‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ ‘What Do YOU Stand For?’ Gifted to the League by Lorrilee Jordan, RIP 2012 Adapted by Nancy Simms and Doreen Gowans 2017 Part 1: Allow approximately 20 minutes for the following: Welcome all participants : Good morning and welcome. My name is , and currently I am the (position you currently are holding along with something about yourself) Opening prayer – slide 2 Review Agenda – slide 3 Commitment to League Objects – slide 4 ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ “What Do YOU Stand For?” AGENDA Opening Prayer Canada – The Road to Democracy Canada’s System of Government Process of Creating and Passing a Bill Closing Prayer Review the agenda. ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ Opening Prayer Dear Jesus, we gather in Your name to ask Your blessing. Take our eyes and bless them so we may see You in all those with whom we come in contact. Bless our lips, so we may always speak gently and with compassion to all who hear us. And bless our ears so that we might hear You in them. Bless our hands with Your healing and loving gift of touch. Bless our feet, so they may joyously carry us as we do Your will. And fill our hearts with Your overflowing love as we work together to grow and further develop The Catholic Women’s League of Canada. Amen Let’s center ourselves and slowly recite the Opening prayer together . ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

DO YOU BELIEVE........ DO you believe in the sanctity of human life? DO you want to develop a deeper spiritual life? DO you uphold the dignity of all human beings? DO you believe women play an important role in church and society? DO you strive to set a Christian example in your home and work place? DO you believe in Catholic education and affordable health services? DO you believe in the power of prayer? Then you belong to The Catholic Women’s League of Canada! Enthusiastically ask participants the questions on this slide, having the volunteers holding the ‘YES and OF COURSE’ signs up after each question and all participants answering to create enthusiasm in the room. Upon completion proceed with the following: These are the objects of our organization. The objects of an organization are what it stands for, its goals, aim or purpose. Therefore the connection between legislation and the Objects of the League is that we have the united voice of Catholic Women across Canada promoting social justice. (Leave the next slide up) HOW / WHY / WORK PAGES: Take approximately 14 minutes Legislation is social justice in action. It is making sure government policy follows through on League Resolutions. WHY do we have a Legislation Standing Committee? To influence government policies. Keep this slide up - move to next page.   ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ Part 2 – Time approximately 15 minutes Now I would like to give you a little quiz on Canadian politics. On your tables are sheets (Canada’s Road to Democracy) for you to work together as a team to fill in the answers. I only want you to complete the first side of page 1 and then I will call you back. YOU WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES TO COMPLETE. (Go to our Cheat Sheet! - Review the answers – Give out prizes (chocolates to the winning table - optional) Now I would like you to turn your page over and do the same for the back page – likewise (Go to our Cheat Sheet! - Review the answers – Give out prizes to the winning table!) Tie Breaker: you may need to provide a tie breaker question(s) if needed. ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

THAT IS WHAT LEGISLATION IS ALL ABOUT! Objects of the League: 2. To promote the teachings of the Catholic church Resolution 2006.02: Legal Protection for All Those Who Object to the Solemnization of Civil Marriage for Same-sex Partners 3. To exemplify the Christian ideal in home and family life 1. To achieve individual and collective Spiritual Development. We know there is a bill and we have a resolution that is League policy. Policy that we should act on through letter writing and meeting with our members of parliament or our members of legislative assembly. THAT IS WHAT LEGISLATION IS ALL ABOUT! Bill C-16 if passed would amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination which would create difficulty for marriage officials to deny performing marriages that would not be within their religious beliefs. “C” means the Bill came from House of Commons and not from the Senate. If it comes from the Senate there would be an “S”. ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

Objects of the League (continued): 4. To protect the sanctity of human life Resolution 2016.04: Amend the Canada Health Act to Identify Palliative Care as an Insured Health Service Bill C-277: Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act 5. To enhance the role of women in the church and society 6. To recognize the human dignity of all people everywhere Bill C-277: would provide for the development and implementation of a framework designed to guarantee all Canadians access to high-quality palliative care. Letters should be written to encourage the passing of this bill. ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

Objects of the League (continued): 7. To uphold and defend Christian education and values in the modern world 8. To contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace and harmony Resolution 2011.02 Children of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women  Resolution 2013.01 Building Relationships and Partnerships with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples Bill S-215 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing for violent offences against Aboriginal women) Bill S-215 amends the Criminal Code to require a court, when imposing a sentence for certain violent offences, to consider the fact that the victim is an Aboriginal woman to be an aggravating circumstance. This bill supports our resolutions and therefore we as members should be writing letters to encourage the passing of the bill. So do you see how the process works and how effective we as members of the Catholic Women’s League can be? Does anyone have any questions on how resolutions, and legislation link to the objects of the League? Allow for 5 minutes. We need to contact our MP’s and MLA’s to have bills become law. We are all connected to one another and each of us needs to be personally responsible for the direction our country is taking for as Saint Teresa of Calcutta once wrote: ‘Today if we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.’ ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

Legislation at a Glance: LEGISLATION AT A GLANCE NEXT 3 PAGES NOTE: YOU MAY WANT TO ZOOM IN FOR THESE PAGES! I thought I would show you how to easily find legislation currently before parliament. If you go into the Parliament of Canada web page you will fine ‘Legislation at a Glance’ which provides an overview of Bills under consideration in either the Senate or the House of Commons. Find a Bill and place your cursor over it to see other important facts and data referring to the bill, scroll down some more and move your cursor and you will see more information. This is a wonderful tool for all of us to be using to help us quickly see legislation and what we may need to act on. I encourage you to view this web site often to keep informed on actions we MUST take! Add this to your Internet Explorer favourites. BILL C-16: An act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code Short Title: This Bill does not have a short title Latest Activity: Debate at Second Reading in the Senate (2016-12-01) ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

Legislation at a Glance: LEGISLATION AT A GLANCE (continued) NOTE: ARE YOU ZOOMED IN! BILL S-202: An Act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting plans) Short Title: Shared Parenting Act Latest Activity: Referral to Committee in the Senate (2016-10-06) "Legislation Workshop - 2012"

Legislation at a Glance: NOTE: ARE YOU ZOOMED IN! BILL C-277: An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada Short Title: Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act Latest Activity: Debate at Second Reading in House of Commons (2016-11-23) "Legislation Workshop - 2012"

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ In Closing: Provincial and federal governments have several bills regarding the concerns of children, health, social development, shelter, consumer protection, victims of crime, homelessness, disabled and marginalized persons, the elderly, emotionally, physically and psychologically abused, immigration, media, pornography, the socially isolated, moral corruption, evils of trafficking and many other issues. All of these issues are referred to in the Objects of the League which members promote by creating resolutions and taking action through legislation. This is the basic connection of legislation and the Objects of the League. PART 5 –5 MINUTES TO THE END ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ Moving Forward: The challenge of League members must be to take advantage of every opportunity to listen, learn and voice concerns in this secular society. Each person deserves rightful dignity – this is what members must address and fight for. Sometimes the political silence on issues and concerns for justice can be deafening. If members trust in the Holy Spirit, they are able to see their place in the world and have the courage to speak out with love, hope and charity. ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ Moving Forward: We can all die under the knife of political correctness. Let’s help each other to: monitor legislation under each standing committee speak in a united voice and uphold the continuing vision of the League by carrying out the Objects – only then will members fulfill League goals and its purpose and bring about justice to all people. HANDOUTS: Note: the handouts on your table – please take one to use at your next CWL meeting. Monitoring Bills before Parliament Matching to Meaning Quiz ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ Revelation 3:8 “I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open Door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have But little power, and yet you have kept my word and have Not denied my name.” When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him and fully and let go, only one of two things will happen, either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly! The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favour. If you believe then ACT! God closes doors no man can open and God opens doors no man can close.... Trust Him and He will provide you with the time and the energy to follow Him and to do His will! ~Author Unknown ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ Closing Prayer Bless my heart, that I may be open to the Spirit. Bless my eyes that I may see clearly. Bless my ears that I may hear the wind. Bless my mouth that I may speak with wisdom. Bless my womb that I may give birth to my creativity. Bless my feet that I may walk the path of justice. Bless my hands that I may touch all creation with respect. Bless each one of us as we work together for the betterment of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada. Amen Please join in reciting our closing prayer. ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’

‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ Than thank if Thank you for your time and participation. I hope you have gained some insight into how the legislation portion of our government works. We MUST be active to make a difference! ‘Legislation Workshop – 2017’ "