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Stopping traffic
Bill C-268, which will impose minimum sentences of five to six years on anyone
convicted of trafficking persons under age 18, was passed by the Canadian
Senate June 17, and will now become law. Previously, convicted traffickers have
received sentences as low as one week.
The bill, sponsored by Winnipeg area MP Joy Smith, was endorsed by a wide range
of law enforcement agencies, First Nations leaders and church and social
service agencies.
The U.S. government’s 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report recognized Canada as a Tier 1 country in meeting standards for taking action
against human trafficking – but also made recommendations for improvements.
Blockaid
The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the relief and development agency of
Mennonite churches, wrote to the U.S. and Canadian governments June 4 asking
them to support “an impartial and independent investigation into Israel’s deadly response to the Free Gaza flotilla on May 31.”
The letter also asked those governments to “work constructively within the international community to restore the normal
flow of goods and people through Gaza-Israel border crossings.” Daryl Byler, MCC’s representative in the region, said the blockade “is seen by many as collective punishment” after Palestinians elected a Hamas government in 2006.
Words rewarded
A number of B.C. writers were honoured at The Word Guild’s annual Canadian Christian Writing Awards gala June 16 in Mississauga, Ontario.
Carolyn Arends, from Surrey, won Best Inspirational Article for ‘The Benefit of Doubt’ (Faith Today); and Best Song Lyric for ‘Something Out of Us.’ John Redekop of Abbotsford won Best Short Feature for ‘Do wrong parties ever win?’
The prize for Best Article in the Children/Young Adult category went to Violet
Nesdoly of Langley, for ‘Slowest Mammal on Earth’ (Partners). Sandra Crawford of North Vancouver took the honour of Independently Published
Non-fiction for In the Arms of my Beloved: A Journey through Breast Cancer.
An Award of Merit was given to Victoria’s Ron Corcoran for The Bishop or the King.
Debra Fieguth of Kingston, Ontario – at one time the editor of this newspaper – took the prize for Long Feature Article, for ‘Human Trafficking: Tragedy and Hope’ (Faith Today).
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The politics of unbelief
There is a double standard in Canadian politics, Indian Affairs minister Chuck
Strahl recently told a gathering sponsored by the Canadian Council of Churches
and The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
He observed that there are frequent complaints about the influence of Christians
in politics – but not about the influence of atheists, even though atheism is also a matter
of faith.
Strahl, an evangelical, added that Jesus didn’t try to legislate or force people into the kingdom of God – and so Christians shouldn’t either. He said he tries to serve all members of his riding, not just
Christians, and that “good policy will resonate with all faiths.” – Canadian Catholic News
Training for freedom
The Catholic Civil Rights League, the Christian Legal Fellowship, REAL Women and
Focus on the Family Canada have formed the Faith and Freedom Alliance (FFA).
FFA hosted a conference for lawyers and law students June 3 – 5 in Toronto, called ‘The Christian Legal Intervention Academy.’ The conference offered free training in the expectation that conference
attendees provide at least 100 hours of pro bono legal work in defence of the
family, life and religious freedom over the next three years.
Out of the frying pan
Hedy Fry, Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, has rejected an
offer to debate abortion with Stephanie Gray, executive director of the
Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Fry had earlier told the CBC she was
ready to debate with anyone. Gray posted on Youtube a voicemail recording of
one of Fry’s assistants refusing the offer.
– Jim Coggins
July 2010
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