Conversion therapy support confirms Gladu’s far-right beliefs
Sir: Once again, Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu has proven just how out of step she is with women and youth.
By invoking freedom of religion as an argument in support of conversion therapy, she finds herself in a far-right minority.
A 2019 opinion poll shows a majority of Canadians (3 in 5) oppose conversion therapy. Support in prohibiting conversion therapy was highest amongst women (62%) and those ages 18 to 31 (64%).
Conversion “therapy” is any treatment, including talk therapy, behavioural or aversion therapy, group therapy, spiritual prayer, exorcism, and/or medical or drug-induced treatments, which attempt to actively change someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
The "coming-out" process can be a critical time for families. People cannot always rise above the challenge of accepting themselves or their family member, and the results can be devastating, even fatal.
Conversion therapy has no place in this process. It has been denounced as a harmful and unethical practice by the Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Canadian Association of Social Workers.
People who identify as LGBTQ2 deserve to have their legal rights upheld and to be embraced for all of their potential. Sincerely,
Carmen Lemieux
Marianne Nichols
Co-leaders
Sarnia-Bluewater PFLAG
MP Gladu right, Liberal ‘conversion therapy’ bill is flawed
Sir: Re: MP Marilyn Gladu supports church freedom on 'conversion therapy' bill (Jan. 28 edition)
Conversion therapy is an abhorrent practice that should be banned in Canada. I'm glad that Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu recognizes this.
I am also thankful that she presented a petition on behalf of her constituents expressing their concerns about Bill C-6 (conversion therapy).
Unfortunately, the Liberal government has introduced a flawed bill that will not only criminalize the bad (shock therapy, coercion and isolation treatment) but also the good (talk therapy, counselling), and thereby reduce the availability of help for children and teens who experience gender dysphoria.
Children do not have the capacity to make irreversible, life-changing decisions. It is for good reason that a certain level of maturity is required before society allows children to drink alcohol, drive a motor vehicle, get married, etc.
Gender dysphoria is real and those who experience it need to be loved, cherished, and cared for. Unfortunately, this bill aims to protect children with gender dysphoria by silencing everyone – except those who affirm a child’s choice – from dialoguing with them, even though a child certainly does not understand the consequences of embracing a dysphoric reality.
If this bill passes, it will send a chill over any parent, counsellor, or faith leader who lovingly cares for a child experiencing gender dysphoria with anything other than an affirmation of those feelings.
This not only disrespects the role of parents but also has the potential for tragic and lifelong challenges for the children they desire to love and care for.
Mike Schouten
Director of Advocacy,
Association for Reformed Political Action
Vancouver
Marilyn Gladu doesn’t speak for our church on gender, sexuality
Sir: As members of The United Church of Canada and an Affirming Ministry in Sarnia-Lambton, we believe that gender and sexuality are gifts from God.
We welcome and seek justice for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. As Christians, we acknowledge the roles that Christianity, and religion in general, play in the oppression of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Grace United Church supports Bill C-6. It does not support the petition presented by Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu requesting amendments to or the withdrawal of Bill C-6.
The practice known as conversion therapy has been shown to be profoundly detrimental to a person's wellbeing and its use is opposed by the Canadian Psychiatric Association.
We are greatly concerned that MP Gladu stated in the House of Commons that the majority of the churches in SarniaLambton supported the petition she presented.
With only 169 signatories in a riding of over 100,000 citizens it is unlikely that the petition had majority support from any group. She did not contact our church to determine whether we supported it.
Of even greater concern is that MP Gladu was a driving force behind this petition.
The letter sent to some churches in Sarnia-Lambton, which accompanied the petition, was sent by MP Gladu herself, on House of Commons letterhead.
It appears that she is promoting her personal anti-LGBTQIA+ agenda rather than representing the constituents of Sarnia-Lambton. Respectfully,
Barb Baxter, Chair, Affirming Committee, Grace United Church
Rev. Dr. Kenji Marni, Pastoral Team Member, Grace United Church
Witchful thinking
Sir: Regarding Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu and her approval of “conversion therapy.”
It is difficult to live in a riding where one’s federal Member of Parliament - voted in by actual persons - not only believes in “witches” but also in “the dunking cure.”
Yours sincerely,
C.M. Law
Sarnia
MP wrong to impose her religious beliefs on others
Sir: With reference to Tara Jeffrey’s Jan. 28 article entitled ‘Human Rights,’ I would question how Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu can claim the majority of churches in the riding supported her petition.
Were they all canvassed? A petition with a paltry 169 signatures does not represent a majority.
As for her objection to criminalizing the despicable practice of conversion therapy, what about the rights of the children? How does the practice of trying to change a person’s sexuality relate to religion or freedom of religion?
We enjoy the freedom to worship as we please here in Canada, but a religion does not have the right to force a person to be something they were not created to be, nor does it have the right to influence our laws.
I feel we should be represented in Ottawa by someone who speaks for the majority of the people in our riding, and not by someone trying to impose his or her own religious or other beliefs on us. Sincerely,
Patricia Wright
Sarnia
Doug Ford tearing up Ontario’s environmental protections
Sir: Letter writer Ken Moore (Jan. 28) states that Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey told him an environmental study into the widening of Highway 40 was underway.
Is this the same Bob Bailey whose boss Doug Ford recently tore apart any environmental protection Ontario could have?
As the Toronto Star reported on Jan, 27: Doug Ford is going to put a highway called the GTA West Transportation Corridor, a four-to-six lane freeway, in a transit project that will join Halton with York region, cutting through Brampton, Caledon and Vaughan, to end at Highway 400, 20 kilometres north of Highway 407. Along the way it will raze 2,000 acres of farmland, cut across 85 waterways and pave 2,500 acres of protected Greenbelt land in Vaughan. It is expected to have 300,000 vehicle trips per day.
Mr. For-The-People has taken some pages from the Trump playbook and abandoned many of Ontario’s environmental regulations.
Premier Doug Ford and former premier Mike Harris probably yuck it up every night. “My highway’s gonna be wider than your highway.”
Sarnia? What’s Sarnia? They don’t even put Sarnia on the evening Canadian TV weather forecast maps.
Maybe Mr. Bailey will pull out a highway widening contact just before the next election. Isn’t that how politics works?
Doug Hacking
Sarnia
The threat to Line 5 pipeline actually an opportunity for Canada
Sir: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she will revoke a 1953 easement that allows Line 5 to cross the Straits of Mackinac and gave Calgary-based Enbridge, the operator of the pipeline, until May 12 to shut it down.
Line 5 supplies Ontario and Montreal refineries with much of their crude.
Don’t look at that as a threat to Alberta and eastern Canada.
Look at it as an opportunity to finally build an all-Canadian oil pipeline from western Canada to refineries in Sarnia and Nanticoke ON, Montreal (Enbridge's old Line 9 is a disaster waiting to happen) and Levis QC, and Saint John NB.
Include an extension to the Canso NS Superport for crude exports and one for LNG exports.
The Saint John NB Canaport in the environmentally sensitive and vulnerable Bay of Fundy is better suited for export of LNG and of refined products from an expanded Irving refinery.
Finally, all of Canada’s energy secure, all oil imports eliminated, and new, diverse, undiscounted, value-added, world-priced international markets opened up.
Mike Priaro, P.Eng.
Calgary
Sarnia Community Foundation reaches $10 million milestone
Sir: The Sarnia Community Foundation has reached an incredible milestone: $10 million in endowed funds. What does that mean? The foundation, which serves Lambton County, holds $10 million in its bank.
When an endowment is held the principal amount never gets touched, and the interest it earns gets donated back to our community; new money injected into the community every year, forever.
As challenging as the last year has been, the Sarnia Community Foundation has responded. With in-person donation campaigns and fundraising galas halted, threatening the viability of many nonprofits, the Foundation’s emergency support fund provided $175,850 in urgently needed cash.
VON Sarnia received $28,700 to purchase tablets, Rebound Sarnia-Lambton received $10,000 for their SPECTRUM LGBTQ2+ program, Alzheimer Society of Sarnia Lambton received $15,000 for virtual programming for dementia caregivers, the International Symphony Orchestra received $7,313 for safety Plexiglas and facility rental for virtual concert series, the Bluewater Health Foundation received $7,620 to purchase iPads to facilitate patient connection, along with several other deserving nonprofits persevering through the pandemic to help those in need.
Congratulations to all the supporters of the Sarnia Community Foundation for helping our local foundation reach $10 million.
Katarina Ovens
Sarnia Community Foundation volunteer
Sarnia
Valentine's Poem: I Love You With All My Liver
On Valentine’s Day I’m wondering why
It’s the heart we think of in desire?
Why it’s the heart that makes us sigh?
Why that organ to set us on fire?
We’re told it’s the seat of our emotions.
But how does it come to have such a hold?
Why can’t, say, the liver clasp our devotions?
I wonder, if I may be so bold.
The heart serves as a pump, it’s true.
And life blood through our veins does flow.
But our livers regenerate our blood anew,
Without them, poisons round our bodies go.
So, surely, as internal organs they play
I would argue roles that are equally vital.
But as far as beauty in the dissection tray,
Our livers certainly win the title.
I grant the heart in pop-culture is ubiquitous
As business and adverts know all too well.
Some might call their efforts iniquitous,
And yet we return to the trappings they sell.
Think of the writers who work to rhyme “heart”
With “start”, “art”, and “dart” (think Cupid).
“And let not your heart tear me apart”;
The rhymes are utterly exhausted and stupid.
And so I propose that we look to the liver
To replace the sad and worn clichés.
The liver can make us both shiver and quiver
As we finally give our trite hearts away.
Lou Giancarlo
Sarnia