Realwomen of BC - Archives - September2006

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THE REAL NEWS The R.E.A.L WOMEN of BC Newsletter September 2006, P.O. Box 39068, Point Grey RPO, Vancouver, BC V6R 4P1, Tel/Fax: 604- 463-1611, website: http://www.realwomen.bc.ca
Visit your MP The most effective way of having your voice heard is by contacting your MP directly, ideally in person. Have a list handy so you will not forget your points and arguments. Also, bring one or more letters with you that briefly state what you are going to say in person. Make sure you deal with one issue per letter only. The following are some areas that you might want to discuss with your MP. Same-sex marriage As you know, this issue will come up again. We have heard from some of our members that certain MPs have claimed that this is a human rights issue, however, that is simply not so. These MPs are either misleading their constituents on purpose or are themselves misinformed and have bought into the mantra that has been spread by the homosexual activists. First of all, sexual orientation was never in the Canadian Constitution, the courts "read" in such a right. There is no document in existence that states that same-sex marriage is a human right. The Supreme Court of Canada NEVER ruled that the heterosexual definition of marriage must be changed to include same-sex relationships. Rather, it ruled on December 9, 2004 in the same-sex marriage reference case, that the government could change the definition of marriage if it so wished, but there was no requirement that it do so due to homosexual human rights. That is, if it were a human right, it would have declared it to be so - but it did not. No UN Treaty nor any human rights tribunal has ever ruled that same-sex marriage is a human right. Judges in B.C. and Ontario have ruled that it is an equality right under S.15 of the Charter, but that this is not definitive since such decisions do not apply to all Canada. In fact, Judge McMurtry, who wrote the Ontario Court of Appeal decision, opening up the institution of marriage to same-sex couples, is the father of a lesbian and thereby in a position of direct conflict of interest. (Recently, an American judge, finding himself in the same situation, recused himself from a case which would have opened marriage to same-sex couples, understanding that he was in a position of conflict and his ruling on the case could be perceived as personal bias. Journalists and the Canadian judiciary are trying to hide the fact that the Ontario decision was based on personal bias. REAL Women of Canada registered a formal complaint with the Canadian Judicial Council. The Defend Marriage Coalition is now in the process of informing all the MPs about the prejudice behind the Ontario court decision and REAL Women is working with ethical journalists to publicize the truth. The best way to approach MPs who try to argue that same-sex marriage is a human right is simply to say, "this is not the case under any UN Human Rights Treaty or any Supreme Court of Canada ruling," and to remind them that any provincial court decision on this or any other issue does not bind all of Canada - only the Supreme Court of Canada can do so, and it has never done so. It is significant that seven (7) American courts have rejected same-sex marriage as a human right. Also, France and Australia enshrined in law the definition that marriage is between one man and one woman. In short, the argument that same-sex marriage is a human right is merely a red herring used by homosexual activists, but it is a claim that has no relevance in either fact or law to date. Let your MP know that you support reopening of the debate on the definition of marriage and that you support traditional marriage and want your MP to do so as well in the free vote that will follow the debate. Vancouver Injection Site The "safe" injection site in Vancouver is on wobbly legs as the contract with the federal government is up on September 11. Mayor Sullivan is looking for continued support from the federal government to keep the safe injection site going. However, safe injection sites are the wrong way to deal with our addicts drug problems. The focus needs to be on prevention and rehabilitation. Any "harm reduction" programs in essence encourage and normalize drug addition. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) does not support so-called "harm reduction" stand alone needle exchange programs and taxpayer-funded shooting galleries (so-called safe injection rooms) because such policies encourage drug use and violate UN Conventions. Article 4 of the 1961 Convention obliges State parties to ensure that the production, manufacture import, export, distribution of, trade in, use and possession of, drugs is limited exclusively to medical and scientific purposes. Therefore, from a legal point of view such facilities violate international drug control conventions. The United Nations position is that the goal of national and global drug policies and strategies must be to prevent or stop drug use. Instead of perpetuating the problem by providing drug addicts with needles, we need to focus on prevention and rehabilitation. The most humane thing anyone can do is help a drug addict get off the drugs. Please write the federal Health Minister immediately, voicing your opposition to government funded safe injection sites. Canada needs a comprehensive drug program focusing on prevention and rehabilitation. We need more beds for rehab not injection sites. Tell your MP you do not want exemptions to be made to the applicable sections of the Criminal Code to allow the Injection Site in Vancouver to continue as it does not help addicts get off drugs. Write to the Minister of Health at minister_ministre@hc-sc.gc.ca or by sending your letter to the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6. Status of Women SOW has never represented pro-family women. They currently spend tax payers money on programs which are not accountable for the money spent, and/or which are provincial responsibilities. If we want to keep more money in taxpayers hands we must get rid of departments such as this one. Tell your MP you want all funding to SOW to be stopped immediately because: SOW funds programs which are provincial jurisdiction duplicating provincial funding and meddling in provincial areas of responsibility. SOW distributes funding in a prejudicial manner ignoring organizations with non-radical feminist and/or lesbian proclivities. SOW funded organizations are not properly accountable back to the minister for monies they have received and spent. It is especially important to write a letter on this one, so your MP can forward the letter to the Minister of Status of Women. Minister Oda needs to hear from you! If you want to write directly to Minister Bev Oda, her address is: Honourable Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, House of Commons,Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6. Age of Consent Currently Bill C-22 has been tabled before the House ( presented for first reading to the house). C-22 will raise the age of consent to protect children and youth from predatory adults. Make sure you tell your MP that you would like him/her to support this bill, C-22, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act.