March for Life. (News in Brief: Canada).

Ottawa--Some 3,500 people, mostly from Ontario and Quebec with a sprinkling from other provinces, met on Parliament Hill May 13 and 14 to recall the death sentence imposed on the unborn in Canada on May 14, 1969. The struggle to protect human life at all stages goes on. Many appear to have listened, as a record 22 Members of Parliament took part in some aspect of the two-day event.

An interesting sidelight took place this year when Ottawa musician and signmaker Ken Wintle received a permit to demonstrate outside Prime Minister Jean Cheritien's residence at 24 Sussex Drive. Wintle used the opportunity to display graphic abortion signs and sent the message to Chretien that over one million preborn Canadians have perished under his watch, for a total of three million since 1969.

The main March for Life events were marked by two youth conferences, a candlelight vigil at the Canadian Tribute-to-Human-Rights Monument, and the gathering on Parliament Hill. The crowd was addressed by MPs and other dignitaries. This was followed by a march through the streets of downtown Ottawa and a closing banquet that featured a keynote speech by Dr. Jack Willke, president of the International Right to Life Federation. MP Elsie Wayne received a standing ovation at the banquet in response to her recent challenging of the homosexual lobby.

Pro-life Masses and prayer services were held at two Ottawa churches, including a standing-room-only Mass at St. Patrick's Basilica concelebrated by Bishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Alexandria-Cornwall and 14 other priests and clergy. Bishop Jean Louis Plouffe of Sault Ste. Marie, ON, addressed the crowd on Parliament Hill. This was the first time that residing bishops have taken part. Last year retired Bishop Edward Troy from New Brunswick was the first bishop to attend.

Another positive note was the participation of the Knights of Columbus. Executives with the organization, which included its second-in-command, deputy Supreme Knight Jean Migneault, promised increased participation by their members next year. There was word that Supreme Knight Carl Anderson may make an appearance at the 2004 March.

Especially notable this time was the greater participation by young people who were estimated at half of all participants. "We have turned a corner and are seeing the fruits of the previous five marches," said a pleased Bill Mullally, a steering committee member and official with Campaign Life Coalition in Toronto which from the beginning emphasized the youth aspect. He pointed to the atmosphere of joy and energy that permeated the two-day event, and said it was "wonderful" that so many MPs took part. "People went home with a new vigour and enthusiasm.... It was a blessed and grace-filled event."

Mullally expressed disappointment

that the media blacked out the event once again, with not a word of coverage appearing in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, which instead ran coverage of a sick squirrel. "It's incredible that there was hardly a mention of this very significant event," he said. "It's shameful.... We need to challenge them to stop being cowards and give their heads a shake."

In his address at the banquet, Dr. Willke provided listeners with an overview of the situation regarding human life throughout the world and commended his president, George W. Bush, for his pro-life stance. However, he expressed disappointment over the situation in Canada and expressed puzzlement at how the Canadian delegation to the UN consistently pushes some of the most anti-life, anti-family, and extremist agendas in the world. He closed by exhorting pro-life advocates everywhere to never vote for a pro-abortion politician. Preparations are already underway for the 2004 March for Life next May.

A total of 22 pro-life Parliamentarians attended the March for Life in Ottawa on Wednesday. In addition, 11 MPs attended the banquet which followed the March for Life.

The MPs in attendance at the march included the three co-chairmen of the Pro-Life Caucus: Elsie Wayne (PC), Maurice Vellacott (CA), and Paul Steckle (Lib). Also present were Pat O'Brien (Lib), James Lunney (CA), Rob Merrifield (CA), Reed Elley (CA), David Anderson (CA), Jason Kenney (CA), Dan McTeague (Lib), Paul Szabo (Lib), Rose-Marie Ur (Lib), Monte Solberg (CA), Rob Anders (CA), Tom Wappel (Lib), Cheryl Gallant (CA), Janko Peric (Lib), Myron Thompson (CA), Norman Doyle (PC), and Brian Fitzpatrick (CA).

Present in the crowd - but who did not speak were Ray Bonin (Lib), Ghislain Labelle (Ind). Ken Epp (CA), unable to attend, sent a statement which was read.

MPs in attendance at the banquet: Janko Peric (Lib), Larry Spencer (CA), David Anderson (CA), Reed Elley (CA), Elsie Wayne (PC), Jason Kenney (CA), Paul Szabo (Lib), Rob Merrifield (CA), Norman Doyle (PC), James Lunney (CA), Leon Benoit (CA).