Here’s information about the Rescue Summit.

Here’s an interview I did with Ashley Elliot at CHRI in Ottawa about the conference.

Not too late to register. It’s freeeeeeee!

I have many unkind words to say about the drug company, Merck, but I’ll let the complete and utter disregard for women’s health and lives speak for me. From Vanity Fair,

Danger in the Ring
When 24-year-old Erika Langhart—talented, beautiful, bound for law school—died on Thanksgiving Day 2011, she became one of thousands of suspected victims of the birth-control device NuvaRing. Elite army athlete Megan Henry, who survived rampant blood clots in her 20s, is another. With major suits against NuvaRing’s manufacturer, Merck, headed for trial, Marie Brenner asks why, despite evidence of serious risk, a potentially lethal contraceptive remains on the market.

CHEATED CHAMPION Olympic hopeful Megan Henry, who collapsed with blood clots after using NuvaRing, photographed near her family home in Roxbury, Connecticut.

Charlotte Dawson, an Australian model, commits suicide after struggling with depression for over a decade. She was divorced and had an abortion earlier in life so as not to interfere with her ex-husband’s gold medal ambitions for swimming in the Olympics.

If you google her name, you will be met with nothing but smiling photos of a beautiful woman.

I realize no one goes out into public with their dirty laundry on display. But one of the things I detest about Facebook is the steady stream of “perfect life” photos.

I wish this woman had a bigger vision of what life could be.

Sad, all around. May she rest in peace.

Natalie posted about how euthanasia/assisted suicide would not come to Quebec at this time. Good news.

What is bad news is this, from the Liberal convention:

The Liberal Party of Canada is in favour of decriminalizing medically assisted suicide, adopting a resolution on the controversial matter at the end of its four-day policy convention in Montreal.

I believe that the Liberals will not be impervious to the extraordinarily detrimental effect this will have on the vulnerable. So there’s hope yet. But good thing we didn’t all go out celebrating the quiet victory in Quebec last week. There is too much work to do.

We just issued a press release on the amazing turn of events that took place yesterday in the Quebec National Assembly.  Here it is below:

Democracy triumphs, at least for now, over Bill 52

In a surprising turn of events yesterday, the Quebec government was unable to get Bill 52, a bill to legalize euthanasia, to a vote.  The result is that the vote has been moved to March when the National Assembly reconvenes.

The drama was something to behold.  The Liberal Party leader Philippe Couillard, did not cave under Parti Quebecois pressure to get the Bill to a vote. Couillard maintained that given the grave nature of this Bill, it would only be fair to allow all MNAs to vote according to their conscience, and to go on the record publicly, in the Quebec National Assembly, to each explain their views. The Liberal Party advised the Assembly that MNAs would require time to fulfill this important duty: they would allot 10 minutes to each MNA.

And it was that pro-conscience, pro-democracy decision that became the sticking point.

The Parti Quebecois did all they could to cut short the debate time, and force Bill 52 to a vote, but to no avail.

Parliament is now, in a two-week recess. It is widely expected the PQ will soon call an election in which they are hoping to win a majority.

To his credit, Mr. Couillard refused to budge from his principled position. This earned him scathing public criticism from the PQ House leader, Mr. Bédard.

If an election is held, and the PQ wins, of course Bill 52 will come back to life. If somehow the Liberals win, the fate of Bill 52 is uncertain.

“This was a very exciting day for democracy and for conscience rights.” said Natalie Sonnen, executive director of LifeCanada.  “This Bill to legalize euthanasia is lethal and threatens the well-being of the most vulnerable in our society, those to whom we should extend the greatest of care, not killing.  The suspension of the National Assembly allows people more time to become educated about the harms of this proposed legislation.”

I’m excited for this. Come on out and see Ross Douthat, New York Times columnist, on February 28, 5:30 pm. Some of my favourite people, the Cardus people, are putting this one on. Do you have better plans for a Friday evening? I Dou(b)that. For more info and to register, click here.

The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, which is where I work, is releasing new research on Tuesday, February 25, about marriage along income lines in Canada. The event is free of charge and open to the public, but registration is required for lunch numbers and parliamentary security.

For more information, and to register, click here.

Stop killing baby girls.