News

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta asked for feedback on its policy on conscientious objection by Jan. 15, 2024. One of the proposed changes introduces “effective referrals” into the policy. Many doctors object to ending the lives of their patients through euthanasia and would object to providing an effective referral for it. The EFC made a three-page submission, which you can download as a PDF.

The EFC submitted a three-page brief on MAID for mental illness, to the Special Joint Parliamentary Commitee. This brief (aussi disponible en français) calls the government to halt or at least to a delay of the planned March 2024 expansion to allow legal euthanasia for reasons of mental illness alone without any additional safeguards. Download the bilingual EFC brief

The EFC calls attention to significant problems with the Canada Summer Jobs program in a six-page submission to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of People with Disabilities.The submission concludes: Canada Summer Jobs is a vital program that benefits many Canadians – the youth who are employed, the organizations that hire them and the communities they serve. Many faith-based organizations participate in the CSJ program an

Bill S-263 would require the federal government to maintain and update a national strategy to combat human trafficking. It specifies that the national strategy must include measures to empower and support survivors, increase prevention efforts, and increase the capacity of the justice system to identify and prosecute human trafficking cases. Senator Ataullahjan introduced Bill S-263 on May 9, 2023. Related resources Sample letter you can send to your MP (PDF, Docx)

Bill S-224 is a private members bill that was introduced in the Senate by Senator Salma Ataullahjan. It would have removed the requirement that a trafficking victim, or a person in those circumstances, must demonstrate they feared for their safety or the safety of a loved one. The bill would also have moved into the definition the additional considerations that exploitation includes coercion, the use or threatened use of force, deception, the abuse of a position of trust, pow

The EFC made a three-page submission to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women for its study on Human Trafficking of Women, Girls and Gender Diverse People. The EFC brief shared statistics on trafficking and discussed the connection between prostitution and sex trafficking. It recommended the government develop a permanent national strategy to combat trafficking, among other policy recommendations. Download it here.

The EFC and the World Evangelical Alliance have again jointly submitted a brief in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of human rights in Canada. (See the previous EFC/WEA submission from 2017.) Our 2023 UPR stakeholders report provides information to the international community on how Canada is meeting its human rights obligations and makes recommendations on how Canada can promote and protect human rights in Canada in the areas of: protection of persons with disabi

Bill C-314 would exclude a mental disorder from being considered a grievous and irremediable medical condition for the purposes of Medical Assistance in Dying. This would mean that no one would be eligible for MAID for mental illness alone MP Ed Fast introduced Bill C-314 in the House of Commons on February 10, 2023. Update: A vote on Bill C-314 was held Oct. 18, 2023. Bill C-314 was defeated 167-150, but an improvement compared to a similar vote in 2021 that was 184-148. Ple

Bill C-311 would make the abuse and harm of a pregnant woman a factor for judges to consider in sentencing. It would signal that harming a pregnant woman is a serious crime and may mean a longer sentence for those who commit violence against a pregnant woman. MP Cathay Wagantall introduced Bill C-311 in the House of Commons on January 31, 2023. It would specify that, in sentencing decisions, courts should consider whether offenders abused women they knew to be pregnant or cau