News/Canada
![Conservative MP Joy Smith Conservative MP Joy Smith](/images/stories/canada/canada10/smith_joy.jpg)
Smith has urged her government to study Swedish laws which have tackled the problem by prosecuting the clients of prostitutes, the johns. Sweden reduced prostitution by 30-50 per cent from 1999-2004 and substantially cut the number of women trafficked into the country, she said.
Euthanasia forces target Quebec
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News![Margaret Somerville Margaret Somerville](/images/stories/canada_people/SomervilleJanet.jpg)
Somerville, founding director of McGill’s Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law, and others are keeping an eye on Quebec, where a legislative committee is holding public hearings on euthanasia.
Court quashes access to information on D&P
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register![D & P and Lifesite](/images/stories/canada/canada10/LifeSite_DP.jpg)
The request was made to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) by LifeSiteNews, an online news organization that has published a series of articles over the past 18 months alleging links between Development and Peace-funded partners and pro-abortion lobbying in Mexico, Bolivia, South Africa and Nigeria. Development and Peace has denied those allegations and an investigation into five of its Mexican partners by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops cleared the Catholic aid agency of wrongdoing while also warning it to be more prudent in selecting its partners. LifeSite called that investigation “deeply flawed.”
Bishop Crosby to leave the Rock for Hamilton
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic Register![Bishop Douglas Crosby Bishop Crosby](/images/stories/canada_bishops/bishopdouglascrosby.jpg)
“I’m very pleased and honoured by the appointment,” said Crosby, who remains administrator of the diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador until he is installed as bishop of Hamilton at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Nov. 8.
Born in Marathon, Ont., in the diocese of Thunder Bay, all of Crosby's ministry as a bishop has been done in Newfoundland and Labrador. Installed as bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville in 1998, he was also installed as bishop of St George’s, Nfld., in 2003 and retained responsibility for the former diocese. Then, following a realignment of the boundaries of the two dioceses, he became bishop of the diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador in 2007.
Canadians among world's most generous in charitable giving
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic Register![Bill Steinburg, manager of communications for ShareLife. (Photo by Vanessa Santilli) Bill Steinburg](/images/stories/canada/canada10/steinberg.jpg)
In the Alexandria, Va., foundation’s 2010 World Giving Index, Canada ranked third in terms of charitable behaviour.
The report tracks how willing a nation’s people are to help those in need.
Mining companies fight back against accountability bill
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register![The San Martin open-pit gold mine in Palo Ralo, Honduras, is pictured in a 2007 photo. Bill C-300, a bill to hold Canadian mining companies abroad accountable for their work, is up for third reading Sept. 20. (CNS photo) Mine](/images/stories/canada/canada10/mine1.jpg)
The Prospectors and Developers Association, dominated by junior mining and exploration companies, is urging its members to order up bundles of postcards that mining company employees can mail in opposing Bill C-300.
Missal awaits Vatican approval
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterThe new English translation of the Mass will be ready for Canadian parishes only when the bishops have Vatican approval for all of the texts and an opportunity to put in place a program to teach people about the changes.
With the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announcing the new Mass texts will become standard south of the border beginning in Advent 2011, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has received enquiries about the Canadian timetable.
Prescription drugs must be integrated with medicare, says CHAC
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News![prescriptions](/images/stories/canada/canada10/prescription.jpg)
The study, entitled The Economic Case for Universal Pharmacare, says Canada could lop $4.48 billion off the current $25.1 billion spent annually on prescription drugs with moderate revisions on how drugs are priced.
Charitable sector needs better tax breaks
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register![Arthur Peters, executive director of ShareLife Arthur Peters, executive director of ShareLife](/images/stories/toronto_people/tp_2008/ArthurPeters.jpg)
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has heard submissions from the charitable sector for years on ways to boost Canadian charitable giving. Peters would like to see lobbying by the charitable sector be more successful.
Linda Gibbons' court challenge hits a roadblock
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO - The ongoing legal battles of pro-life activist Linda Gibbons received a setback at a Sept. 2 hearing when a judge ruled the case against her did not breach her Charter rights and that her lawyer was not entitled to view nine-year-old documents held by the crown attorney.
Gibbons’ next court date was set for Sept. 30.
Lawyer Daniel Santoro said he was disappointed with the decisions but withheld further comment until after having a chance to review the judge’s detailed ruling, expected to be released during the week of Sept. 7.
International development minister contradicts Canada's abortion policy
By Catholic Register Staff![International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda at the recent G20 meetings in Toronto. Oda seems to have contradicted policy set by the Conservative government that says Canada will not fund abortion in Third World nations. (Photo courtesy of Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade) Bev Oda](/images/stories/canada/canada10/odag8.jpg)
The tune is leading some pro-lifers to call for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to dismiss International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda from the federal cabinet.