Stephen Harper finally does something good and progressive in 2008 by not trying to stop the appointment of a true Canadian hero, Henry Morgentaler, to the Order of Canada. Are you finally realizing that the path to a majority government lays in supporting Canadian Women's reproductive rights and winning seats in vote rich, progressive, secular, socially liberal, mostly pro-choice, Ontario and Quebec; Mr Harper?
OldBob...@gmail.com
CAROLINE ALPHONSO AND GLORIA GALLOWAY
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
July 1, 2008 at 12:21 AM EDT
TORONTO, OTTAWA — The divisive debate about abortion rights in Canada
is poised to erupt once again as Henry Morgentaler, the country's best-
known abortion-rights crusader, is expected to be named to the Order
of Canada.
Even before the official announcement, Dr. Morgentaler's name attached
to the highest honour in the land ignited a firestorm of controversy
yesterday, with online blogs, people opposed to abortion and pro-
choice supporters wading into the Order of Canada committee's
decision.
A spokeswoman for Dr. Morgentaler declined to comment on the award. "I
just can't be the one to say anything," Shayna Hodgson said yesterday.
A government source told The Globe and Mail last night Dr. Morgentaler
would be appointed to prestigious national order, which is announced
by the Governor-General on the recommendation of an advisory panel.
The award had been expected to be unveiled yesterday, however, so it
was not clear whether the delay signalled second thoughts.
The Conservatives sent out talking points to MPs on Friday that did
not name Dr. Morgentaler, but were clearly in preparation for a
controversial appointment. They emphasized that Order of Canada
recipients are not chosen by the cabinet, but rather a panel whose
nine members include only two government appointees.
Maurice Vellacott, a Conservative MP from Saskatchewan who has been a
long-time opponent of abortion, said the honour normally goes to
someone who is the unanimous choice of the advisory council. Mr.
Vellacott said he has heard this was not the case with the selection
of Dr. Morgentaler.
"You would think it should be, as it has been in the past, a
consensus," he said. "This is a pretty divisive issue. I think we can
all agree on that. So why would we have the highest honour in the
country being issued when there is obviously strong difference of
opinion about it?"
There are so many deserving Canadians, there was no need to choose
somebody like Dr. Morgentaler, he said.
Dr. Morgentaler's supporters have made at least three large, organized
attempts to nominate the man who has changed the face of the health-
care system.
The list of appointments, which could come as early as today,
recognizes their lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to
the community and service to the country.
For decades, Dr. Morgentaler led the fight to legalize abortion in
Canada and he now operates six clinics across the country. But while
the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country's abortion law in
1988, the debate over whether it should be legal, and in what
circumstances, has not abated.
Supporters say it's about time Dr. Morgentaler was so honoured. "Dr.
Morgentaler is a hero to millions of women in the country. He has
risked his life to struggle for women's rights. ... And he's a huge
figure in Canadian history. And the fact that he hasn't got it till
now is a scandal," said author and feminist Judy Rebick. "If it's
true, I will be delighted."
But Joanne McGarry, executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights
League, said that if Dr. Morgentaler is named to the order, "it would
be a most unfortunate choice."
"As Canadians we would like to see the Order of Canada given to people
whose contributions to such initiatives as charity, education,
culture, the environment, things of that kind that are uniformly
viewed as positive and tend to unite people," she said. "With this
choice, the one thing that everybody really agrees on about
Morgentaler is that he is a very divisive figure."
Appointments to the Order of Canada are made independently of
government. They are the responsibility of Governor-General Michaëlle
Jean, who accepts the recommendations of an independent advisory
council that is chaired by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin.
Kevin Lynch, the Clerk of the Privy Council - the government
department that reports to the Prime Minister - is a member of the
council. It is not clear whether Mr. Lynch would have advised Prime
Minister Stephen Harper about the appointment. But Mr. Harper would
have had no veto power.
Liberal MP Dan McTeague said Dr. Morgentaler is a very controversial
person and if he is admitted to the order, it will polarize Canadians.
The Governor-General and the committee advising on appointments to the
Order of Canada have always been careful in the past not to choose
people who were controversial or who would not be unanimously
celebrated by all Canadians, Mr. McTeague said. "It's more of a social
statement rather than the usual apolitical decisions," he said. "There
will be people who cheer what he has done. There will be others who
fundamentally disagree with what he represents."
Joanne Byfield, president of Life Canada, said many people will be
offended and appalled if Dr. Morgentaler is honoured.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.order01/BNStory/National
None
member of the advisory council you idiot. Learn to use Google.
<
David Johnston
<think...@dlcwest.com> wrote:
>x-no-archive: yes
>
>On Jul 3, 7:38 am, OldBobPeff...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>not much, just reprinted a news story from the central Canada centric
>Toronto Globe and Mail.
>
>> Dr. Morgentaler's supporters have made at least three large, >organized attempts to nominate the man who has changed the face >of the health-care system.
>
>In an unabashed attempt by a morally bankrupt minority to impose
>their barbaric, murder legitimating views on the silent majority.
Polls consistently show that your use of "minority" and "majority" are
not accurate.
David Johnston
<think...@dlcwest.com> wrote:
>x-no-archive: yes
>\
>On Jul 16, 12:44 am, David Johnston <da...@block.net> wrote:
>> On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:00:09 -0700 (PDT), Cut Off By Google
>>
>> <think.un...@dlcwest.com> wrote:
>> >x-no-archive: yes
>>
>> >On Jul 3, 7:38 am, OldBobPeff...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> >not much, just reprinted a news story from the central Canada centric
>> >Toronto Globe and Mail.
>>
>> >> Dr. Morgentaler's supporters have made at least three large, >organized attempts to nominate the man who has changed the face >of the health-care system.
>>
>> >In an unabashed attempt by a morally bankrupt minority to impose
>> >their barbaric, murder legitimating views on the silent majority.
>>
>> Polls consistently show that your use of "minority" and "majority" >are not accurate.
>
>You baby-killer wannabes always claim this, but the polls consistently
>show this claim is as false
http://www.religioustolerance.org/abopollca.htm
http://www.lifenews.com/int803.html
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/half_of_canadians_want_abortion_to_remain_legal/
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=032ba3d5-fb26-499b-ab17-9d4d9d27fa17
Show me the poll that actually indicates that the "abortion is murder"
lot are a majority.