Wednesday May 5, 2010
Canadian Gvmt: Pro-Abort Group Lost Funding Over Performance Issues, Not Policy
By Patrick B. Craine
OTTAWA, Ontario, May 5, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Canadian government has explained that a feminist and pro-abortion group working in the Third World lost federal funding due to questions about their ability to deliver their programs – an explanation that contradicts claims by the Liberal Party that the funding cut is evidence of the government’s effort to silence critics of its decision not to include abortion in the G8 maternal and child health initiative.
Kim Bulger, executive director of MATCH International, claimed Tuesday that her group and ten other feminist groups have been defunded as part of the government’s “ideologically driven” agenda against those who have pushed for abortion in the maternal and child health initiative.
The Liberals have seized on the comments, particularly in light of Monday remarks from pro-abortion Conservative senator Nancy Ruth, who told a group of abortion-promoting international development activists to “shut the f— up” on abortion, or else they could face “more backlash.” All accounts suggest that Ruth meant them as friendly strategic advice, but the Liberals are spinning the comments as evidence of the Tories’ “culture of intimidation and bullying” in silencing their critics.
“These are groups who give women a voice – and that’s precisely why Stephen Harper doesn’t want them around,” said Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville, in a press release yesterday. “Through every action, by every means possible, this government has done what it can to diminish women’s influence, to silence their voices and to push women’s equality backwards.”
Nevertheless, Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda told the House on Monday that MATCH’s loss of funding related to problems with their organizational practices, rather than their policies.
“Let me put the facts on the record,” she said in response to a question from Liberal MP Bob Rae. “A 2009 evaluation of this organization showed there were performance and management shortcomings, declining organizational capacity that had not been sufficiently addressed by the organization.”
“In fact, there is a question as to the organization’s capacity to manage and deliver programs,” she continued.
“This government will ensure that it uses its international assistance effectively and accountably so we can really make a difference in the lives of those who want to move out of poverty,” she added.