Part 2 - CRA ATIP petitions from three MPs

Part 1 here.

Here the ATIP revealed that MP Garnett Genuis's petition was read in the Commons. Good.

"Yesterday's Hansard indicates that a petition was submitted to the House of Commons relating to the direction given by the Prime Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in his Mandate Letter to introduce amendments the Income Tax Act to make anti-abortion organizations that provide dishonest counselling to pregnant women about their rights and options ineligible for charitable status:

"CHARITABLE STATUS Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am tabling notes the Liberal Party's commitment in its 2021 platform to deny charitable status to organizations that hold convictions about abortion, which the Liberal Party views as "dishonest". Petitioners are concerned that this may jeopardize the charitable status of hospitals, houses of worship, schools, homeless shelters and other charitable organizations that do not agree with the Liberal Party on this issue for matters of conscience. It notes that many Canadians depend on these charitable organizations and that previous attempts by the government to impose a values test on charities and deny them funding or charitable status as a result have certainly been poorly received. Petitioners are highlighting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the freedom of conscience it guarantees. They call on the House of Commons to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis without discrimination on the basis of political or religious values and without the imposition of another values test and also to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression."

Then on March 23, 2022, we have three more petitions.

"Multiple petitions were tabled in Parliament yesterday on the issue of no longer providing charitable status to anti-abortion organizations. These petitions are to contest this proposed policy.

Garnett Genuis Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr Speaker, the next petition I am tabling highlights with great concern a commitment from the Liberal election platform saying that it would deny charitable status to organizations that have convictions about abortion that the Liberal Party views as "dishonest." It is noted that charitable status rules already contain a prohibition against dishonest behaviour, and this particular targeting of groups based on political views is a form of political discrimination. It is the application of another values test tied to charitable status, and it is the politicization of charitable status. The petitioners note as well that this is similar to the discriminatory values test that the Liberals tried previously to associate with the Canada summer jobs program. [we remember it well].

The petitioners are calling on the government to protect Canadians’ charter rights to freedom of expression and freedom of opinion without discrimination. They call on the House to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis without discrimination on the basis of political and religious values and without the imposition of another values test, and to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.

Kelly Block, "Petitions" on March 23rd, 2022 I open parliament.ca Kelly Block Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek; SK

Mr Speaker, I also have the honour of tabling a petition calling on the government to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis, without discrimination on the basis of political or religious values and without the imposition of another values test, and to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.

I thank these Canadians for their engagement on these important issues Damien Kurek, "Petitions11 on March 23rd, 2022 1 open parliament.ca 

Damien Kurek Battle River—Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition, again signed by folks from across our country, calls upon members of Parliament to do everything in their power to prevent, block, organize against and vote against any effort by the government to revoke the charitable status of pro-life organizations in Canada, as we have seen the government be willing to do."

(All emphasis added) 

Good for these three MPs. I thank God that there are some good and faithful servants of the people of Canada, who speak out against the tyranny pro-life people are subject to from a government that discriminates against, on a continual and unabated basis, forever coming up with new and creative ways to attack and marginalize us at every turn.

To them I say thank you, thank you, thank you.