I'm not really sure what to make of this, but it has just recently come across my desk today. Basically a Saskatchewan MP, Mr Brad Trost expressed to a Pro-Life Association how successful they were in creating petitions that had an impact on de-funding the Planned Parenthood Organization.
Planned Parenthood is an organization that works both nationally and internationally to provide counciling, contraceptives, HIV related treatments, family planning and of course, abortion related services.
The organization has not officially said whether they were denied funding, only that the were still waiting to hear.
I think this is distressing intensely for many Canadians. Obviously for those who come down on the pro-abortion side, but also for those of us who could be pro-choice or pro-life itself. The problem is two fold, first is that there is a real danger, at least in my mind of the government intervening in organizations to deny them funding in terms of the balance that has already been struck.
Many organizations, such as Planned Parenthood offer a more professional and clincial look than the vast majority of pro-life sidewalk councilling. In fact, in BC it is illegal as of 95 to demonstrate in a non pro-choice manner outside clinics, facilities, hospitals and abortionist homes.
That is not to say pro-life people don't have their voice, but it also prohibits pro-abortion counter-protests, which throughout the 80s and 90s of course we all remember became shockingly violent. Our Southern Neighbours right now actually are going through a resurgance of demonstrations regarding abortion on both sides, many of which have turned violent.
I want to be clear that I'm not personally on the side of either. I think that there are always circumstances which will influence the individual one way, or the other. It's up to individual cases, and I am, and always will be of the mindset that the opportunity to make informed, educated decisions far outweighs the removal of choices. People need to be more educated, not less. People need to have more options presented to them, not be made ignorant, willfully or otherwise. To see the government intervene in this way, makes me question to what point we allow our government to make decisions for us.
More importantly, there are dangerous flags in my mind when an MP says they can't disclose information about how they were influenced. How many people signed this petition. Where was it circulated, for how long. Was an independent study and review done? Does this truly reflect the views of all Canadians? What about minority groups, does the unilateral cut of funding serve the interests of all groups? Why can't this information be disclosed. Who made the decision to slash 18 million dollars in expected funding. Why is our representative of government making flagrant statements about taxpayer money. I for one am quite alright with my taxpayer money being used for contraceptives, my views are not accurately represented in his statement.
What do you think?
Read the Article from CBC here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/20/cv-election-planned-parenthood.html
Article Debunking Myths about Planned Parenthood (American, but still interesting)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-planned-parenthood/2011/04/14/AFogj1iD_story.html
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