Catholic Women’s League of Canada | BC and Yukon Council

Submitted by: Dodie Bond

This is my first communique as your Christian Family Life Chairperson for the Province of BC. It will be learning experience for me as I have a lot of reading ahead of me. So please bear with me. I will endeavour to keep you updated with what is new and upcoming in this chair. If you have any concerns or questions pertaining to this chair please feel free to contact me.

Congratulations to our Immediate Provincial Past President Barbara Dowding to her position as Resolutions Chairperson on the National level.

The National March for Life, May 14th 2009 will mark 40 years since former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s omnibus bill decriminalizing abortion in Canada. Let’s be part of this and help defend the unborn.  See if you can get your parish involved in a march to coincide with this date.

On July 1st the governor general of Canada named Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada. A letter was sent to R. Honorable Michaelle Jean expressing the League’s disappointment and distress in the mater and that they revoke the decision.  We must continue to write our letters to our MPs.  We have to protect the unborn! » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Sheila Quinn

Here we are about to celebrate Labour day, which signals the end of summer and the beginning of the beautiful season of Fall or Autumn as I know it. As children prepare to go back to school we too plan and prepare for our CWL meetings. I hope you were able to attend a convention and are feeling refreshed, re-energized and full of enthusiasm.

Welcome to second term Legislation Chairpersons from Kamloops, Prince George and Vancouver, and like myself, first term chairperson from Victoria. I notice several familiar names and look forward to receiving your communiques updating me on legislation news in your diocese.  Have you thought of sharing with the other diocesan chairpersons?   If I can be of any assistance at all please contact me.

Legislation – social justice in action.

In the executive handbook the guidelines given under this standing committee are:

• to monitor and study legislation (laws made) at all levels of government.
• the preparation of briefs and position papers on proposed legislation

How do we do this?

By monitoring both current and past resolutions when they become bills and are presented to Federal Parliament through reading the newspapers and accessing both the Federal Parliament web site and also the Legislative Assembly at  and by following Hansard at which is where the official record of motions debated and passed since 1972 in BC are listed. You can also find out what MLA’s said and how they voted.

Do you know who your Federal/Provincial Members of Parliament are?  Contact them requesting to be put on their mailing list, keeps you informed and updated. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Sheila Quinn

Greetings,
Thought I’d send a ‘mini’ to share the good news in case you missed it!

In communique #9 you may recall that at the request of the Secretary of State, Hon Jason Kenny, League members were asked to write letters to MLA’s in support of Bill C-484 An Act To Amend The Criminal Code injuring or causing the death of an unborn child while committing an offence, a private members’ bill sponsored by MP Ken Epp.

Well the good news is that in an update from United Mothers, Fathers & Friends just received states the bill passed the 2nd reading by a narrow margin on March 5th therefore is still alive! Now the bill moves on to Justice Minister and Human rights Committee and finally if the bill returns to the house it will face 3rd and final reading which hopefully will happen before summer recess. Please continue to pray for the success of this important bill.

A few questions have arisen in relations to new guidelines for resolutions and hopefully they’ve all been ‘ironed out’. Remember to make sure your diocesan resolutions committee has an up to date check list. Any questions please get in touch with me.

May your be filled with the joy of Easter.

Your League Sister,

Sheila

Submitted by: Sheila Quinn 

Greetings and Happy New Year,

The start of a new year brings with it a time for making resolutions which off times are never fulfilled however we can make our resolutions a reality by careful planning, preparation and following the guidelines.

I am forwarding recent attachments received from National for the National Manual of Policy and Procedure as well as an excellent report on resolutions talks with the government which will be in the next issue of the Canadian League should you be unable to open it.

1. Checklist for Reviewing Proposed Resolutions (replace pages 5 & 6)
2. Resolution Section (replace pages 17 – 19b)
3. Parliament Hill Revisited (keep scrolling down till it appears)

While the pages may at first glance look similar it is important to note the additions/changes in order to follow the correct procedure for resolutions to be acceptable at all levels. .

The next three articles are taken from Betty Anne Brown, National Resolutions Chairperson’s December communique. » Read the rest of this entry »