Photo Credit: media.canada.com

I am going to use John Baird as an example for this, since he is “openly” (debatable) gay, but also a member of a party that we associate being ideologically opposed to homosexuality. Ideologies are kind of like really old philosophical theories: They are based on a few central ideas, and then the ideas are applied to a huge variety of situations. Some central Conservative (not necessarily the party) ideas: preservation of society, minimal interference with society/small government, and allowing institutions to create stability.

Of course, none of those would be an election platform, but they become one once you apply them to certain issues. Using institutions to create stability could mean strengthening the justice system, preserving religion, or solidifying the education system. Minimal interference could mean lower taxes, legalizing drugs or prostitution, or eliminating human rights commissions. While many of these conflict (example: preserving society + legalizing currently illegal substances), all of these issues could easily be part of Conservative Party platform in another country for very valid reasons. And what exactly does this have to do with John Baird?
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Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has made a statement that Canada will not be apologizing to child migrants for our participation in the programs that shipped children from Britain. They were also known as “home children” and were forced to emigrate to British colonies, and although the programs were well-intentioned, many of the children were abused and essentially treated as slaves.

So, Australia has officially apologized for their role, and Britain has announced that they will make an official apology in 2010. And Jason Kenney, our dearest Immigration Minister, has stated that Canada will not be participating in this moral recall.
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The World Economic Forum released their annual report on the gender gap, with Iceland coming in first place and Canada ranking 25th overall. The study ranks countries on particular issues, and then uses these to create an overall ranking. Consider: Canada came in 10th for female economic participation with only 22 percent (up one percent from last year) of Canadian MP’s being female, compared to Iceland’s 40 percent.

Despite the low ranking, Canada did climb up six spots from last year’s report, and interestingly, the US fell 4 spots. Before this year, Canada had been sliding down the rankings by a few spots per year. Hopefully this rebound isn’t temporary.

The NDP sent out a press release criticizing the Conservative Party and immigration minister Jason Kenney for reducing the number of immigrants who will be accepted into the country in the upcoming year. The document claims that the 2010 numbers are being reduced to over half of the numbers from 2009, leaving out approximately 17,000 refugees who would otherwise have been able to come to Canada. Read the document here.

I came across an interesting study in regards to abortion. It was commissioned by the UN, so I would say it is a reliable study from a credible international organization.

It says that regardless of whether abortion is legal or not, abortion rates are essentially the exact same all across the board. I will repeat, whether or not abortion is legal in a country or not, the number of women who have abortions is not affected. Translation: criminalizing abortion doesn’t work.

And what does criminalizing abortion do? It kills the women who are trying to have them, because they then seek back-street abortions.

What has lowered abortion rates? Over time, countries that provide sex education and cheap access to birth control see a steady decline in abortion rates.
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It’s an oil rich area in Alberta, and apparently a cause for concern. Oil development in the region has had a huge impact for the people who live there – the Lubicon Cree.

To make a long story short: it’s disputed land, and statistically, the Lubicon Cree’s quality of life has decreased since the oil production began, now it resembles that of a third world country. Federal social service payments went from the primary income source of 10 percent of the population to 90 percent. There is a severe lack of running water and sanitation and health conditions are abnormally high as a result.

Traditionally, trapping was a source of income for a majority of the populace, but after the first year of oil development, wildlife all but disappeared.
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Last Tuesday, three sex workers in Toronto filed a federal lawsuit calling for the decriminalization of prostitution. Why? To protect sex workers. And they need it. The Toronto Police Sexual Crimes Unit estimates that an average of four or five sex workers are assaulted every night, and maybe 2% of the cases come to their attention.

The current laws that are in place make prostitution legal, but it is mostly hypothetical. The three sex workers who are fighting the case are arguing that decriminalization will allow them to hire bodyguards, operate their own brothels, and meet clients in safer places than on the street.

Mr. Morris has the duty of arguing for the crown, and so far has said that the law that prevents sex workers from communicating with future clients in public is to “curb an unappetizing spectacle”. What I don’t understand is what he said about its impact on children: “It is directly tied to a concern about children being attracted into prostitution. That is what happens when an 11-year-old is exposed to the sale of sex and is potentially attracted to it.” It feels a little hypocritical. It is too disgusting for the public…but children will see it and want to be sex workers when they grow up? I doubt it.
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