In the troubled times in which we live, it is sometimes difficult to find good news stories concerning the actions of those with whom we share the political stage. When we do, it calls for celebration!

Last week, Justice Minister and Attorney General, Peter MacKay, backed by Prime Minister Harper, waded into the current debate in regard to Trinity Western University’s battle to establish a law school. TWU’s proposed law school has been the target of vicious attacks by law societies in BC, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, all of which had said they would not accept future graduates of such a school due to TWU’s “student contract,” which set out standards of sexual behaviour for prospective law students. Adding fuel to the fire, an organization called “Legal Leaders for Diversity” had called on corporations to threaten to boycott legal firms employing lawyers not sufficiently committed to “diversity”—a catchphrase roughly translated as supporting every category of sexual lifestyle and orientation.

In a surprise move, Mr. MacKay declared that the government would uphold the right of TWU to set standards for its students and would oppose the efforts of the Law Society of Upper Canada (a government-chartered institution subject to the protections of the Charter) to discriminate against law students who graduate from TWU. We applaud this action by the government.

While Nova Scotia’s Law Society has already lost its case, legal challenges, obstacles, and costs for TWU remain. The reprehensible attempt to discourage anyone with Christian values from bringing sound moral values into the courts of this land has shown the brazen audacity of those for whom morality has become a term of contempt. It is understood—at least by those in the legal community—that aborting the career hopes of aspiring young Christian lawyers today would all but guarantee that future judges, including Supreme Court justices, would be drawn from a selected pool of non-Christian lawyers. When one looks at some recent Supreme Court decisions, one might almost conclude that this has already happened. The left, however, is not content to take anything for granted but must grind its heel on the possibility of sound moral values being restored in the courts.

Like all political parties, especially those not seated in the government benches, the Christian Heritage Party often exercises a responsibility to expose poor judgment on the part of the government or to provide an analysis of poor decisions. Sometimes our criticism points out a failure to act or to react to current events and trends. We generally offer advice to those at the helm and always point to our Better Solutions based on biblical principles (the same ones upon which Canada was founded, according to the Charter Preamble).

When the government does something right—when they speak up in defence of the vulnerable, in defence of morality, justice, and freedom—we want to show our support and thank them for their courage. That’s our shoutout to Prime Minister Harper and Justice Minister MacKay today: “Thank you for defending TWU’s right to establish a law school.” The BC government should follow suit and should reinstate its approval (rescinded under pressure) for the law school to go ahead. Discrimination against Christian lawyers and Christian educational institutions not only violates the intent of the Charter but it violates directly the only principles that can ever protect Canadian moral values. There’s a reason that our Charter’s Preamble included the words, “the supremacy of God and the rule of law.” It wasn’t just to add some flowery speech; it was to underscore the reality that God’s laws—written in our hearts and formally recorded in the pages of the Bible—establish principles of justice and equal treatment. These are the basis of democracy and respect for our fellow citizens.

So today we voice our approval of this singular action by this government. We commend wisdom and express our approval. May it be the first of many good decisions made in Ottawa. May it give TWU the encouragement to continue its struggle and may it tell the enemies of freedom, morality, and justice that Canada does not submit to bullies. Our future, our dignity, and our freedom are too important.

Join those who speak out to restore our heritage of freedom, equality, and justice equally applied. We are the Christian Heritage Party of Canada and we will not be silenced. Join today!

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