OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) – Canadians are rallying on Parliament Hill in Ottawa today in an effort to save pregnancy resource centers and other pro-life organizations under attack by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who has promised to strip them of their charitable tax status.
“The Trudeau Liberals have shamelessly slandered the compassionate work of pregnancy resource centres and promised to deny pro-life charities their tax-exempt status,” said David Cooke, National Campaigns Manager for Campaign Life Coalition. “The outrageous Liberal demand that charities hold to a pro-abortion ideology or face punishment is threatening the essential services many struggling Canadian women rely upon.”
The peaceful Rally to Save Our Charities, organized by Campaign Life Coalition, starts at 12:30 p.m. and includes Members of Parliament who will receive in-person a 12,000-strong petition (10,000 online and 2,000 hand-signed) asking MPs to oppose any bill, motion, or regulatory policy that seeks to penalize pregnancy centers and other pro-life organizations in our country.
Without charity status, these pro-woman, life-affirming pregnancy centers may be forced to close. Many will certainly struggle financially. In the end, this will mean less help for pregnant women in crisis who count on the approximately 150 pregnancy centers across Canada to be there for them in their time of need.
“Pregnancy resource centres, which often survive only thanks to generous donors and volunteers, provide pregnancy tests, diapers, baby clothes, etc. and help meet clients’ physical, emotional, legal, and spiritual needs,” said Josie Luetke, Youth Coordinator at Campaign Life Coalition.
“They should be treated no different than any other charity or vital community service – be it food banks, women’s shelters, or youth centres. The government should be doing everything it can to keep their doors open, not trying to close them.”
Cooke said that vulnerable women will suffer if Trudeau fulfills his promise to strip pregnancy centers of their charitable status.
“Without that tax-exempt charitable status, many community organizations will suffer financial hardship and may have to close their doors. This will devastate the women and communities these groups serve,” he said.
The rally will include testimonies in support of pregnancy resource centers and a reading of Campaign Life Coalition’s petition to MPs. Participants at the rally will hold signs letting the country know that Prime Minister Trudeau’s plan hurts women.
The event will be live-streamed at facebook.com/campaignlifecoalition and instagram.com/clcyouthprolife.