Legislation Communique #1

Submitted by: Gloria Gausboel

Dear League Sisters,

Welcome back to the fall session with Betty K.-Kamloops, Anne M.-Nelson, Linda McC.-Prince George, Gisela M.-Vancouver and Bianca S.-Victoria. I look forward to communicating with you as the new provincial legislation chairperson. This is a new standing committee for me and I am happy to be given the opportunity to learn more about the principals of government.

My introduction: I became a member of the League in 1994, I joined that year for several reasons: to please my mother, to attend the national convention held in Vancouver that year, and because I liked being involved in my parish. I have served as a standing committee chairperson of spiritual development, communications, and organization, and am presently completing my term as past president of The Vancouver Archdiocese. I have two adult children, two dogs, and a cat; I love life and especially the League.

New National Chairperson of Legislation, Mary Nordick, states in her communique:

Two resolutions were adopted under this standing committee at this year’s national convention. Please study them and the suggested action plans and take/encourage action wherever you can. They are:

• 2006.05 GST Exemption on Funeral Services
• 2006.06 Labeling and Disposal of Pest Control Products

A letter to Member of Parliament Paul Steckle regarding the tabling of Bill C-338, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (procuring a miscarriage after twenty weeks of gestation), was sent from convention. A copy of the letter is on the website.

The government at work
Please take advantage of an opportunity to see government at work. The standing committee on finance is holding public hearings on the 2006 pre-budget consultations. The topic for the hearing is Canada’s Place in a Competitive World. If you would like more information, please go to . Such hearings are open to the public and present a unique opportunity for CWL members, especially those involved with legislation. Presidents and legislation standing committee chairpersons are encouraged to attend and/or encourage interested members to attend the hearings in their province or city. The place and date for this area is Vancouver, B.C. on October 3.

If any member were able to attend, a short comment on the hearing would be much appreciated. Please send your comment to national office so that we can have them before going to government at the beginning of November.

The news indicates that our provincial government may not sit this fall. The House of Commons is adjourned until September 18th, 2006. It will be our job to monitor government and our elected officials ensuring that they protect individuals or groups in our society.

I am learning how to navigate the provincial and national government websites and Hansard. My immediate goal is to learn more about present issues and how to respond to them.

An immediate issue requiring attention has been was written about by Vancouver Archbishop Raymond Roussin, in the September 4th issue of the B.C. CATHOLIC newspaper. It concerns the B.C. government’s agreement with Peter and Murray Corren, married homosexual activists who have an agreement signed by the education ministry and the Correns. The agreement says the Correns may identify any K-12 curriculum that “they consideration should be given priority for revision in light of sexual orientation issues…to which the ministry must respond with a report on the status of any requested changes”. In his column, the archbishop encourages the faithful to express their concerns to the government and insist that their right to oversee their children’s education be upheld.

“The most important principles of government: appreciation of family and fair legislation” this quote is from Ex-MLA Val Anderson, it in I my opinion reflects the way members of the League work for good government.

With love and prayers,

Gloria G., Legislation Chairperson