News

By Brian Jenkins (Quebec Life Coalition) – Photo: goodluz/Adobe Stock

Sherbrooke – I've travelled to this eastern township community to bring the pro-life message for the next forty-days.

This is my fourth foray, having first come here in the fall of 2020 and every fall since and always for forty days.

The principal reason for coming to Sherbrooke is to coordinate the 40-day prayer vigil for the end of abortion. This is a twelve-hour daily activity, from 7am to 7pm, for forty consecutive days. While praying and offering love and support to abortion-bound mothers near one of the two local abortion facilities, those who accompany me also offer an educational facet to men and women who stop to exchange with us on the topic of abortion.

In addition, I have gathered locals over the past years to form Life Chains. This is a one-hour activity held on the first Sunday of October every year, from 2pm to 3pm. The next Life Chain is set for Sunday, October 6, 2024, and so far, 21 separate chains are getting ready to voice support in the public right of way in the province for the protection of unborn life.

Demonstration in Ottawa on September 20th, 2024.

By Augustin Hamilton (Quebec Life Coalition) - Photo: David Krayden/X

On September 20th, 2024, thousands of citizens in more than 50 cities across Canada demonstrated against the indoctrination of LGBT ideology in schools.

In Montreal, the march organised by the group Ensemble pour protéger nos enfants brought a substantial presence, including parents with their children and members of Quebec Life Coalition. The participants had to contend with an even larger and well-organised counter-demonstration, which repeatedly impeded the march's progress. This suggests that they were not mainly ordinary citizens who disagreed, but LGBT activists who are probably receiving funding from Justin Trudeau's government.

Participants in the 1 Million March 4 Children, Montreal, September 20th, 2024. - Photo: Arpad Nagy

Today marks the 6th day of our Fall 2024 fundraising campaign. We need your help to continue defending faith, family and life, from conception to natural death. Thank you for your prayers and financial support.

Last Friday, my Quebec Life Coalition colleagues in Montreal had the opportunity to participate in the Million March for Children, as part of a nationwide movement to oppose the indoctrination of gender ideology in our public schools. Our presence was important, but it was clear we faced significant opposition.

The counter-protesters were not only well-organized, but they also outnumbered the pro-family side at various points along the route, blocking the parents' path multiple times. Thanks to the excellent work of the police, tensions remained contained, but the situation underscored a crucial point: this was not an environment fit for young children, despite the admirable effort of parents who ensured their children’s safety amidst the chaos.

This counter-protest did not materialize by accident. Many of these activists are likely from LGBTQ+ organizations that benefit from large-scale federal funding under the Trudeau government. For example, programs like the Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan provide millions of dollars to support these groups and their initiatives. Meanwhile, the mainstream media media continues to frame their narrative, making it difficult for our movement to gain a fair hearing.

By Brian Jenkins (Quebec Life Coalition) - Picture: L'Odyssée de la Vie/YouTube

Sunday morning, I arrived at the vigil location, my prayer partner Denis awaiting my arrival. We chatted and after making a few prayer intentions began a rosary.

Despite being a Sunday morning, the vigil location, the intersection of Berri and St. Catherine Streets, was not deserted. One group that is drawn to this spot are the rideshare travellers, men and woman who come here to meet drivers that will take them to Ottawa, Quebec City and elsewhere.

Today, one traveller caught my attention. A petite young woman, about twenty-five years old, arrived shortly after I did travel bags in hand. Alone, I was surprised how close she stood or walked around Denis and me. She moved around, at times in front of Denis and I, at other moments, behind us, always maintaining a close distance to us.

No eye contact had yet been made between the young lady and me, not until standing some fifteen feet away, she gestured impolitely with her hand towards me. I took this as a sign of an openness to exchange.

“What do you think about abortion?” I asked. So began an exchange lasting until her driver arrived and she got in and left.

Photo : Freepik

Money was a recurring theme this past week with two women that the Quebec Life Coalition’s pregnancy support program is currently assisting.

On Saturday, Danielle reached out, asking if we could meet, and she gratefully accepted my offer to grab a few groceries. After a quick run to Maxi, I stopped by her place, where the conversation soon turned to finances. Danielle had borrowed some money from a friend to cover her rent and other essentials, but now her friend was asking for repayment. She wondered if QLC might be able to help with a thousand dollars to ease her burden.

Meanwhile, Mary, who gave birth in April, called me after a recent meeting with her immigration lawyer. Since she lives outside of Montreal, I thought it would be a good chance to catch up with her. We met downtown, her four-month-old in tow, and found a spot at a nearby McDonald's. As we navigated the messiness of our Big M's, the topic of her unpaid birthing fees came up. Mary, being in Canada on a visitor visa with no health insurance, was wondering if QLC could lend a hand.

But where are the fathers?

Pilgrimages are not only a testament to personal devotion, but also an embodiment of the spiritual values QLC upholds. In order to build a Christian society that respects faith, family, and life from conception to natural death, I want to bring to you today a little testimony of a journey together in prayer and penance. Our Lady of the Cape, known for her miraculous interventions, helps remind us of the sacredness of life in the simple Quebec society of the 19th century. This to me resonates to many of the challenges we face in society today.

The 100 pilgrims set off early on the Saturday morning. They just attended mass, ate a quick breakfast, took down their tents, and were off with the rising sun. They were following the statues of our Lady and of Saint Joseph, and carrying banners and a light backpack for the day.

Photo: Pilgrims leaving early in the morning. Source: A.N.

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that most of the callers asking for pregnancy support the Quebec Life Coalition receives are from women. however, on occasion, we do get the occasional call from a man.

The Quebec government plans to authorize advance euthanasia requests for people with serious illnesses, such as Alzheimer's, as early as this fall, even though the Canadian government has not amended the Criminal Code to allow such a thing.

On June 7, 2023, Quebec passed a law authorizing advance requests for euthanasia, but the law has not yet come into force. Now Quebec is talking about “moving forward”, citing a broad “consensus” among the Quebec population in the face of Ottawa's inertia on the issue.

It is to be feared that if Ottawa (all too happy, no doubt, to refrain from prohibiting in an area where it has itself had to temporarily step back) lets Quebec do as it did in 2015, other provinces will follow suit and override the Criminal Code, to the great detriment of vulnerable people. (Read our article about this development, here)

***

We held our annual corn roast last Saturday, despite a little rain. Like every year, we were delighted to meet our supporters and discuss a variety of topics with them.

***

In case you missed it, our colleague Arpad Nagy, director of political operations for Quebec Life Coalition, was in Hamilton participating in the Christian Heritage Party convention. At QLC, we're looking for ways to help this 100% pro-life party to make inroads in Quebec. Read Arpad's report here.

***

Below, you will find information on our upcoming events. Of special interest is the upcoming Life Chain on October 6th, because it is a simple opportunity for everyone to get involved. We are currently setting up our life chain locations, and if you are interested in helping out, please reach out to us!

By Brian Jenkins (Quebec Life Coalition) — Photo : StockPhotoPro/Adobe Stock

Many of you may not be aware that the Quebec Life Coalition operates a “pregnancy support service.”

The quotation marks are added to draw attention that we do more than helping young ladies who are experiencing hardship during their pregnancies. Yes, we do the latter but over the years this service has embraced to include mothers of newborns as well to support post-abortive women live with their irreversible decisions. Here are a few examples.

We met Danielle this past May 2024. She called us after having seen our internet notice asking whether we could purchase a bed for her. She had been sleeping on the floor in her apartment and as her pregnancy progressed, it was becoming ever more uncomfortable. So, on a Saturday afternoon, we met and walked over to a retailer not too far from her apartment. There, not only was a queen-size mattress purchase but also the box to go with it and the necessary bedding.

Blog post by Augustin Hamilton (Quebec Life Coalition) - Photo: aijiro/Adobe Stock

The Quebec government will allow advance requests for euthanasia for people with serious illnesses, such as Alzheimer's, starting this autumn, even though Ottawa has not changed the Criminal Code in this regard.

On 7 June 2023, Quebec passed a law authorising advance requests. Since then, it has asked Ottawa on several occasions to change the Criminal Code, but Ottawa still hasn't done so and doesn't appear to be doing so. Despite this, the Quebec government is still preparing to authorise doctors to apply advance requests. Léa Fortin, the media relations officer for the Seniors Minister, Sonia Bélanger, said: "We're going to be ready, we're going to move forward. What we want is for [the federal government] to change its Criminal Code, but if it doesn't, we'll work on our options in parallel," reports La Presse.

According to Léa Fortin, there is a broad consensus in Quebec on advance requests for euthanasia: "There is a consensus in Quebec. It's a transparent process, with patients, parliamentarians and professionals all agreeing to go ahead with MAiD". Not me, certainly. The Quebec government will be making announcements this autumn.

According to Patrick Taillon, constitutionalist and law professor at Université de Laval, Quebec can move forward on the issue of advance requests, reports La Presse :

"Who files the charges? It's the State of Quebec. And if the Quebec State says, by way of a directive, [...] when it respects our laws, we never file charges, then there won't be a problem," he explains.

The constitutionalist asserts that "Ottawa could not prosecute doctors" in Quebec who administer MAiD as part of an advance request.

Québec solidaire MPs Ruba Ghazal and Christine Labrie even wrote a letter arguing that Quebec could ignore Ottawa, as it did in 2015 with its first euthanasia law.

Like in 2015? At that time, the Carter decision decriminalising euthanasia had just been handed down and Ottawa had not yet passed legislation. The Supreme Court of Canada had given Ottawa one year to do so, suspending the application of its ruling. So Quebec was in breach of the Criminal Code when it passed its euthanasia law. And Ottawa did nothing, letting Quebec kill its citizens before it had even given the go - a deplorable precedent of inaction on the part of the federal government. Because I don't think Ottawa has no means of dealing with a province that doesn't comply with its Criminal Code. What the Quebec government is really counting on is undoubtedly, once again, Ottawa's inaction on an issue on which Ottawa itself is more than willing to move forward.

We can be sure that some other provinces will follow Quebec's example if Ottawa does not intervene.