Transparent heart icon with white outline and + sign.

Life's busy, read it when you're ready!

Create a free account to save articles for later, keep track of past articles you’ve read, and receive exclusive access to all RP resources.

White magnifying glass.

Search thousands of RP articles

Helping you think, speak, and act in Christ.

Open envelope icon with @ symbol

Get Articles Delivered!

Helping you think, speak, and act in Christ. delivered direct to your Inbox!

News

Saturday Selections – June 6, 2026

When a famous apologist dismisses the Bible...

William Lane Craig is such an acclaimed apologist that many a conservative Christian has heard him praised. But when it comes to Craig's thoughts on the opening chapters of Genesis, Donall and Conall have some problems with him.

Why wokeness is a Christian heresy

"First... critical theory misunderstands who we are by assuming that the only relevant fact about us is where we fit within the various categories of oppression. We are the group we belong to, which serves a social role as either oppressor or oppressed. As such, this theory rejects any universals that unite humanity, including the image of God.

"Second, the understanding of sin, or what’s wrong with the human condition, is limited to oppression. In this view, oppressors are guilty and the oppressed are innocent."

Push for mandatory abortion for pregnant minors highlights what's going on behind the scenes

One mistake frequently made in the abortion battle is that we forget what the other side wants. If we were debating Nazis, we wouldn't forget that they want to gas Jews. But when we discuss abortion, we regularly forget that the people we are talking to want babies murdered. We forget that the other side isn't just wrong, but is evil. I don't say that to foster hatred, or anger, but rather to highlight that this isn't some polite debate between two parties looking to each score their points. This is a spiritual battle that needs a spiritual response. We need to speak not just logic, but preach the gospel. When a monstrous wrong is called a right, people shouldn't get told to reconsider, but need to be called to repent.

And if you have any doubts about the spiritual aspect of this battle, then read this article, where the evil is even more unvarnished, with a British Columbia (what is it about BC?) philosophy professor pushing for mandatory abortion for pregnant minors.

Tim Challies: Go ahead, bring a knife to a gunfight

"You may wish you had the sword of compelling argument, the rapier of sharp and thrusting wit, or the spear of the perfect put-down. However, God may not have gifted you in any of these ways. Yet there is always something you can do, and there is always some weapon you can wield. Don’t sit around pining for what you don’t have, but resolve to use what you do have...."

End supply management – for the sake of Canadian consumers

Why do Christians want a free market rather than socialism?

Well, one good reason is, we know only God is omniscient, so the government simply doesn't have the capacity to know how much of everything should be produced, and who should get how much, and for what price. Meanwhile, Canada's supply management operates under just those presumptions. In the name of helping farmers, it limits what farmers can produce to deliberately drive up the price of their goods. And who pays that price?

"According to a Fraser Institute estimate, supply management adds roughly $375 a year to the average Canadian household’s grocery bill. Because lower-income families spend a much higher proportion of their income on food, the burden falls most heavily on them."

Another solid biblical reason to oppose socialism? We are called to "Do unto others as you would want done to you" (Luke 6:31). If it doesn't strike you as wrong that poor families are being forced to support farmers by being required to pay artificially higher prices, imagine if the same was happening to your own favorite goods: your car, your house, or your jeans. Have you thought about how helpful it would be for those goods' producers if they were making more money off of your purchases? So why not get the government to restrict production there too, so that prices will rise? Wouldn't such government intervention be good for every producer? So why not make it universal?

Because it would hurt consumers enormously.

And it would hurt producers too – anyone who had any inputs in their production process would be paying higher costs for everything, making their own goods less competitive on any international markets. It would hurt consumers and it would hurt productivity.

So why would do we think it a good idea for eggs and dairy?

A presuppositional rock song

This could make a good final exam for our Christian schools – to graduate you must be able to understand and apply what this rock song is talking about.

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Saturday Selections – May 16, 2026

Athanasius vs. Arius, the rap battle Athanasius offers up a hard-rocking right.... "I've never seen a problem so solvable!" – parents hold the key to their kids' literacy Between a fifth and a third of Canadian adults struggle with basic literacy – the reading level that allows you to fill out a job application. So what's to be done? The head of Indigo Canada wants parents to keep their kids away from screens. Making the case for a 6-day creation to seminary students Creation Ministry International – the folks behind Creation.com, one of the world's top creationist websites – is crafting a video course specifically intended for seminary students. They want to reach the next generation of pastors to challenge and encourage them to trust God's Word from the very first chapter of the Bible. Why do 60% of US youth say they prefer socialism? ...because they've forgotten the lessons learned from the past. And because the Church isn't teaching them the same lessons from God's Word. Ben Sasse shows us the difference between dying with dignity and “death with dignity” Ben Sasse is dying publicly, to the glory of our God, using the little time he has left to speak of the comfort he has in his Redeemer. And as James Wood put it: "In a culture that kills to avoid hardship and hides death to avoid reckoning, a man dying well on high-profile platforms is a subtly radical act. He is, without quite saying so, making an argument for life – for its dignity, its giftedness, its meaning even at the last." Do we have it worse than our parents and grandparents? John Stossel notes that in the 1950s homes were smaller, cars were a lot less nice, and we didn't live nearly as long. It is important for Christians to be able to count our blessings – one of the sins of Israel was forgetting how God had blessed them (Ps. 106:7,13,21-22) – and it is one of the tricks of the Devil to have us be ungrateful. Being grateful doesn't mean we have to view the present with rose-colored glasses and go all Pollyanna on today's problems. Inflation has made food more expensive. Homes are more expensive than they were 10 years ago. But let's not let ingratitude blind us to how God continues to provide for us and our church communities too. ...

Red heart icon with + sign.
Homosexuality, News

Opposing rainbow crosswalk results in human rights trial

Ronald Reagan once shared a quip about the difference between his country and the totalitarian USSR. “Two Soviets… were talking to each other. And one of them asked, ‘What’s the difference between the Soviet Constitution and the United States Constitution?’ And the other one said, ‘That’s easy. The Soviet Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of gathering. The American Constitution guarantees freedom after speech and freedom after gathering.” Here in Canada, we still have freedom of speech, but, it seems, no guarantee of freedom after speech. An Alberta woman is facing a two-week hearing before the Alberta Human Rights Commission for distributing flyers opposing the Town of Westlock’s plan to paint a rainbow crosswalk. Benita Pedersen created the flyers in June of 2023, in an effort to encourage other citizens to reach out to their elected officials and oppose the crosswalk. “Based on my personal experiences in interacting with parents and children, I have learned that the practice of ‘gender affirmation’ harms kids more than it helps,” she explained to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF). “When I composed the flyer, one of my objectives was to warn parents about the potential consequences of children pursuing the pathway of transgenderism.” She added that the way to solve problems is “by having open conversation.” Others disagree, and human rights commissions make it easy to shut down speech they don’t like. In this case, fellow citizen Laurie Hodge took offense and filed a human rights, stating that the flyer discriminated on the basis of gender, gender identity, and gender expression. Hodge has since become a member of the Westlock Town Council. The wheels of “justice” turn slowly. In October of 2025, the Director of the Alberta HRC referred the complaint to the province’s human rights tribunal, finding that there was a sufficient basis to proceed with the hearing. Human rights commissions and tribunals were under the public eye 15 years ago, in light of complaints against high-profile figures like Ezra Levant, Mark Steyn, and against Maclean’s magazine. Complaints were made on the basis of hurt feelings. Even if there was no conviction, the process of responding to a complaint – involving tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills and years of hassle – was itself a punishment. The passage of a private member’s bill in 2012 to reform the Canadian Human Rights Act seemed to settle the commissions down. But the recent decision from the BC Human Rights Tribunal to fine school trustee Barry Neufeld $750,000 for speaking against “sexual orientation and gender identity” (SOGI), as well as this case in Alberta, suggest that the sleeping giants are awaking. Let’s not be caught sleeping ourselves. ARPA Canada took a lead in responding to the challenges 15 years ago, and continues to speak out today. We care so deeply about freedom of speech and expression not because our opinions are so important, but because God’s truth is. We love our neighbors, so we want and need to be free to share what God says is best for them and everyone. Find Pedersen's flyer at the end of the human rights complaint shared here....

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Saturday Selections – May 9, 2026

Morality is just preferences? In this exchange Andrew Wilson fully embraces the "devil's advocate" role, adopting his opponent's worldview fully, only to then drive it into the ditch. This isn't a "gotcha" moment (okay, maybe a bit of one) so much as, what other response can she have? Elders are competent to counsel Christians underestimate the wisdom God has given us in His Word. Christians also overestimate the wisdom of the world. We think we need to turn to the "experts" in matters of counsel, even though these are the folks who say that boys can become girls, sex before marriage is fine, homosexuality is just another lifestyle (and doesn't lead to incontinence), and life doesn't begin until you are born. Pop music seems to be getting sadder each year An analysis of the Billboard Hot 100 had "heartbreak" songs doubling from 30 percent in 2015 to 58 percent in 2025. As this article notes, that doesn't mean there isn't upbeat music being made – it's that what's moody is more popular these days. The dying advice of Ben Sasse Ben Sasse was welcomed onto 60 Minutes because he is a former US senator and he is dying and very willing to talk about it. And that includes sharing where, or rather with Who, his hope is found. Jonathon Van Maren shares his dying advice, well worth hearing: "He wishes he had honored the Sabbath more. He didn’t skip church but was consistently tempted to excuse work in the afternoon. 'I wish I’d treated the Lord’s Day differently over the course of my life.' He added that he wishes he had guarded better against 'digital intrusions into the Sabbath.' "Family dinnertime should be prioritized. 'Dinnertime is precious,' he said. 'Man, lock up your devices and keep them away from the table and prioritize that time.' "....People should live in 'thick communities'—especially, if possible, near family. 'Family compounds,' Sasse said. 'Like, have more cousins and figure out how to live thick with them. There are so many times when we optimize around things that are not nearly as important as family thickness. Boy, I wish we lived down the block from my folks.' If he had more time, he said, he would be brainstorming how to create a family compound with his own children and their families." 5 myths about Heaven A couple of the big ones tackled are that Heaven is our home where will live forever more, and nothing we do here on earth really matters because it will all be forgotten. For more, Real Talk did a great podcast on Heaven with Dr. den Hollander. Crowder's Grave robber Can a dead man respond to God's call? No, he needs to first be made alive! ...

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Federal spending increases under Carney

To make a diamond dazzle, a skilled jeweller will slip a black cloth under it. The federal government pulled a similar tactic with its Spring Economic Update, setting the current state of the economy in the context of the ongoing instability in the world. In spite of trade disruptions with the USA, conflict in the Middle East, and fragile global supply chains, the government was keen to showcase that Canada’s economy grew by 1.7 percent in 2025 and is expected to have the second-fastest growth in the G7, next to the USA. But a careful examination shows a less dazzling picture. The deficit for 2025 is a staggering $66.9 billion, with no end to deficits in sight. The federal government is already $1.3 trillion in debt, and is on track to pile up $309 billion more in total debt by the end of this decade. Our cost to service all our debt is projected to increase from $54 billion this year, to $81 billion by 2030-31. History backs up the instruction from Proverbs 22:7 that “the borrower is a slave to the lender.” Just like family debt handcuffs a household from pursuing opportunities they might otherwise want to pursue, the same is true for countries. We severely limit what we can do when we have to pay billions, not even to pay off the debt, but just to pay the yearly interest.  But the federal government emphasizes that we are doing better than most G7 countries. After 9 consecutive budget deficits under Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Carney promised: “what we will do is to focus on reducing spending, if I’m elected…. The essence of this is to spend less, and invest more.” When we hear our government wants to spend less to allow for more investment, we might conclude that means spending cuts will be accompanied by tax cuts to leave the private sector with more of their money. They can then invest those newly available funds in their businesses. But that’s not what Carney means by “spending less.” His plan is to have the government spend much more overall, but label some of it “investing.” Neat trick, but let’s not fall for it. His new Economic Update reveals a plan to increase spending by $83.2 billion more than the Trudeau government planned from 2025/26 through 2029/30....

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Saturday Selections – April 25, 2026

Why Johnny can't read: not enough phonics Phonics is a part of the solution, but two other key ingredients are, first of all, more parental involvement – to become readers, your kids need to be read to. Parents, whether you homeschool or don't, God has appointed you as your children's teachers (Deut. 6:4-9). Secondly, we need to end the public system, where the State and teachers' unions take on a role God gave to us, pretending to know our children better than we do. Imagine if instead of one school system, individual schools had to compete for students: they'd have to market their results, and parents could then choose from among a menu of schools what was best for their particular child. Instead, governments across North America have decided they know what's best for everyone, and have inflicted learning experiments on children in state-wide and province-wide fashions. Then, if the experiments fail, it isn't just a few children that are impacted but children en masse who are hurt. Wealth "gap" in Canada mostly an age gap The world touts any wealth inequalities between groups as a reason to forgo the 10th Commandment and envy what our rich neighbors have. Envy is, in this scenario, painted as virtuous, because their envy is motivated by a wish to help the less fortunate with the money our neighbor has. But what if we noticed that most of the rich are also old? And most of the poor are poorer because they are younger, and most will be better off in time? That would undercut the momentum to pillage the rich, wouldn't it? Why more legal suicide? Because otherwise suicidal people will kill themselves. The Left doesn't reason, they just emote, such that they don't even need to make sense. Their latest argument for expanded access to euthanasia? Well, "as the National Post succinctly put it: 'Canada told mentally ill must be euthanized lest they kill themselves.'”  Actress Christina Applegate shows that liberals know it is a baby  Pro-life Christians often approach the issue of abortion like it's a matter of education, rather than proclamation – that it's due to an information deficit, rather than being a sin problem. But that forgets what the devil does. Sure, he uses miseducation too, but always to pursue his sinful ends – as this article shows, abortion is very much a spiritual issue Appreciating the Irreducible Complexity of the human foot We are amazed at the brilliant engineering of the Roman arch, but what of the foot that has 3 separate arches integrated in its design? We are indeed wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14)! The secret religions in your favorite movies (4 min) Expressive individualism – your feelings should be your guide as to what is good, and true, and right – is being pitched at our kids. But what does Jesus say about following our heart (Luke 9:23)? (This one ends abruptly, like there were another 5 seconds cut off, but by then her point is made.) ...

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

9 in 10 Canadian women in their 20s who “practice a religion” are now childless

Canada is now among South Korea, Japan, Italy, and a small number of other “ultra-low fertility” countries, with a total fertility rate below 1.30 children per woman. As of 2024 (the most recent year where we have data), our fertility rate dropped to 1.25 children per woman. A fertility rate of 2.1 is needed to keep a population stable, while a fertility rate of 1.25 would halve the population in two generations, and leave just a quarter behind in just three. Earlier this year, Statistics Canada provided a report with more detail. Among other startling findings, they found that 9 in 10 women in their 20s do not have children. This decreases to 43.2% of women in their 30s and 23.6% in their 40s. The average age of mothers at the birth of their first child has increased to 31.8 years. In spite of these low numbers, 66% of women in their 20s who don’t have children say that they would like to in the next few years. This intention held relatively constant among those who were university graduates or not, employed or not, and married or not. In other words, while most young women say that they would like to have children, the vast majority are not receiving or pursuing this blessing in their 20s. They also found that women who “practice a religion” are more likely to have children, though that is only noticeable after the age of 30. Only 11.1% of “practicing” women in their 20s have children, which is actually lower than “non-practicing” (11.9%). How “religious” are these practicing women? The study defines practicing a religion as “participating in religious activities in the year preceding the survey, excluding events such as weddings or funerals.” That’s a very low bar, so, this category includes a lot of people who might not be making God their priority. But imagine what could happen if all God’s people did make Him and what He says our first priority? God’s first words to humanity were to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). This flies in the face of the prevailing worldview of today, focused on doing what works best for me. When this is combined with contraception and abortion, the result is sex but very few children. Increasingly, the decision to welcome the gift of children, when God provides them, is one of the most counter-cultural choices to be made. But it is also the lifeline for future generations and the means by which God’s kingdom comes. Imagine what would happen if Christ’s church welcomed the gift of children, while the world continued with this trajectory....

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Saturday Selections – April 18, 2026

The universe is God's canvas Art is hard to define, but an artwork can tell us a lot about the artist... or the Artist. Survivor - they had to live without phones! Even if you've never watched Survivor, you probably have an inkling about what this TV game show is about – it pits a group of castaways against each other to see who can outlast the rest. But there is a difference from when it started – one of the biggest shocks for contestants today might be living without their smartphones for a month. In this article, one of the contestants highlights how she was happy without it, and yet felt pulled back into that screen world when she returned. But, As Trevin Wax highlights, some in the next generation are taking leadership to free themselves and others from this ball and chain. How Mark Carney could help Canadian NHL teams compete "...league commissioner Gary Bettman... likes to pretend taxes aren’t part of the reason that eight of the 12 teams competing for the past six Stanley Cups hail from states with 0 percent income taxes..." This article is just about hockey, but the point made is true for every business competing with companies in other, lower-tax, jurisdictions – government taxes hurt our competitiveness, which hurts what we can produce, which hurts our businesses and everyone employed by them. So, let's lower taxes for hockey players... and everyone else too. How to love your wife through the rough patches Good advice... The legacy of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth 20 years later His documentary was presented in university classes with religious fervor, not just in science, but even in the arts and humanities – kids got hit with it in English class. And, 20 years later, the catastrophic worldview it pitched is still a matter of fervor, not fact. I can only imagine A great song from a pretty good movie. ...

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Health-adjusted life expectancy plummets

Canadians can expect 3.5 fewer years of good health compared to a decade ago, according to recent data published by Statistics Canada. Life expectancy has increased steadily in Canada and throughout the world for many decades, though with a noticeable dip around the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. But it is one thing to live longer, and another to live healthier. The Statistics Canada report examined health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE), a measure of the number of years in good health an individual is expected to live. Comparing the period of 2000-2002 to 2010-2012, HALE increased by nearly two years, to 70.4. But fast-forward a decade later to 2023, and HALE has dropped to 66.9 years, erasing the gains from the previous decades. Factors that contribute to the drop include the thousands of annual deaths from drug overdoses, increased mental health challenges, increased obesity, more misuse of drugs and alcohol, and a strained healthcare system. Although other countries also experienced a drop, it wasn’t as significant. The World Health Organization reported a 1.6 year decrease for HALE during and after the pandemic internationally. And although Canada ranked 5th in the world in life expectancy in 1990, our ranking has plummeted to 25th today. The Statistics Canada study noted that Canadian females have a life expectancy of 84 years and a HALE of 67.7 years, while males have a life expectancy of 79.6 years and a HALE of 66.4 years. Scripture makes it evident that God sovereignly determines how many days we live (Ps. 139:16) and is the One who gives us health or takes it away (Jer. 30:17, Ps. 103:3). We also learn from passages like Proverbs 3:1-2 (“keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity”) that walking in line with God’s Word is good not just for our spiritual health but also our mental and physical health. This correlates with studies that find that those who regularly attend religious services live about four years longer than average and have a much lower (up to 33 percent less) risk of death at any given moment....

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Saturday Selections – Mar. 21, 2026

Make college less expensive by making it less expansive? When colleges were Christian it made sense that they had certain basic courses that would be required of all students. While it would be arguable then too what those basics should all be, understanding that God's fingerprints are everywhere evident gives a basis for His people to want at least an overview of the broad topics of music, arts, athletics, history, math, logic, and maybe more. But when colleges aren't Christian, and those in charge can't even understand that boys can't become girls, we know better than to believe they have the wisdom to know what core subjects all students should be exposed to. The many problems with BC's human rights regime The Devil will try to obscure, confuse, and hide or, as is happening here, silence the truth, because he can't beat it. Now, God's Name is holy, thus there are also Christian reasons for some restrictions on speech. But the case for broad freedoms of speech is actually this Christian one: We aren't worried about protecting God's Truth. We know it isn't fragile, so it doesn't need to be protected with protective speech codes. And we understand that the Holy Spirit uses people, and the dialogues we have, to bring people to Him, thus people need to be free to propose even errors, so they can be corrected and exposed. But the more our culture turns their back on God, and His 10 Commandments, the more they, as Chesterton put it, will govern by their 10,000 commandments – laws and restrictions without end, governing not just actions, but speech, thoughts, and feelings. If Christianity isn't true, then why the outrage at Epstein? "...modern pagans despise Christian sexual morality, but they are also forced to borrow from it as they condemn the kind of horrific treatment of women and children revealed in the Epstein files. The 'uncomfortable truth about the Epstein accusations,' as Paul Anleitner posted on X, is that… 'We only find them morally reprehensible because of Christianity.'" Elders are competent to counsel Christians underestimate the wisdom God has given us in His Word. Christians also overestimate the wisdom of the world. We think we need to turn to the "experts" in matters of counsel, even though these are the folks who say that boys can become girls, sex before marriage is fine, homosexuality is just another lifestyle (and doesn't lead to incontinence), and life doesn't begin until you are born. Christians stand up for a Sikh in court The Sikh didn't want to swear a loyalty oath to the queen because he said it would conflict with his oath to "Akal Purakh and to his spiritual guides" to which his religious convictions say he owes sole allegiance. The courts initially said that swearing loyalty to the queen didn't violate his religious belief because swearing loyalty to the queen wasn't really about swearing loyalty to the queen. Hmmmm.... The courts could have concluded that the Sikh's stand just couldn't be accommodated, but this excuse about there being no conflict was relativistic nonsense, pretending that words don't mean what they clearly do. So the Christian Legal Fellowship was happy to intervene. The Canadian government is now deciding who's a journalist The media are said to be a watchdog for the governed, holding to account the governors. But what if that government started subsidizing the press, but only the reporters it favored? And what if "the government is not just subsidizing the press, it is defining it and accrediting it"? Then what we have is a clear attempt by the government to turn the people's watchdog into the government's lapdog. See also below Conservative MP Rachael Thomas talking to former CBC host Travis Dhanraj about how Conservatives were specifically excluded from being given time. https://youtube.com/shorts/oAT5G0QBxqg?si=zMCrdlBSY73thN6S...

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Alberta introduces law to restrict euthanasia

On March 18, Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery rose in the Alberta legislature to introduce Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act. “It is my hope that if Bill 18 is passed, it will set an example for the rest of Canada, because hope should always be easier to access than death.” With this bill, Alberta is set to become the first Canadian jurisdiction to formally restrict euthanasia in Canada. This is big news and a massive win for pro-life advocacy in Canada. While the media, government bodies, and legislators have signaled concerns about euthanasia, there has been little appetite to reverse course. Until now. What does Alberta’s Safeguards Bill do? The Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act restricts euthanasia in many ways. First, Bill 18 will prohibit doctors from murdering any of their patients who are not nearing natural death. Euthanasia was initially legalized only for those whose natural death was “reasonably foreseeable,” but it was also legalized for non-terminal conditions in 2021. Alberta’s bill turns back the clock and clarifies that Medically-Assisted Death (MAD) will only be available for people with a prognosis of natural death within 12 months. Second, Bill 18 will prohibit euthanasia for people with mental illness as their only underlying condition. As of right now, euthanasia for mental illness is scheduled to become legal across Canada on March 17, 2027, although this expansion has been delayed a couple of times and there is a federal bill right now that proposes to scrap this expansion entirely. Alberta’s legislation means that no matter what the federal government does about euthanasia for mental illness, it will not be offered in Alberta. Third, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act bans healthcare providers from initiating a conversation about euthanasia or advertising euthanasia in medical facilities. If assisted suicide is offered or advertised in hospitals, patients may feel pressured or encouraged to consider it. If passed, Bill 18 would allow health professionals to talk about euthanasia only if the patient brings it up first. Fourth, this legislation would codify conscience rights into law. It allows medical professionals not to provide euthanasia, assess a patient’s eligibility for euthanasia, or refer a patient to a euthanasia provider against their conscience. Bill 18 would also protect healthcare facilities’ freedom to opt out of providing or participating in euthanasia. This is increasingly an issue for faith-based institutions that want to provide care without murdering their patients. Fifth, this proposal would establish better oversight over euthanasia. Although euthanasia is still an exception to murder in Canada’s Criminal Code, governments have implemented very little oversight to ensure that existing rules are followed. Bill 18 will establish better oversight, review euthanasia deaths, and impose professional penalties for failure to follow criminal or provincial regulations. Sixth, the bill cracks down on “doctor shopping.” Right now, if a person is refused euthanasia by one doctor, they seek out another doctor who will approve their request. For example, in 2024, a woman who was refused euthanasia by her doctors in Alberta was later approved for euthanasia by a doctor in British Columbia. Bill 18 will prohibit doctors from referring a patient to a doctor in another province. Those are the biggest changes Alberta is proposing, though the legislation contains even more restrictions on medical assistance in dying. How can you respond? This legislation is the most pro-life legislation introduced by a sitting government since Brian Mulroney’s failed abortion bill over 35 years ago. While the bill is very likely to pass in Alberta’s majority government, it is still a good idea to send a note to your MLA urging him or her to support this legislation if you live in Alberta. You can also thank the Premier and the Minister of Justice for their leadership on this issue. Those who live outside Alberta should also reach out to their MPP/MLA, health minister, and premier to ask them to introduce similar legislation. Bill 18 only applies in Alberta. But every suffering person deserves these safeguards against euthanasia, no matter their postal code. Proverbs 24:11 counsels us to “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” While Reformed Christians shouldn’t rest until euthanasia is outlawed entirely, Alberta’s Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act will certainly rescue many and try to hold back many more. Top photo is, from left to right, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Justice Minister Mickey Amery, and an Ontario doctor who also spoke, as they announce to reporters Bill 18’s euthanasia restrictions. Photo is by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta and used with the government’s permission....

Red heart icon with + sign.
News

Hundreds of Reformed Christians gathered on Parliament Hill to protest Bill C-9

Last week, ARPA Canada hosted a rally on Parliament Hill calling on the federal government to halt Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act. Despite cold temperatures and blustery winds, approximately 400–450 people gathered on the Hill to show their concern about the legislation. Supporters travelled from across Ontario to take part, including more than 200 people who came from Southern Ontario by coach bus. With the help of local ARPA chapters, four coach buses were organized to bring supporters to Ottawa and back in a single day. For many participants, this made it possible to attend the rally who otherwise would not have been able to make the trip. We were thankful to have Rev. Joel Dykstra, Mr. Rod Taylor of the Christian Heritage Party, and Christine Van Geyn of the Canadian Constitution Foundation as guest speakers. The rally also drew the attention of federal lawmakers. At least thirteen Members of Parliament attended the event. Eleven MPs stood together on the podium when MP Jacob Mantle and MP Andrew Lawton spoke to those gathered. Planning for the event began in January, long before it was clear when Parliament would be addressing Bill C-9. Providentially, the rally took place during the same week that the House of Commons voted to end debate on the bill and move it forward in the legislative process. The bill will now return to the House for third reading, and a vote is expected on March 23 or 24. This brief delay provides Canadians with additional time to engage with their Members of Parliament about the legislation. We encourage everyone to contact their federal MP, whether by email or phone call. Information and action steps are available here. Our primary concern with Bill C-9 relates to an amendment during the committee stage. While the bill, as originally introduced, raised fewer concerns than previous hate-speech bills, a Justice Committee amendment removed the “good faith religious defense” from the Criminal Code. This defense had previously provided protection for those expressing sincerely held religious beliefs. Without that safeguard, there is concern that Christians and others could face greater legal risk for expressing biblical perspectives on moral and identity-related issues. Even beyond potential prosecutions, such legislation can create a “chilling effect,” where individuals choose to remain silent rather than risk legal consequences. For Christians, the concern is not merely political but principled. Scripture calls believers to love their neighbors while also speaking truth faithfully and with humility. The ability to express those convictions openly remains an important part of living out that calling in public life. Picture graciously supplied by ARPA Canada....

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32