Canadian women's groups feel chill over abortion policies

The City of Abbotsford, B.C., has dismissed demands it take action against a mock cemetery to aborted fetuses, arguing that displays on private property are outside city jurisdiction. “It is not in violation of any sign bylaw,” Mayor Bruce Banman told Postmedia on Thursday. “It comes down to freedom of expression. It is one group opposed to the views of another.”

By Ali Frick

OTTAWA — The Islamic centre in Saskatoon is experiencing growing pains. Friday services have been split in two so local streets aren’t clogged with traffic. City officials and nearby residents are working with the centre to answer questions like where to put more parking? “We have been experiencing this kind of steady increase for a while,” said Amin Elshorbagy, president of the Canadian Islamic Congress.

The state of North Dakota approved the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States, a move that challenges federal protection of a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy.

In the language of the U.S. abortion debate there are two sides: pro-life and pro-choice. But in the four decades since Roe v. Wade, those simple labels have been responsible for confusing the public, sparking political battles and stifling discussion.

Ben Nelson doesn’t come in for as much scorn as some of his Senate colleagues since he’s never pretend to be anything other than an unusually conservative Democrat and since Nebraska has been a consistently reactionary state for many, many, many decades.

OTTAWA, Ont. — An evangelical organization that describes homosexuality as a “perversion” and a “sin” is receiving funding from the Government of Canada for its work in Uganda, where gays and lesbians face severe threats. The federal government has denounced virulent homophobia in that East African country and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has condemned plans for an anti-gay bill that could potentially include the death penalty for homosexuals.

OTTAWA — A major federal investigation into spousal violence says it cost society at least $7.4 billion for the thousands of incidents that occurred in just one year. The Justice Canada study examined a broad range of economic impacts, from policing and health-care to funerals and lost wages, for every incident of spousal violence in 2009.