Justice committee  We appreciate the opportunity to appear before you this evening. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is a national association of evangelical Christians. We were intervenors in the Rodriguez and Carter cases and have appeared numerous times before parliamentary committees on r

Justice committee  Last, on the issue of protection and promotion of life, the Supreme Court recognized the sanctity of human life as a fundamental value of Canadian society in both the Rodriguez and Carter decisions. This underlying principle is what animates our society's commitment to universal

Justice committee  We believe it needs to be amended now, before it is passed, to make clear protection of conscience for both doctors and medical personnel, and also institutions that provide extended care on whose premises someone may request assisted death, should a law pass. Again, as I said i

Justice committee  We've talked to a number of constitutional lawyers, and they believe it is possible. Again, it would be coercion. I gave a couple of simple examples, but the idea would be that it would make it a criminal offence to coerce someone to undertake a certain action that is deeply con

Justice committee  As I said, it's in the context of the bill, as the justice minister and the health minister have said about making it a medically essential service. We already have the example of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which is requiring—

Justice committee  She said it in—

Justice committee  I was referring to the “whereas” and then the broader context of what the regime the government is planning to set up in the context of Bill C-14. That's what gives us a concern. Also, we have a live example of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which is right no

Justice committee  Good afternoon. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada welcomes this opportunity to address this committee on Bill C-51. Established in 1964, the EFC provides a national forum for the leaders and institutions of Canada's four million evangelicals and a constructive voice for bibli

Justice committee  Finally, and significantly for many faith communities in Canada, the removal of section 176 would communicate a lack of understanding and appreciation for the value and uniqueness of religious gatherings. Religious gatherings are distinct in character and purpose. They're not jus

Justice committee  Yes, it is. We believe there are elements of section 176 that are not replicated in other parts of the Criminal Code. Secondly, it would be symbolic: religion is unique in Canada, its expression is unique, and it therefore is deserving of unique and specific protection.

Justice committee  Yes.

Justice committee  A number of thoughts come to mind. Another witness will soon be before you—I just read their submission—and they would also point out that you referred to Criminal Code sanctions against assault, but there are also subcategories of different types of assault, which give different

Justice committee  Let me go back to thought, belief, conscience, and so on. One could make the argument, I guess, that religious freedom could be protected under freedom of conscience, freedom of belief, assembly, and so on. But it's not. Religion was distinctively added, recognizing UN declaratio

Justice committee  It could be a bit of both. It could be that not everyone is aware of section 176. Many of our churches had the same process as the Canadian Council of Churches. They became aware of section 176 through their conversations and dialogues. More and more have studied it, and, again,

Justice committee  Maybe we could put it this way. Many of the religious leaders I know would be very reluctant to move as far as the Criminal Code and prosecution; they would rather see if the issue could be resolved in a way that did not require criminal sanctions. Their effort would be to try to