Get your sneakers. The March is on!
By Debbie Duval and Johanne Brownrigg
Did you know that Canada has absolutely no restrictions on abortions? There are only two other countries in the world who share our radical policy: China and North Korea. The good news is that you can do something about it. Join the thousands who come from all over Ontario, Quebec, and across Canada to make their voices heard at the annual March For Life.
This year’s March is May 12, starting at noon on Parliament Hill. The theme is #endthekilling. It is a bold challenge to the euphemisms that have paralysed our ability to talk about abortion.
We live in a time when competing rights seem to consistently err on the side of killing. Pro-lifers have engaged in this battle for decades, yet “abortion rights” have led to attacks on parental rights, conscience rights of physicians and healthcare workers, and freedom of speech—especially on university campuses. Access to healthcare has even suffered, in some places, because of the push to increase access to abortion.
The March For Life is an outward sign of the inward conviction that this is wrong. With tens of thousands protesting on the Hill and marching through the streets of Ottawa, that sign is becoming an unmistakable call to #endthekilling.
But did you know there is a banquet in the evening, after the March? The Rose dinner is a wonderful opportunity to meet old friends, make news ones, and meet pro-life MPs.
This year, Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), the March organizers, invited Obianuju Ekeocha (“Uju” for short) as the speaker for the Rose Dinner. She is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, and activist for the protection of African values. Born and raised in Nigeria, she has travelled to more than 20 cities in 8 different countries, advising political and spiritual leaders on various issues relating to education, maternal health care, and youth. She urges Africans to stay strong in their convictions and not allow wealthier, Western nations to impose on their laws and traditions.
Why is Uju coming to Canada? Because the previous Conservative government put in place an international maternal-, newborn-, child-health initiative to address the true needs of women and children in the third world. Their initiative refused to fund abortion, but the current Liberal government is reversing this position. They plan on spending millions of taxpayer dollars funding abortions overseas.
Uju brings a powerful voice against that goal. We hope you plan on joining us to hear Uju, at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre. You can get tickets on the CLC website, with early-bird discounts available until April 30.
CLC also offers a youth banquet, across the hall from the Rose Dinner. Every year, more than 800 youth attend this banquet, often staying for the Youth Conference the next day.
Our speaker for the banquet is Matt Walsh, a nationally recognized writer, blogger, and speaker. His provocative writing on political and cultural subjects are read by millions of people every month. More importantly, Matt is a husband and proud father of twins.
The youth conference is a great resource, arming young people with expert knowledge and effective strategies to go back into their communities and tackle the culture of death head on. You can find more information and book tickets through the Niagara Region Right to Life.
So grab your sneakers and get ready to stand with us at the March for Life. Your presence has a significant impact. Take the day off and join in the events or volunteer for the day, we can use the help.
Use the National March For Life to make a public statement that LIFE is the first human right. Add your voice to the cry for our government to #endthekilling.
Debbie Duval is the National Capital Organizer for Campaign Life Coalition. Johanne Brownrigg is CLC’s Ottawa lobbyist. Together, they work full time to end abortion in Canada.
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