NEWS FROM THE EFC
Euthanasia/assisted suicide
A study of the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) law is likely to be a priority in the new Parliament. A law passed in March mandated this study and gave it a deadline of a year to conduct and report back to Parliament. Canadians with mental illness alone will be eligible for MAiD in 2023. Experts will be asked to recommend protocols, guidance and safeguards to apply to requests for MAiD by people who have a mental illness. (The experts will not consider whether or not Canadians with mental illness should be eligible for MAiD as the law passed in March has already legislated that change.) WWW.THEEFC.CA/MAID
Prostitution law review
The EFC is preparing for a review of the current prostitution laws. A five-year review of the laws was built in to the legislation when it passed and is now overdue. The laws approach prostitution as inherently exploitative and penalize sex buyers and pimps, rather than those prostituted. The EFC supports the current laws as a necessary tool to fight sexual exploitation. WWW.THEEFC.CA/ PROSTITUTION
Day for truth and reconciliation
In September the EFC encouraged supporters to observe the new
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It published a series of social media posts highlighting some of the calls to action from the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The EFC’s Seven Commitments Working Group continues to meet monthly to pray, discern and take steps to spark conversations and action around the reconciliation commitments adopted in 2020 (www.TheEFC.ca/ SevenCommitments). A 1995 document called the Reconciliation Proclamation,
drafted by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Christian leaders, is currently being recirculated to help expand awareness about reconciliation, Indigenous Peoples and colonial history. WWW. THEEFC.CA/INDIGENOUSRELATIONS
Young adult materials: Less print, more online
Love Is Moving: Canada’s Christian youth magazine continues to offer free print subscriptions in Canada, but the frequency of print publication has dropped to three issues a year instead of the previous six. More resources are being allocated to the website instead with increased video and online-only content on the way. These are great resources for young adult and youth groups. Sign up or learn more at its website. WWW.LOVEISMOVING.CA
The EFC welcomes new staff
In September the EFC hired Brian Lopez of Toronto to a full-time position managing its social media and email newsletters. Lopez is an experienced videographer and video producer who has previously worked with World Vision Canada and Catch the Fire. The EFC also contracted with Dave Tod of Calgary to serve as a major gifts officer for Western Canada. Welcome!
French EFC updates
Recent French language articles on the EFC website discussed the EFC’s election resources and introduced the French version of the new resource We Are Neighbours: Catholics and Evangelicals in Canada. Several translations from recent Faith Today articles have also been added, including “Deconstructing Faith” and “Love One Another” from Sep/Oct 2021. WWW. THEEFC.CA/ACTIONS-EVANGELIQUES
Weekly EFC prayer prompts
Each week the EFC website rotates through one prayer request from each of these five areas – Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, and Religious Freedom. The site also lists an EFC affiliate group to pray for each week. WWW. THEEFC.CA/TAKEACTION