Every Tuesday during the campaign, we will release a short podcast episode discussing the election campaign, chatting about the issues at stake in the election, and doing all that we can to educate, equip, and encourage Reformed Christians in Canada to cast an informed ballot.
Episode 1: What’s at stake?
Episode 2: Is the Liberal honeymoon waning?
Episode 3 – Why this election matters for the preborn.
Episode 4 – Poilievre and Carney talking gender, abortion, and euthanasia. Any of it promising?
As the federal parties head into an election campaign, join us in asking them questions on various issues of concern to Reformed Christians in Canada. Some key issues, relevant history, and example questions are listed below.
Euthanasia (Medical Assistance in Dying/MAiD)
More than 60,000 Canadians have died by euthanasia since it was legalized in 2016. Expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition is currently scheduled for March 2027.
Recommendation
While we would like to see euthanasia prohibited entirely, focus on asking each party to repeal the mental illness expansion and the expansion of euthanasia to people who are not dying.
Talking Points
• Canada needs to promote suicide prevention and life-affirming care for all.
• Offering euthanasia as a “solution” for disability or chronic illness devalues the lives of those living with these conditions and reduces incentives to improve treatments.
Questions
• Do you agree that all Canadians should be provided with suicide prevention and life-affirming care, regardless of age, disability, or mental health?
• Are you opposed to expanding euthanasia to Canadians with mental illness?
• Will you prohibit euthanasia for Canadians who are not nearing natural death?
Where the Parties Stand
Green Party
Supported cancelling the expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness (Bill C-314).
Supported Bill C-7 (2021), which expanded euthanasia to people with disabilities at 3rd reading, but two MPs opposed the final version when it included a provision to expand euthanasia to those with mental illness.
Promises to expand paid leave for elder care needs, to support home care for seniors, and to create intergenerational cohousing for elders and youth.
NDP
Supported cancelling the expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness (Bill C-314).
Supported expanding euthanasia to people with disabilities (Bill C-7) at 3rd reading but unanimously opposed Bill C-7 following amendments to include expanding euthanasia to those with mental illness.
Liberal Party
Eight MPs supported cancelling the expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness (Bill C-314), but 136 opposed. Introduced and passed Bill C-39 and Bill C-62, delaying the expansion until 2024 and subsequently 2027.
Introduced and passed Bill C-7, which expanded euthanasia to people with disabilities. All but two Liberal MPs supported the bill at 3rd reading, and a third MP opposed the final version when it included a provision to expand euthanasia to those with mental illness.
Party policy states the party would provide home care funding and seek to shift focus from institutional care to Home Care models and include community supports.
Conservative Party
Introduced and supported cancelling the expansion of euthanasia to include mental illness (Bill C-314). Leader Pierre Poilievre has said he would cancel the expansion of euthanasia to mental illness, if elected.
Supports conscience rights for doctors to refuse to participate in euthanasia.
Would develop a National Palliative Care Strategy and adopt legislation to protect palliative care “which affirms life, regards dying as a normal process and excludes euthanasia and assisted suicide [MAID].”
CPC’s Policy Declaration “opposes euthanasia in principle” and opposes its extension to minors, mental illness, and those who are not dying.
Supports tax incentives for non-professional caregivers to look after the elderly or disabled in their homes.
Fifteen Conservative MPs supported expanding euthanasia through Bill C-7 at 3rd reading, while 103 opposed. Unanimously opposed the final version of Bill C-7 when it included a provision to expand euthanasia to those with mental illness.
People’s Party:
In 2022, leader Maxime Bernier stated that “MAiD is out of control” and that medical professionals offering euthanasia to the vulnerable should be held criminally responsible.
Christian Heritage Party:
Opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide and promises to ban it. Calls for pain control and palliative care to help patients who are suffering, rather than ending their lives.16 Supports freedom of conscience for medical professionals.
Pornography
Pornography is widely accessible online, even to children. It has serious impacts on individuals and society, including addiction, exploitation, and harm to healthy relationships.
Recommendation
Ask candidates if they will protect children through age-verification laws and hold pornography companies accountable for breaking the lawing.
Talking Points
• Pornography is addictive, causing similar changes to the brain as highly addictive drugs.
• Pornography is closely linked to sex trafficking.
• Other countries, including the UK, France, and multiple U.S. states, are implementing age-verification laws to protect children from pornography.
• The government must hold pornography and social media companies accountable for making pornography accessible to children.
Questions
• In what ways would you support the federal government limiting online pornography?
• How will you and your party seek to protect children from accessing online pornography?
• How will you seek to protect women and girls from the exploitation of pornography?
Where the Parties Stand
Green Party:
Supported the Stopping Internet Sexual Exploitation Act, a bill to hold pornography companies accountable for allowing illegal content on their sites (Bill C-270) at 2nd reading.
One MP supported age-verification for viewing pornography (Bill S-210) at 2nd reading, while the other did not vote.
NDP
Supported the Stopping Internet Sexual Exploitation Act (Bill C-270) at 2nd reading. Supports cracking down on online child pornography.
Supported age verification (Bill S-210) at 2nd reading.
Liberal Party
Supported the Stopping Internet Sexual Exploitation Act (Bill C-270) at 2nd reading. 15 MPs supported age verification (Bill S-210) at 2nd reading, but the rest of the party opposed it.
ntroduced its Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) to, in part, combat illegal pornography online.
Conservative Party
Leader Pierre Poilievre stated that his government would require that porn websites verify the age of users.
A Conservative MP introduced the Stopping Internet Sexual Exploitation Act (Bill C-270) and the entire party supported it at 2nd reading.
A Conservative MP sponsored the age verification law (Bill S-210) in the House of Commons, and the entire party supported it.
A Conservative MP introduced Bill C-412 to protect minors online and combat deepfake pornography.
People’s Party
Promises to remove pornographic content from schools and libraries.
Christian Heritage Party:
Supports the stringent regulation of pornography platforms or a complete prohibition on the distribution of pornography.
Abortion
Canada has had no law restricting abortion for 37 years. Since abortion was legalized in Canada, more than 4 million pre-born children have lost their lives to abortion. It is our responsibility to continue calling for justice for pre-born children who cannot speak for themselves.
Recommendation
The goal of ARPA’s We Need a Law campaign is to establish a law restricting abortion and recognizing the humanity of pre-born children.
Talking Points
• Canada is the only country in the world with no legal restrictions on abortion.
• Canada should be a country free from all forms of discrimination, including based on location, age, or sex. Abortion discriminates in all these ways.
• Science is clear that life begins at conception, yet our law is not. Our law needs to reflect the scientific fact that life begins at conception and protect pre-born children.
Questions
• Did you know that Canada is the only country that has no legal restrictions on abortion?
• Would you support legislation that would ban sex-selective or late term abortions?
• Would you support a law that would give tougher sentences to criminals who assaulted a pregnant woman?
Where the Parties Stand
Green Party
Promises to “ensure access to reproductive care across Canada.” Opposed Bill C-311, the Violence Against Pregnant Women act, which would have increased penalties for someone who commits violence against a pregnant woman.
NDP
Opposed Bill C-311, the Violence Against Pregnant Women act. Introduced a motion calling on the government to ensure equal access across the country to publicly funded abortion.
Liberal Party
Opposed Bill C-311, the Violence Against Pregnant Women act. Leader Mark Carney says he will proudly defend abortion.
Committed to protecting access to abortion and making abortion more affordable. Supports withholding healthcare funding from provinces which limit abortion access.
Conservative Party
Allows free votes on issues of life but promises that a Conservative government will not introduce or support legislation to regulate abortion.29
Party policy condemns sex-selective abortion and opposes funding abortion through foreign aid.
A Conservative MP introduced Bill C-311, the Violence Against Pregnant Women act, and the whole party supported it.
People’s Party
Promises to foster a national debate on abortion and to “challenge other parties to explain why they believe killing a healthy and viable unborn child is morally acceptable and should remain legal.” Promises to introduce legislation to restrict abortion after the first trimester except in exceptional circumstances.
Christian Heritage Party
Supports protecting human life from conception. Advocates for Criminal Code amendments to protect pre-born life. Would remove funding for abortion and provide funding to organizations that support women during crisis pregnancies. Would promote adoption
Free Speech / Hate Speech
In 2013, Canada repealed the hate speech provision of the Canadian Human Rights Act. This provision had often been used to bring complaints against Christians for bringing the truth of God’s Word to bear on political issues. In the last session of Parliament, the government tried not only to bring back this provision but greatly expand penalties for hate crimes in the Online Harms Act.
Recommendation
Request of candidates that their party not re-introduce a hate speech provision into the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Talking Points
• One of the four fundamental freedoms in Canada is the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression. We should expand freedom of speech rather than limiting it.
• The former hate speech provisions in the Canadian Human Rights Act allowed all sorts of frivolous and ridiculous complaints.
• The Online Harms Act would have allowed for people to be imprisoned for life for a hate crime in a time when far worse crimes seem to go virtually unpunished.
Questions
• Are you opposed to the re-introduction of a hate speech provision into the Canadian Human Rights Act?
• What will your party do to protect freedom of speech?
Where the Parties Stand
Green Party
Promises to strengthen laws against hate speech and hate groups.
One MP supported Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, and one MP opposed.36
NDP
Supported Bill C-11, which would regulate certain online content, at 3rd reading.
Called on the government to combat online hate speech.
Liberal Party
Introduced Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, which would amend the Criminal Code and Canadian Human Rights Act to combat hate speech.
Introduced and supported Bill C-11, which would regulate certain online content.40
Conservative Party
Stated opposition to the Online Harms Act (Bill C-63), and a Conservative MP introduced an alternative (C-412), focused on protection of minors online rather than broad hate speech restrictions.
Unanimously opposed Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, and have promised to repeal it.
Party policy states the party supports freedom of speech and expression and would seek to protect free speech on university campuses.
People’s Party
Promises to stop criminalizing speech, to promote free speech on the internet, and to prevent reinstatement of hate speech provisions in the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Also promises to repeal Bill C-11.
Christian Heritage Party
Promises to monitor human rights cases and ensure Charter rights are protected.
Condemned Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act.
Sex / Gender
In 2021, Parliament unanimously banned conversion therapy with Bill C-4. This banned “any practice, treatment, or service” designed to change someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It also claims Christian views of gender and sexuality are “myths and stereotypes.” The government of Canada established a plan in 2022 to spend $100 million to support LGBTQ organizations and promote gender ideology.
Recommendation
Canada’s conversion therapy ban must be repealed.
Talking Points
• Gender ideology simply isn’t true. It ignores basic biological distinctions between male and female. Governments should not be promoting gender ideology.
• The conversion therapy ban is absurdly broad. It bans trying to convince someone to change their behaviour and covers even conversations with counsellors or pastors.
• The conversion therapy ban threatens Canadians who encourage a traditional or Christian view of sex/gender in medicine or psychiatry with time in prison.
Questions
• Do you think it’s the government’s place to promote modern gender ideology?
• Would you commit to voting for legislation that would repeal Canada’s conversion therapy ban?
Where the Parties Stand
Green Party
Did not oppose unanimous consent on Bill C-4, which banned conversion therapy.
One Green MP voted in favour of the previous version (Bill C-6) and the remaining two Green MPs did not vote.
Promises to protect 2SLGBTQ2+ rights and access to ‘gender-affirming health care.’
NDP
Did not oppose unanimous consent on Bill C-4, banning conversion therapy.
The entire NDP caucus (save one absent member) voted in favour of Bill C-6.
Promises to defend Canadians’ ‘right to gender affirming care’ and to sustain funding for 2SLGBTQI+ organizations.
Liberal Party
Banned conversion therapy by introducing and passing Bill C-4.
The entire Liberal caucus (minus three absent members) also supported the previous Bill C-6 at its final reading.
Implemented the federal 2SLGBTQI+ action plan.
Conservative Party
A Conservative MP proposed unanimous consent on Bill C-4, which no MP opposed.
62 Conservative MPs opposed the previous version, Bill C-6, while 51 supported it.
Party policy states the party will prohibit life-altering medical or surgical interventions on minors to treat gender dysphoria.
People’s Party
Promises to repeal Bill C-4, defund groups that promote gender ideology, and prohibit puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and any form of bodily mutilation on minors.
Promises to protect women’s spaces from biological men, forbid biological men from participating in women’s sports, and remove federal funding for sex change surgery.
Promises to repeal Bill C-16, which added gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Christian Heritage Party
Opposes abusive conversion therapy and supports biblical body-affirming counselling. Strongly opposed Bill C-6 and Bill C-4.
States that the federal government must protect children from gender ideology and that parents are the primary educators of their own children.
Recognizes two biological genders (male and female) and states that taxpayers should not have to pay for attempts to artificially change gender.
Prostitution
Prostitution exploits vulnerable people. It is a grave injustice and an immoral trade. Parliamentarians have been given the responsibility to protect the vulnerable in our society and our current prostitution laws – which focus on prosecuting the purchasers of sex – is a good starting point in this regard.
Recommendation
Ask candidates if they will protect our current this legislation, strengthen it, and stand
firm in the event of future opposition.
Where the Parties Stand
Green Party:
Promised in 2019 to overhaul Canada’s prostitution law, but no recent promises made.
NDP
Opposed the adoption of Canada’s current prostitution law in 2014 and advocates for the decriminalization of prostitution.
Liberal Party
Party grassroots voted to decriminalize prostitution in 2018, but no recent promises made.
Conservative Party
Party policy states that the party “rejects the concept of legalizing the purchase of sex” and supports targeting the purchases of sexual services and third parties who profit from the purchase of sex.
Introduced Canada’s current law regulating prostitution in 2014.
People’s Party
No stated position.
Christian Heritage Party:
Strongly opposes the legalization or decriminalization of prostitution; supports Canada’s current prostitution law.
How Can You Get Involved?
Pick one of the questions that resonates with you and reach out to your local candidate. Here’s how you can make your voice heard:
Be Ready at the Door: Print off the attached PDF. When candidates come knocking, you’ll be prepared.
Send an Email: Reach out directly to your candidates to see how they respond to your question.
Call Their Campaign Office: A quick call can leave a lasting impression.
Attend a Candidate Debate: Engage directly with candidates and raise your question during Q&A sessions.
Visit an Open House: Your candidates will have various open meetings for voters that you can attend. Take a moment to ask them a question.
Download the full political party election guide and issues guide with questions below.
Political party election guide
Issues guide with questions
A GUIDE TO HOSTING ALL-CANDIDATES MEETINGS
All-Candidates Meetings are opportunities for local candidates and local voters to directly interact. Rather than simply hearing party leaders make promises, voters at all-candidates meetings can get to know the personal values and positions of their local candidates. Organizing all-candidates meetings are excellent opportunities for churches and Christians to focus discussion on key issues that matter to them, such as free speech, family law and conscience rights. We hope that this guide will help churches, ARPA chapters, and other Christian organizations host an all-candidates meeting of their own and positively shape the public discourse around election time.
