The Dominion Report is a weekly newsletter committed to bringing you the most important stories for Canadian Christians to consider as they seek to live faithful lives in the communities God has placed them in.

Conservative Party Disqualifies Pro-Life Candidate from Local Nomination Race

Story: The Conservative Party of Canada’s Candidate Selection Committee has barred a pro-life candidate from running for the Party’s nomination in the reliably Conservative riding of Oxford, Ontario. In a statement, the Party indicated that it had disqualified candidate Gerrit Van Dorland for “a failure to comply with the obligation to disclose required information during the candidate application process.” According to pro-life strategist Scott Hayward, however, “the party gave no reason for Gerrit’s disqualification.The real issue is that Gerrit is pro-life and more than likely to win the nomination.”

Arpan Khanna, a former member of Pierre Poilievre’s staff, is also competing for the nomination but may not have enough votes to defeat Van Dorland, who is believed to have more than 2,500 supporters—an eye-popping number for any local nomination contest. For his part, Khanna has publicly called for Van Dorland’s reinstatement and for allowing voters to decide the contest. Van Dorland is appealing the decision to the Party’s National Council, which has the power to overrule the Committee’s verdict. 

Significance: Political parties disqualifying a nomination candidate is not uncommon in Canada’s political process. However, the suspect timing and vague rationale for Van Dorland’s disqualification appear to indicate that some Conservative Party officials are attempting to secure a victory for their preferred candidate, a practice for which previous Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole received heavy criticism. The Oxford nomination is one of the earliest nominations to be conducted under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership and, if not checked by the Party’s National Council, may set a dangerous precedent for the remainder of his tenure. Canadians can contact the Party’s National Councillors here. 

Read More: Andrew Lawton True North Conservatives Disqualify Pro-Life Candidate

Liberal Government Reduces Health Transfer for New Brunswick as a Punishment for Not Funding Private Abortion Clinics.

Story: The Liberal government has deducted $270,000 from New Brunswick’s national healthcare transfer for not providing funding to a private abortion-only facility in Fredericton. New Brunswick is the only province in Canada that currently provides no funding to stand-alone abortion clinics, meaning that abortions are only covered by provincial funding at public hospitals in Moncton and Bathurst.

Significance: This battle between New Brunswick and the federal Liberal Government over funding for stand-alone abortion clinics has been ongoing since 2019. With this move, the Liberal Government further deteriorates protections for preborn children in a country with no abortion laws and sets a terrible precedent of the Federal Government ignoring provincial jurisdiction. Whether through the advancement of euthanasia, the decriminalization of hard drugs, or looming battles over education, the Liberals are making it clear that jurisdiction alone will not stop them from advancing a vision for Canada’s future where death is easier to access than life-saving care.

Read More: Lindsey Jones The Globe And Mail Ottawa claws back health funding for private delivery of abortion services in New Brunswick

Pioneer in Gender Dysphoria Treatment Says “We Were Wrong” and Admits that the Trans-Affirming Medical Industry is Harming Kids

Story: A Canadian psychiatrist and early pioneer in child gender dysphoria treatment has done an about-face by condemning the use of puberty blockers for children and firmly stating her opposition to the popular model of affirming children’s transgender identities. In a recent interview, Dr. Susan Bradley expressed regret over the gender-affirming treatments that she helped pioneer in the early 2000’s, stating that she and her colleagues were wrong to claim that the body-altering treatments and chemicals are reversible. Although she maintains that the treatment may sometimes be appropriate for adults, Dr. Bradley presented research showing that over 87% of boys who claimed a transgender identity eventually stopped believing they were actually girls.

Significance: The last year has seen a wave of pushback against trans-affirming treatment for children, and these new statements from a field-authority such as Dr. Bradley only adds to the mountain of evidence that society has rushed past any defensible science on the subject. While many concerned parents and others may be familiar with the anti-affirming arguments of conservative-leaning pundits such as Matt Walsh or Jordan Peterson, a voice like Susan Bradley—who is well respected by her peers in the field—will go much further in changing the minds of other medical professionals. Everyone who believes in protecting children should read and share her new opinions.

Read More: Laurel Duggan, The Daily Caller, “‘We Were Wrong’: Pioneer In Child Gender Dysphoria Treatment Says Trans Medical Industry Is Harming Kids”

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Canada to Reclassify Abortion and Indecency Charges as “Historically Unjust” 

Story: Public Safety Minister Marco Mendecino announced that several previously criminal offenses will now be categorized as “historically unjust” and offenders will be eligible for record expungement. Previous offenses that will now be eligible for expungement include abortion and bawdy-house-related charges (the latter prohibited the operation of publicly sexual spaces such as bathhouses and LGBTQ Night Clubs). Speaking on historic bawdy-house convictions, Mendecino stated that, “the idea of transactions based on money have, for far too long, stigmatized sex workers. And so as we navigate that, I think it is important to put that lens on the work of getting access to expungements as well.” 

Significance: As Canada becomes increasingly secular, the definitions of “just” and “unjust” have shifted to fit the country’s new moral landscape. The protection of pre-born human life, previously identified as a foundational social good, is now perceived as an unthinkable impingement on individual sexual liberty. Similarly, selling sex in one form or another, previously identified as a grave moral and social ill, is now the object of intense cultural celebration. As a result, the Government of Canada has recognized previous prosecutions for abortion and indecency as instances of severely unjust governance. Despite the temporary rage of merely human authorities, however, God’s law and perfect justice remain unchanged. Every human being will be required to give an account for their actions and no condemnation will be expunged without the shed blood of a perfect Saviour. 

Read More: David Fraser, The Canadian Press, “Indecency, abortion offences added to federal list of 'historically unjust' convictions”

Two Edmonton Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Story: Two Edmonton police officers were killed in the line of duty early Thursday morning while responding to the scene of a reported domestic violence incident. Constable Travis Jordan and Constable Brett Ryan were shot while approaching the residence and were both pronounced dead after arriving at a local hospital. The suspect, a 16-year-old male, was killed by a self-inflicted gun wound. Further details have not yet been provided to the public. 

Significance: Civil government, and the police departments that enforce its laws, have been instituted by God for the purpose of restraining evil in a sinful and cursed world. Because of human sin, however, this responsibility often invites violence, danger, and—most tragically—death. Let us thank God for those who serve our country each day in the line of duty even as we pray for the families of Constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan. 

Read More: Angela Amato, The Canadian Press, “'Unthinkable and horrific:' 2 Edmonton officers fatally shot, source says suspect 16”

A Truth To Consider