Magazine, Past Issue
Mar/Apr 2026 issue
WHAT'S INSIDE:
- We’re excited to share the winners of this year’s brick building contest. Once again, we received hundreds of entries, and once again we hope that what’s featured here in the magazine will motivate you to go online to watch the contestants’ videos, which are a must-see! Check them out at ReformedPerspective.ca/bricks2026.
- Reformed Perspective’s Bucket List Book Club (the RPBLBC for short!) had its first two Zoom call meetings of the year (with 100+ participants) and it is never too late to join in. Go to ReformedPerspective.ca/BLBC to find out how to join our next Zoom call, and get more information on other books we’ll be reading this year.
- We have two feature articles this issue – the cover article on putting sports in its proper place, and "Blessed are the caregivers" on a role most of us will take on at some point in our lives, but, as with the Hoogerdyks, it may come when we aren't expecting.
We have three options for you to read the magazine. First up is the flipbook edition, with its turning pages. Below that, you can click the cover to view the pdf in your browser, or click here to download the PDF (14 mb)
INDEX: A business tithe on sales / Blessed are the caregivers / Can you build it better? Yes, you can! / Retirement: What are you retiring from? What are you retiring to? / The case against the draft / The beauty of 52 Sundays, or why we gave two years to bringing the Heidelberg Catechism to video / Carried / When sports is an idol / Life skills every high school graduate needs to know / Come and Explore: made in God's Image / In a nutshell / Proverbs: a different sort of devotional / Good, great, and gift: RP's 3 levels of best books / Why Reformed theology writes better fantasy / Great books for boys 10-13 / Business success channeled into kingdom growth / Anne deJong is taking a palette knife to the Rockies / When there is smoke... / Crossword / A theology of cleaning / How to catch Ice Age man using digital reindeer / More than the magazine / In Christ
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 of, from right to left, 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.
Today's Devotional
March 20 - Faith and its reward
“And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”” - Genesis 15:7
Scripture reading: Genesis 15:7-21
Yesterday, we saw that Abram believed God and God counted this posture of faith to him as righteousness. If we want to do justice to our relationship with God, we need to consider His promises to >
Today's Manna Podcast
A King of Justice
Serving #1152 of Manna, prepared by J. deGelder, is called "A King of Justice".
