Another Sad Day for Canada: Dr. Henry Morgentaler receives the Order of Canada

Morgentaler award upsets critics View more MSN videosGo to CTV.ca

Dr. Henry Morgentaler says he is proud that Canada has "finally" recognized his contribution to women's rights. Dr. Morgentaler is an abortion rights advocate in Canada who played a key role in striking down Canada's abortion laws in 1988. Canada is now the only western nation without laws regulating abortion.

According to wikipedia, the Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin motto, taken from Hebrews 11:16, desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning "they desire a better country." Created in 1967, the order was established to recognize the lifetime contributions made by Canadians who made a major difference to Canada, as well as the efforts made by non-Canadians who have made the world better by their actions. As of April 2008, 5,479 people have been appointed to the Order of Canada, including musicians, politicians, artists, television and film stars, benefactors, and others. Since 1994 Non-honorary members are the only regular citizens who are empowered to administer the Canadian Oath of Citizenship. The Canadian monarch, presently Elizabeth II, is Sovereign of the order, and the serving Governor General, presently Michaëlle Jean, is its Chancellor and Principal Companion.

On Tuesday, the Conservative government distanced itself from the appointment, saying it was not involved in the decision.

"Rideau Hall makes these appointments based on the recommendations of the Advisory Council for the Order which is chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada,'''
Dimitri Soudas, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The Governor General's website states that Morgentaler was made a member of the Order of Canada for:

"his commitment to increased health care options for women, his determined efforts to influence Canadian public policy and his leadership in humanist and civil liberties organizations."

Naturally, a day after the Governor General announced Morgentaler's appointment to the Order of Canada, the former abortion doctor held a news conference in Montreal, stating his push to expand access to abortions in the country has made women safer. The disturbing appointment has given further ammunition to Dr. Morgentaler and his goal. In his own words:

"(It's a) sign of recognition for all the work I've done over the years and the sacrifices I've made," he said Wednesday.
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca

LifeCanada President Joanne Byfield told CTV Newsnet shortly after Morgentaler's press conference the reasons behind Morgentaler's award don't make sense. She said Morgentaler has not saved women's lives because abortions are rarely performed because of life-threatening situations.

"How can my country tell me that this man is a hero for killing babies, he got it because he does abortions. If they don't have the guts to say it, why are we giving him the award?"

Affirming Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins words, the appointment is a "sad day for our country." I join with the Archbishop who is leading a letter-writing campaign to Ottawa to have Morgentaler's award rescinded.

I would also affirm his call on (Christians) to pray on Sunday that pleads for "the scourge of abortion to be lifted from our land"

My Letter to the Governor General sent to info@gg.ca:

Dear Madame Governor General;

In regards to the recent appointment of Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada, I believe it debases the order. I would concur with the comments of our Prime Minister who said that awarding Dr. Morgentaler the Order of Canada has sowed division in the country. Quoting his words, "My preference, to be frank, would be to see the Order of Canada be something that really unifies, that brings Canadians together…"

Since, members can be removed from the order if the Advisory Council feels their actions have brought the order into disrepute, I would request under section 25 (c) of The Constitution of the Order of Canada, that you, the Governor General, make an Ordinance terminating Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s appointment to the Order. This would restore the high honor of this award and return it to the purpose for which it was created.

In great respect;

Matthew Kratz

Breaking News: Canadian Human Rights Commission employee told me: 'Canadian Human Rights Act is about censorship.'"

Friday, November 23, 2007
By Tristian Emmanuel @ www.noapologies.ca

Christian Heritage Party investigated for writings about homosexuality

Canada's Christian Heritage Party and its leader, Ron Gray, are being taken to the Canadian Human Rights Commission over commentary and opinion related to how the government and society should treat homosexuality. And Gray says he's been told directly by an employee of the Human Rights Commission that the Canadian Human Rights Act is "about censorship".

Complaint centres in part on re-posting of 5-year old WorldNetDaily.com news article

An Edmonton man, Rob Wells, has filed three complaints against Gray and his party. Two of them relate to the reposting of an item first published on WorldNetDaily.com back in April of 2002; an article written by Jon Dougherty entitled "Report: Pedophilia more common among 'gays' - Research purports to reveal 'dark side' of homosexual culture". The third complaint is against Ron Gray personally for several commentaries he wrote and distributed to party members. One of those commentaries, entitled "Sitcom prophet", likened the current climate of debate about homosexuality in Canada to the "Cone of Silence" in the 1960's-era television situation comedy "Get Smart", where the two leading characters would isolate themselves in a room where no-one c ould hear them, but they couldn't hear one another either. Gray wrote in the commentary that: "The problem with Canada's 'Cone of Silence' over the issue of homosexuality is that, like the security device in 'Get Smart', the inevitable result is that no one can communicate anything - and even the truth gets silenced."

In an exclusive interview with noapologies.ca, Ron Gray says the complaints filed against him and his party allege they are "motivated by hate, and defaming homosexual persons."

Ron Gray: "Commission employee told me: 'Canadian Human Rights Act is about censorship.'"

And, he says, when he had a conversation with a Commission employee, mediator Bob Fagan, about the specifics of the allegation, he was astonished at what he heard. "I told him that it seemed to be an abuse of the Human Rights Act for someone to try and use it as an instrument of censorship. And when I said that, on the phone, there was a pause and then he said, in a somewhat astonished tone: 'But the Human Rights Act is about censorship'. Then it was my turn to be silent on my end, because I found that breath-taking. For the Human Rights Commission's own mediator to acknowledge that censorship was the purpose of their Act."

Gray: "Charge me under the Criminal Code; I'm perfectly willing to risk going to jail."

And Gray says as fas as the "hate motivation" is concerned, nothing could be further from the truth. "I would contend", he says, "that Christians are the best friends homosexuals have because we want to see them delivered from an addiction that will shorten their lives." Gray also says he'd be much happier fighting this battle in a regular court rather than before the Canadian Human Rights Commission, where the usual rules of evidence don't apply. "If (Mr. Wells) truly believes I am motivated by hate, his complaint should not be before the Human Rights Commission. He should charge me under Section 319 of the Criminal Code (of Canada). That carries with is the possiblity of two years in jail, but in defence of the (free speech) rights of Canadians I am perfectly willing to risk going to jail."

We'll have the full interview with Ron Gray on our "week in review" program this weekend.

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For more information contact the ECP Centre at:
Email: info@ecpcentre.org
Website: www.noapologies.ca