Press Room

OTTAWA, ON – Today, Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), Canada's leading national pro-life organization, held a press conference outside the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, urging U.S. President Donald Trump to raise the issue of religious and pro-life persecution in Canada during the upcoming G7 Summit in Alberta.

The press conference featured CLC President Jeff Gunnarson delivering a public letter to President Trump (read full letter here), calling on him to hold the Canadian government accountable for proposed federal measures that threaten the survival of Christian and pro-life charities. These measures include recommendations from the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Finance to revoke charitable status from pro-life organizations and to remove “the advancement of religion” as a charitable purpose under the Income Tax Act.

"These proposals amount to nothing less than a direct attack on Canada’s religious and pro-life communities,” said Gunnarson. "If adopted, churches, Christian charities, pro-life groups, and pregnancy care centres could face devastating consequences: loss of charitable status, funding cuts, forced closure—and even a punitive 'revocation tax' allowing government seizure of their assets.”

"Mr. President, we ask that you speak up—clearly and firmly—and take a stand for Canadian citizens whose rights, freedoms, and institutions are under attack,” he added. 

CLC presented a petition signed by over 20,000 Canadians, demanding that Prime Minister Mark Carney immediately and unequivocally reject the proposals and protect the rights and freedoms of religious and pro-life organizations.

The group is calling on President Trump to leverage his administration’s foreign policy, which prioritizes religious freedom and free speech, during trade and diplomatic discussions with Canada.

"Mr. Trump, you and Vice President JD Vance have made it clear: the West must clean house and defend fundamental freedoms. As you have indicated to the UK...there can be no free trade with the United States without free speech,” said Georges Buscemi, President of Campagne Québec-Vie. 

"Mr. President, hold Canada accountable. At the upcoming G7, remind Prime Minister Mark Carney that the U.S. will not turn a blind eye to the jailing of peaceful pro-life advocates, the banning of prayer in public, the churches set ablaze, and the targeting of religious and pro-life charities,” he continued. "Make clear that Canada will not enjoy privileged access to American markets while it wages war against its own citizens."

Watch the full press conference here or by clicking the video below.
 

Also speaking at the Press Conference were key CLC staff who addressed the nature of the attack, who is responsible for it, and what can be done about it. 

These included: 
Pete Baklinski, Communications Director
Debbie Duval, National Capital Organizer
Georges Buscemi, President of Campagne Québec-Vie