How are our fundamental freedoms doing in Canada? It’s becoming very clear that our Constitutional Freedoms are something that only dinosaurs (like me) think the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (CCRF) should protect.

Well, the CCRF does protect our rights, such as Free Speech—as long as we only say what others don’t find offensive, or judgemental, or restricting, or confrontational, or…

The list goes on. Perhaps there is something to old-timers telling us that we had more rights before we had the CCRF! We used to be free to say anything we wanted, within the law. Now we can say only what we have government permission to say… and the permissions are a changing standard with each court ruling.

For example, Bill Whatcott was fined $55,000 for speaking the truth. The problem was that the truth hurt somebody’s feelings. Whatcott MUST refer to somebody by a pronoun that is patently untrue. A DNA test would show that it’s untrue but to say it hurts the other person’s feelings.

Another example is of a 14- year-old girl’s father who is legally not able to refer to his daughter using any feminine pronouns! To refer to her as a girl, the BC Supreme Court Judge has ruled, constitutes “Family Violence.” Further, the father is forbidden to speak to the press or publicly about this family situation. Does the father have the right to free speech? What about government interference in his family? Is a parent’s right to make medical decisions not protected? Can a father not forbid a life-changing medical decision for his minor child?

I have to wonder, how long before our government is inundated with law suits because the government usurped the parental role? When the children grow into adults and regret the decision they made, will they start suing? The protective arm of the parent(s) would have delayed a life-changing decision, but the government overrode parental rights and facilitated the ruining of the lives of our young people with surgeries and artificial hormones from which the damage cannot be reversed.

As a third example, “Ontario’s highest court ruled Wednesday that doctors in the province must give referrals for medical services that clash with their religious beliefs, calling it a compromise that balances the rights of physicians and the interests of patients. We are facing a shortage of doctors who take seriously the Hippocratic Oath, which reads in part: “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.” (Doctors have not had to swear the Hippocratic Oath in Canada since the late 1960s.)

Why did I bring up those three examples?

These are our fundamental freedoms as outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

1. freedom of conscience and religion;
2. freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
3. freedom of peaceful assembly; and
4. freedom of association.

Family Law in each province gives parents/guardians the right to make medical decisions for their child. Although, if the truth were known, this is a God-given right and cannot be taken by the state.

So again I ask, how are our fundamental freedoms doing in Canada?

We see, in my first example, court compelled speech, which flies in the face of freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression. We see a Canadian fined for using his free speech… not on the basis of truth but on the basis of “somebody had hurt feelings so somebody must pay for the hurt feelings.”

In my second example, we again see compelled speech. We also see the loss of freedom of expression and government usurping parental rights, which damages the most basic of social institutions…the family.

The third example shows the freedoms of conscience and religion being quashed under the weight of government compelled actions for professionals. Those doctors who swore the Hippocratic oath, and took it seriously, are being required by our government to violate their oath… a definite violation of their right to freedom of conscience.

If you’re still not concerned and ready to start fighting for your rights consider this:

- Ontario, does not allow any pro-life message within 50 metres of an abortion clinic and, upon request, an abortifacient provider or an abortion provider. Is that freedom of peaceful assembly?

- Nationwide, public educators are forcing a sexual, political agenda on our children, stripping the parents of their authority to say they do not want their children indoctrinated with sexual messages that are contrary to their religious or personal feelings.

These are just a few of the areas where the CCRF is no longer protecting our freedoms. It now serves as a reminder of an ideal for which our soldiers fought and paid the ultimate price.

The question has to be asked, “So what are you going to do about it?” CHP Canada is committed to defending our rights. We face Election 2019 committed to that defence. But, we need you to commit also. We need your help.

Today, set yourself the task of being politically active through Oct 21, election day. Whether as a candidate or part of the team, take up your challenge. We aren’t asking you to pay the ultimate price, just give the next five months to preserve a free society for future generations.

Join the battle today!