Conform or be cast out confines us to get along

Ironically, to understand why many Canadians stomach a system hostile to right-to-life organizations, anti-abortion legislation proposals and any meaningful discussions about pre-born rights or if life begins at conception, you have to look back to the birth of this nation.

Pro-life speaker and author Stephanie Gray Connors painted an incisive contrast between the founding of Canada and its neighbour to the south in award-winning filmmaker Kevin Dunn’s new feature-length documentary Roe Canada: The True North in a Post-Roe World.

“Canada is still a monarchy in a sense because it is under the King,” said Connors. “The United States rebelled. That shows the differences in our histories. One kind of being compliant, you could say, and going with the flow, and one being rebellious by cutting ties and saying, ‘I’m going to make change.’ That is ingrained in the American blood. I think that is needed in any movement.”

Donald Trump nominating three conservative justices to the Supreme Court was undeniably monumental in overturning Roe v. Wade. However, credit for the most consequential pro-life political earthquake in recent decades also belongs to the hundreds of thousands of citizen changemakers who defiantly demonstrated for as many as 49 years to achieve a landmark victory on June 24, 2022.

Is a legal victory akin to the Dobbs decision a possibility in Canada? That is the central question scrutinized in Roe Canada: True North in a Post-Roe World. I believe Dunn and his team did an excellent job sensibly laying out why conquering Canada’s abortion culture is a daunting task while also sharing some compelling reasons why maybe, just maybe, a pro-life miracle could one day be possible in this country if it be God’s will.

I agree with Connors: Canadians are an extremely conformist lot. So many adopt or normalize the “morals” touted by our government leaders and mainstream media.

Fortunately, there are pro-life champions in Canada bucking this deeply rooted malaise. There are some who possess the unyielding passion and tenacity of the anti-abortion activists in the United States. The most compelling aspect of the documentary for me was beholding Josie Luetke and Ruth Robert’s steely determination. Both women were featured as principal investigators (researchers and interviewers) and profile subjects.

There is a particularly memorable interview clip of Luetke and Robert — both women are in their mid 20s — sitting side-by-side at a kitchen table. Luetke opens up about “how lonely it is in the pro-life movement and how isolated you feel all the time.” Robert then shared a story of an amusing and poignant text exchange between the two friends on a tough day for both of them.

“Once, both of us had a particularly bad day,” recalled Robert. “Everyone was upset with us. Josie, basically as a conclusion to our self-pitying conversation, said, ‘Well Ruth, I’ll be happy to fight and die at your side.’ And it really did feel like it was a visceral struggle. I was like, ‘Yes, I too would be honoured to die at your side in this fight on this hill.’ ”

Based on the video evidence, especially the opening scene where both tried to debate Justin Trudeau and his Liberal cabinet before they entered a swanky downtown Hamilton restaurant, I take Luetke and Robert at their word. I believe they would fight for the unborn into their 70s, 80s, 90s or beyond until victory was achieved or if they departed from this Earth having fought the noble fight.

The ever-growing attendance at the annual March for Life Ottawa is a sign that Luetke and Robert are not alone. There are other young — and old — anti-abortion activists ready to fight for as long as it takes to turn the tide.

I also recommend the documentary because it is chockfull of great talking-head soundbites. Interviewees include Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned anti-abortion speaker, Jonathan Van Maren of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform and MP Cathy Wagantall, who has authored several pro-life bills that were defeated in the House of Commons. There is a particularly compelling exchange between Luetke and retired physician and abortionist Dr. Fraser Fellows.

It is important to note that pro-life crusaders across the country donated money to crowdfund Roe Canada: True North in a Post-Roe World. The fundraising campaign is still ongoing as the production team seeks to cover the expenses of this comprehensive documentary.

Visit https://roecanada.com/ to learn more about the film, set for release soon.