Canadian civil, faith groups weigh in on Conservative election win

Published: 2006-01-26

TORONTO (CNS) -- The Conservative Party victory in Canada's federal election has left faith and civil groups wondering how the first Conservative government since 1993 will deal with their concerns. Many of the issues promoted by faith groups failed to generate much media interest during the eight-week campaign. Same-sex marriage had the highest profile, though generally as an example of how the Conservatives would take away rights granted under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper promised his government would not introduce legislation on abortion, putting him in the same camp as the other parties. But faith groups are concerned about more than abortion and same-sex marriage. Joe Gunn, campaign coordinator for Make Poverty History, said although poverty issues did not attract a lot of attention on the campaign trail, his group has pledges from a majority of new members of Parliament in support of its objectives. Gunn said that nearly 980 candidates from all political parties endorsed Make Poverty History's four objectives: more and better foreign aid, trade justice, canceling debts of poor countries and eradicating child poverty in Canada.

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