Proposed Policy Amendments To Be Voted On This Week: Family, Free Speech For Christians & Protection for the Unborn
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This Thursday the Conservative Party is meeting in Winnipeg for their 2008 Policy Convention. Over the course of 3 days, they will be electing their National Counsel, amending their Constitution, and adopting and amending Party policy. This is a key time because the Conservative Policy sets a plumb line for how the party will vote on issues that come up in the House of Commons, and what kind of government bills they put forward. These resolutions are not laws, but make up the values of the Conservative Party in terms of what issues they agree with and don't agree with in order for everyone to be on the same page before they go into the House of Commons.
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BREAKING NEWS: CONSIDERATION FOR UNBORN VICTIMS OF CRIME IS BACK ON THE TABLE!!
One of the proposed Policy amendments is a resolution similar to Bill C-484! If passed, Resolution P-207 would make it official Conservative policy to support legislation that would make it a separate offense to kill or injure an unborn child during an attack on the mother.
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What does this mean exactly? While this would not be a law in Canada (it isn't a Bill and won't change the Criminal Code) what this would do is write it right in the Conservative Party code that if a bill like C-484 comes up in Parliament (and it will), Conservative MPs would support it. This would effectively completely undo Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's (separate) announcements that the Conservative government will not support legislation that recognizes unborn children. The MY Canada Team will be lobbying hard, on-site at the convention, for this Resolution to pass. In order for it to be adopted, over 50% of Conservative delegates in the meeting have to vote for it, and it has to be in the top 10 resolutions in terms of people voting for it. There are 23 Resolutions being put forward at the Convention - these are very good odds! YOUR ACTION POINT: Please pray for extreme favour to be on P-207 and that it would PASS. If you know of anyone who is attending the convention, please ask them to support it as well. If P-207 passes the impact and influence it will have on pro-life legislation will be huge.
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OTHER PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS TO BE AWARE OF:
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FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR CHRISTIANS IN CANADA: P-203: Would amend the Conservative Party's Policy on Human Rights Commissions to state that the Conservative Party supports legislation removing authority from Human Rights Commissions to use Section 13.1 of the Canadian Human Rights Act to persecute free speech. Section 13.1 is the section that was used against Rev. Stephen Boisson, Catholic Insight Magazine, Maclean's Magazine, and many many others. For more information on Human Rights trials in Canada, you can go to our Informed Freedom page by clicking here. Please agree with us in prayer that P-203 passes.
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DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NORTH OF CANADA: P-205: Would create Conservative Policy in regards to Arctic Sovereignty (currently, there is none). It states that the Conservative Policy would work with the Territories to ensure political and economic development in the North, make substantial investments into transportation in the North, and fast track the transfer of power for "provincial type" responsibilities from Federal Departments to the Territories. Please agree with us in prayer that P-205 passes (it appears to be good).
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FREEDOM OF SPEECH REGARDING MARRIAGE: P-210: Would amend Policy on Family and Marriage to support religious freedom for organizations to determine their own practice in regards to marriage, and respect the decision for organizations to keep the traditional definition of marriage as one man and one woman.
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To download the official document of all proposed adaptations and amendments, click here.
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Please keep the Convention, these Resolutions, the MPs and delegates, and the MY Canada Team in prayer this week. These 3 days will determine a lot in terms of guiding the 40th Parliament over the next couple of years. If you feel led to fast and pray, please email us at fast@4mycanada.ca to let us know you are standing with us!
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In just over 2 weeks we will take a team of young adults to Parliament hill to honour and address Members of Parliament (MPs). This will be our 7th Josiah team since the summer of 2005. This year's team will be focusing on meeting with the newly elected MPs and those that hold different views on issues than we do! We are expecting an impacting week for both our team and the MPs. Please keep our team in prayer as we enter into intense preparation.
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C-351: An Act To End Abortion In Canada, An Initiative From Bound4Life Canada:
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C-351: An Act To End Abortion (not real legislation but an initiative of Bound4Life Canada) was just launched at TheCRY in Toronto this past week. We are super excited about it. Through C-351 Bound4Life is asking 351 churches across Canada to adapt the 24/7 Prayer Siege to End Abortion as one of their official church ministries. Go to http://www.bound4life.ca to find out more or to sign up for your weekly 15 minute prayer slot.
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