Canada Supreme Court Judge Targeted Over Pro-Abortion Morgentaler Award
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 14, 2008
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) — Pro-life groups in Canada are targeting a Supreme Court justice over the Order of Canada award recently bestowed on abortion practitioner Henry Morgentaler. They say Justice Beverley McLachlin should be removed from her post as a result of honoring the infamous abortion advocate.
Judge McLachlin heads the advisory council that selects the award recipients but reportedly remains neutral unless there is a tie vote.
Morgentaler’s receiving the award became a national debate in Canada last month and several award winners returned their medals saying the honor is now cheapened.
A collection of 42 pro-life groups and businesses signed a joint letter to the Canadian Judicial Council, the agency responsible for overseeing the conduct of federal judges, according to a CanWest report.
"In order to preserve the integrity of Canada’s judicial system, we respectfully ask that you consider this complaint seriously, investigate Beverley McLachlin’s inappropriate behavior and recommend to Parliament that (she) be removed from office," the August 12 letter said.
"The behavior of (McLachlin) outside the courtroom on the (Order of Canada) advisory council has reduced respect for both her and the Canadian judiciary," it added.
CanWest indicated groups signing the letter included Canadian Physicians for Life, the Right to Life Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and various churches.
Jeff Ward, a spokesman for the Canadian Judicial Council, told the news service that it will take the complaint seriously.
"Any complaint that comes in, even if it is frivolous, does get processed and responded to," he said.
However, in an irony that isn’t lost on pro-life advocates, Judge McLachlin chairs the judicial council as well.
Brian Rushfeldt, executive director of the Calgary-based Canada Family Action Coalition, talked with CanWest about the letter and McLachlin. he worries she will not be able to be partial if a Morgentaler lawsuit to force New Brunswick taxpayers to fund abortions reaches the Supreme Court.
"What if the New Brunswick decision gets appealed to the Supreme Court? I see no way she can hear this case and claim she is going to be independent fair and neutral," he said.
At the end of July, KLRVU surveyed Canadians and learned that a clear majority oppose giving Morgentaler the award.
The poll included 13,324 respondents when the firm conducted it from July 17-21.
The random telephone poll of Canadian households found 55.8% of Canadians oppose the awarding of the medal to the man who helped ushered in unlimited abortions in Canada paid for at taxpayer expense.
The poll found opposition to the award across the provinces.
Beginning with a wave on the east coast of Newfoundland, ebbing slightly in Quebec and then continuing with a surge in Ontario right to the west coast — the tide of opinion against awarding Morgentaler has risen, dramatically.
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