding...

12 Apr 2021 Live Not By Fear: A Call To Exude Hope Amidst a COVID-Infatuated World

Posted at 14:32h in Blog, Public Theology 1 Comment

8 Likes

This blog post was originally published in a print edition of Christian Renewal and is reposted here. There are times when I see massive challenges on the horizon and can’t help but worry. Like the spies who scouted out Canaan and reported back to the Israelites, I can feel as small as a grasshopper compared to what I’m facing (Numbers 13:33). I’m not alone. Throughout this country, I see Christians who made it through the past year with more gray hair and lines of worry on their faces. Many are recognizing what...

Topics

29 Apr 2021 Abortion: A Federal Budget Priority

26 Apr 2021 Bill C-22 and Restorative Justice: How the Liberal plan to drop minimum sentences for drug crimes could actually be a good thing

22 Apr 2021 The Government of British Columbia’s Priorities for 2021

21 Apr 2021 The Federal Budget Misses the Mark

21 Apr 2021 Let the Church be the Church Campaign

20 Apr 2021 Bill C-268: Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act

19 Apr 2021 Liberal and NDP Convention Debrief

15 Apr 2021 Our Presence Matters

14 Apr 2021 ARPA Submits Recommendations for Freedom of Conscience for Ontario Physicians

12 Apr 2021 Live Not By Fear: A Call To Exude Hope Amidst a COVID-Infatuated World

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