Thousands demand abortion defunding in mini rallies at MPPs offices across Ontario

ONTARIO, October 16, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – This past Saturday morning, thousands of pro-life Ontarians held simultaneous rallies at 44 constituency offices of MPPs across the province, demanding that their legislators defund abortions from Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan and that tax dollars be used for legitimate health care issues, not for killing babies.

Alissa Golob, Youth Coordinator for Campaign Life Coalition and organizer of the Defund Abortion campaign, said that though organizers had hoped for a rally at each of the 107 electoral districts in the province, the simultaneous turnout of from 25 to over 100 pro-lifers at 44 constituency offices, for a total of nearly 3000 pro-life demonstrators, made for an “unprecedented event” in Ontario.

“On October 13, taxpayers sent a message to their elected representatives that they do not want to be forced to pay for someone else’s elective abortion,” said Alissa. “Abortions are not medically necessary and our tax dollars should not subsidize life-style choices while genuine areas of health care such as doctor and nurse shortages, elder care, and treatment for autistic children, is neglected.”

“I am very excited about this initiative considering the great success of the Defund Abortion Mini Rallies that took place across the province on Saturday,” Alissa told LifeSiteNews. “Obviously this legislation is something Ontarians want and are ready to fight for publicly.”

Organizers noted that because MPP offices are normally located in high traffic areas, the protestors, their signs, and their message were seen by the broader community and reported on by local media.

Approximately 50 pro-lifers rallied outside PC Leader Tim Hudak’s constituency office in Beamsville, according to local media.

“We are here because we want the government to defund abortions, but also to make people aware that abortions are taking lives,” Beamsville resident Brenda Riesebosch told West Niagara News. “Abortion is killing and the fact that the government pays for it is very wrong.”

“Between $30 million and $50 million every year, just in Ontario, of our health care dollars is spent to kill unborn babies. Vulnerable, tiny, helpless babies in the womb are killed,” said rally participant Nancy Winslow. “Abortion is supposed to be about allowing people to have a choice, and I choose not to pay for abortions with my tax dollars. A lot of other people feel this way too.”

Campaign Life Coalition’s Johanne Brownrigg said that about 75 people gathered at Premier Dalton McGuinty’s riding office in Ottawa on Saturday.

“Let’s be clear about this elective procedure,” she told the pro-lifers. “It is disingenuous to claim that abortion is necessary for a woman’s health. It is illogical to have a health care system that is cash-starved and yet continues to allocate scarce dollars towards the killing of children.”

According to the Windsor Star about two dozen pro-lifers gathered at the Windsor constituency office of Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.

Organizer of the rally Mike Cowan said, “I don’t think a lot of people in Ontario understand that abortion is being paid for 100 per cent by the Ontario taxpayer,” adding, “We are all pro-life here and would like to see abortion stopped, but what really hurts me even more is that I’m paying for it out of my taxes.”

The Defund Abortion mini-rally in Chatham was organized by 16-year-old William Bain, who said his age didn’t deter him from answering the call to defend life.

“I might just be a teenager, but this is something I can do,” Bain told the Chatham Daily News.

Alissa Golob said the rallies were an effective way of sending a powerful message that defunding abortion is not just an issue at Queens Park, but something that MPPS constituents are demanding.

“These rallies exemplified that our elected officials can no longer hide their heads in the sand when it comes to abortion,” she said. “We will continue to bring this issue forward, both at the local level, and provincial level, until we’re no longer forced to comply with the tyranny of forced, tax-payer funded abortions.”

The mini-rallies are a lead-up to the huge Defund Abortion Rally to be held at Ontario’s legislature on Oct. 30th, which Campaign Life Coalition Youth organizers expect will be attended by thousands of pro-lifers from across Ontario.

“These mini-rallies brought a new excitement and invigoration to the movement,” Alissa said to LifeSiteNews.

“This is something Ontarians can fight for in their own backyard. I encourage anyone who has not yet participated in this campaign, to join us at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, October 30th from 12-2pm for our large Defund Abortion Rally. It’s important our numbers surpass last year’s to properly exemplify the popularity and momentum of this campaign,” she concluded.

In preparation for the 2nd annual Defund Abortion Rally to be held at Queen’s Park, Campaign Life Coalition Youth has launched a Defund Abortion petition campaign demanding that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario “cease providing taxpayers’ dollars for the performance of abortions by passing legislation to remove abortion as a service covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.” The signed petitions will be presented to Ontario’s Members of Provincial Parliament.

Petitions are available for download here. Signed petitions should be returned to Campaign Life Coalition Youth, Attention: Alissa Golob. (Address: 104 Bond St, Suite 300, Toronto, ON, M5B 1X9)

Campaign Life Coalition Youth’s Defund Abortion Facebook page has posts and scores of pictures from the mini-rallies held across the province on October 13th.

Information on the De-Fund Abortion Rally happening at Queens Park on Tuesday, October 30th is available through the CLC website here, and on Facebook here.