B.C. Conservative MLA angry after colleagues welcome lobby group opposed to same-sex marriage, MAID, abortion

A B.C. Conservative MLA says she is livid after her party leader, John Rustad, and more than a dozen of his MLAs attended a speaking event at the legislature this week by a Christian lobby group that opposes medical assistance in dying (MAID), abortion and gender transition for youth. 

"To see a group that, in my opinion, actively works against the rights of other British Columbians, is not in line with what I want to see in the Hall of Honour," said Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko.

B.C. Conservative MLA Heather Maahs hosted the group, called the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA), at an event in the legislature's Hall of Honour on Tuesday. 

"What ARPA has done is given a voice to the ills of society that are so harmful to many," Maahs, the MLA for Chilliwack North, said in introducing the group. "Many of their stances align with our common sense approach as the Conservative Party of B.C. They defend parental rights, they speak for the protection of life and harm created by MAID, and for the division created by the learning resource SOGI 123 in our public schools." 

Furor over religious group's visit to B.C. legislature

22 hours ago

Duration 2:19

A B.C. Conservative MLA is furious after a fellow MLA welcomed a religious lobby group to the legislature that opposes same sex marriage, medically assisted dying and abortion. Katie DeRosa has more on the group and the concerns.

The group has campaigned to end MAID, which it calls euthanasia. It also operates the We Need a Law campaign, which protects the rights of "pre-born children." 

"Canada is the only democracy in the world to have zero legal protection for pre-born children," its website states. 

The group has pushed for abortion to be criminalized and called for a ban on the abortion pill. 

It also opposes gender affirming care for transgender youth, as well as Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policy in schools. 

Sturko, who is gay, said the organization has written on its website that homosexuality is immoral.

"I'm really disappointed. This doesn't represent myself, my family, I don't believe it represents the majority of British Columbians," she said. "Inviting any groups that would be fighting against the rights of any other British Columbians is not something I'm in agreement with."

Sturko, the Conservative public safety critic, said she's told her caucus members how she feels about it.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad was present for the event, alongside more than a dozen Conservative MLAs.

CBC News was not at the event, but viewed photos and videos of it provided by the NDP caucus. 

In them, ARPA executive director Mike Schouten told MLAs about the work his group is doing.

"Part of our mission is to take a biblical perspective directly to our civil authorities," he said. "I think if we observe our country today, we would all agree that at some level many people have been complicit in actively destroying those foundations."

CBC asked Schouten about Sturko's concerns about the group's stance on same sex marriage.  

"As a Christian advocacy organization that adheres to the truths we believe that are found in God's word, it's not inconsistent then for us to state that we believe homosexuality is immoral."

But Schouten added the group is not trying to overturn Canada's gay marriage laws.

He said the group contacts politicians across Canada and tries to find "common ground" over issues important to Christians, including raising concerns about the rate of abortions among women who find out they have a child with Down syndrome. The group is also concerned about medical assistance in dying for people with disabilities or mental health issues. 

Joyce Arthur, executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, said it's concerning the group was welcomed into the legislature by B.C. Conservative MLAs.

"It's an official recognition that gives legitimacy to this anti-human rights group," she said. 

Jennifer Blatherwick, the NDP's parliamentary secretary for gender equity, said ARPA advocates for legislation "that would restrict access to reproductive health services, but also in some cases could criminalize abortion. And that is not, I think, what most British Columbians are looking for when they want responsive health care."

Rustad defended the group's presence at the legislature.

The B.C. Conservatives have campaigned on ending the SOGI policy in schools, saying it has injected "political ideology" into schools and ignores the rights of parents to have a say in their child's education. 

SOGI 123 is not a curriculum but provides guides and resources to help teachers address discrimination and bullying, create supportive and inclusive environments for 2SLGBTQ+ students, and acknowledge varying genders and sexual orientations.

It was established in schools in 2016 by the then-ruling B.C. Liberals, as part of anti-bullying policies. Rustad was a cabinet minister in that government.

Rustad acknowledged the divisions within his caucus over the ARPA event. 

"We are a broad coalition. We have people across the spectrum, so there might be some issues," he said. "We're trying to fight for the issues that are important — issues of family, issues of faith, issues of freedoms."

Rustad would not give his position on a woman's right to choose, but has repeatedly said his party would not reopen the abortion debate.