I did an ATIP to Global Affairs Canada looking for information on this funding which, by the way, comes from Canadian taxpayers and not the government. In the backgrounder on this abortion funding, under "Key messages" that was sent out to stakeholders it says:
"Canada is a firm supporter of a feminist approach, which includes a commitment to gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, and the protection of their human rights."And this:
"Minister Bibeau's mandate letter has been clear from the beginning. As part of Canada's feminist approach, we are committed to supporting access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health service and information. that includes access to contraception, family planning, comprehensive education as well as women's right [to] choose safe abortion, where legal, and access to post-abortion care." Emphasis added.This "feminist approach" really just means Justin Trudeau and Minister Bibeau's abortion approach. Canada is made up of people. 36,591,241 people to be exact. And according to a recent Ipsos poll:
"One in Four (24%) [Canadians] Want Some Limits on Abortion, While 12% Say It Should Not Be Permitted [and]...A further one in ten Canadians (11%) aren’t sure [where they stand on abortion]"That's almost half the country who are most likely not a firm supporter of a feminist approach. When I think of "Canada" I don't think of Justin Trudeau and his partisan politicians. I think of Canada's people. Trudeau et al are not "Canada". They do not speak for me. And they don't speak for millions like me. To presume that they do, is the height of arrogance.
The ATIP also included a "tracking chart (donor commitments and media attention)." There were 28 outside sources listed. Of those sources there was only one pro-life source identified: Life Site News. Talk about stacking the deck.
Did Trudeau and Bibeau bother to consult with pro-life organizations? I know--a foolish question.
I have some additional information to wade through and will report later if I find anything.
In the Michael Journal, published by the Pilgrims of St. Michael's August/September 2017 edition: Abortion is not a Canadian "core" value: On June 29, 2017, the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I. Bishop of Hamilton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), wrote to the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding her June 6, 2017 speech on Canadian foreign policy. In her speech to the House of Commons, the Minister equated women's rights with the right to abortion and "sexual reproductive rights", claiming that "these rights are at the core of Canadian foreign policy" and that "there were also human rights and that they would set Canada's current and future foreign policy agenda." In his letter, Bishop Crosby expresses his profound concern and disagreement, calling the statement "erroneous, confusing, and misguided" and points out that "for a considerable population (both within Canada and abroad) the unborn child is regarded as a human being created by God and worthy of life and love", while the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously acknowledged in its 1988 decision the Morgentaler case that the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the unborn. The CCCB President insists that "in these uncertain times, when Canada's voice and leadership do matter on everything from climate change to global peace, political ideology cannot be allowed to dictate foreign policy and to override common sense and our humanitarian responsibilities to those in dire need."
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