Morgentaler tale must-see history
Could even make you proud to be Canadian
by Liz Braun, Calgary Sun, Jan 5, 2005
http://www.calgarysun.com/perl-bin/niveau2.cgi?s=films&p=91370.html&a=1

Seventeen years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada decided to change this country's abortion laws. The man who anchored the fight for women's reproductive rights is celebrated in a film called Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story, which airs tonight on CTV at 9. Fascinating subject, so-so film - Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story never quite makes the man three-dimensional. And it doesn't convey the news-grabbing hysteria or the emotional highs and lows of Morgentaler's battle on behalf of Canadian women. Never mind. As an historical document, Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story is probably a must-see proposition.

Directed by John L'Ecuyer, Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story stars David Eisner as Morgentaler. The story begins in Montreal in the '60s; Morgentaler is 44 and a successful physician who decides to take a shocking chance - he offers women safe abortions, even though the procedure is illegal. The story is told of how he, as a student, wandered into a ward reserved for women who had had backstreet abortions. Some were dying. Others had been rendered infertile. Morgentaler was profoundly moved by what he saw.

It took 20 years of legal battles to convey a seemingly simple idea that safe, legal abortions were preferable to the dangerous and furtive carry-on of illegal work. And Supreme Court triumph notwithstanding, Morgentaler had to wear a bulletproof vest at one point in his life. His Toronto abortion clinic was bombed in the 1990s.

As if the working life of Morgentaler was not fraught enough, his personal life - according to Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story - was also complicated. The Holocaust survivor seems to have been a bit of a babe magnet. Who knew?

Morgentaler, portrayed as generally fearless and defiant in this movie, served time in prison over the abortion issue even though a Quebec jury had already acquitted him. Witnessing his tenacity makes Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story worth seeing. And as people chip away at Roe vs. Wade south of the border, Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story could even make you proud to be Canadian.

A recent Ipsos-Reid/CTV poll has shown that the majority of women aged 18-34 don't really know who Dr. Henry Morgentaler is or what he's done. If that applies to you, be sure to watch Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story tonight.

Dr. Henry Morgentaler says if he had to fight again for women to win the right to have an abortion on demand, he would. "I was willing to go to jail, I was willing to die for it," he told CTV's Canada AM Wednesday. "So when I look back on it, I look at a life of achievement because I achieved a great deal and I'm very proud of it."

A TV movie about Morgentaler, entitled "Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story,'' airs tonight on CTV. It chronicles how the physician defiantly began his fight for women's reproductive rights in 1967, even serving time in a Quebec prison in 1975 on abortion charges. The story culminates with the Supreme Court of Canada deciding to strike down this country's abortion laws in 1988.

Morgentaler, now 81, was an advocate for abortion rights at a time when attempting to induce an abortion was a crime punishable by life in prison. He gave up his family practice to focus solely on the fight for the right to perform abortions. Even now though, 17 years after the court battles have ended, the abortion debate continues to fire emotions for many. But Morgentaler says for him, the issue has always been straightforward. "I got involved because this was, for me, a fight for justice, for fundamental justice, and the fact that I could possibly do something to help women in spite of a law which did not allow me to do it."

And as lawmakers in the U.S. chip away at Roe vs. Wade -- the case that changed abortion laws in the U.S. -- Morgentaler believes that the laws in Canada are solid. "I think it has become an acquired right for women. And therefore it will be very difficult for anyone, any politician or any Parliament to change this. It's very hard to take away an acquired right."

As for the CTV movie about his life, Morgentaler says it's an accurate description of his fight. He just wishes he didn't come out appearing so callous. "Well, on the whole, I think it was a very well-done movie. But the only thing that I don't like about it is that my sweeter, nicer, gentler nature did not come out. "I was portrayed as a fighter for justice and so on, but they didn't do me justice as far as my personal life is concerned. Because I'm basically a nice guy."

David Eisner, who stars as Morgentaler, says it was a terrific role to play, especially with director John L'Ecuyer on board. "It's an actor's dream to play such an interesting, tumultuous character," he says. "I couldn't have done it without the director who is an incredible man in his own right and with his help, it really made a big difference."

While Morgentaler once dominated headlines in this country, a recent Ipsos-Reid/CTV poll showed that 78 per cent of Canadian women aged 18-34 couldn't identify who Morgentaler is or what he had done. Morgentaler says rather than see that as an indication that women don't appreciate the work he did, he says it's encouraging that his work is now taken for granted. "I think it's a good thing that many women don't know anymore about the enormous struggle that was necessary to bring this about," he says. "And let's face it, society's changed. Women no longer die as a result of abortion. Fewer children are born who are neglected or abused. There are few young men who have a rage in their heart; consequently there's been a decrease in crimes of violence. "On the whole, I think we have a better society because of all that."

ABORTING AMERICA (...The PLANNED PARENTHOOD organization was allowed into schools and universities promoting abortion, pushing condoms and providing sexual education but PRO-LIFE groups were labelled "religious" for having opinions on right and wrong, in spite of the fact that PRO-LIFE is a non-denominational, non-religious organization whose membership is drawn from all people in society - whatever their religion or non-religion. And so too is the PRO-LIFE message directed to all people in society, in spite of their religion. The biggest abortion pusher in the country is actually a member of the Jewish religion, HENRY MORGENTALER, and he is never accused of pushing his religion....)

CANADA KILLS PEOPLE BEFORE BIRTH

Canada's baby bust (unprecedented decline in number of children). Vancouver Sun, Jan 3, 2009

Canada PM says abortion debate is over. CBC, Dec 30, 2008
The Prime Minister's Office has reaffirmed its position that the government has no intention of reopening the abortion debate following a Conservative MP's comments that the issue needs to be addressed. "Throughout his political career, the prime minister has been clear on this issue," Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for the prime minister, told the National Post. "We will not introduce or support legislation on abortion." Although the issue has come up during election campaigns, Harper has insisted that it will not be part of a Conservative government agenda. While he has not been specific about his own views, Harper has said they fall somewhere "between the two extremes." Earlier this week, Winnipeg MP Rod Bruinooge told reporters a pro-life caucus will be pushing for a debate on whether or not abortion should be legal right up until the moment of birth. Bruinooge, who is the new chair of the secretive anti-abortion parliamentary caucus, said people need to be better educated about Canada's abortion stance, which he says puts the country in a "class of its own." "Very few Canadians appreciate the fact that essentially until a child takes its first breath, it has less value than a kidney," Bruinooge told the Canadian Press. "In Canada you can't remove your kidney, and put it on eBay and auction it off. That is illegal. Whereas you actually can end a beating heart of an unborn child the second before it's delivered. Most Canadians would agree that is truly a poor bioethical position for our country to be in." Pro-choice advocates argue that Canadian doctors only perform such later-term procedures if there's a serious threat to the health of the mother or if it's virtually certain the baby wouldn't survive past birth.

Morgentaler named to Order of Canada. CBC, Jul 1, 2008
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean has named a leading abortion rights crusader to the Order of Canada, news that has outraged anti-abortion groups....The Campaign Life Coalition said it is dreadful that a man who spent his life performing abortions should be honoured. The coalition is urging other Order of Canada recipients to return their medals in protest. "If Morgentaler had any integrity, he would refuse the medal," Mary Ellen Douglas of the coalition said in a news release. "This presentation should be given to people who have made Canada a better place to live and the elimination of thousands of human beings who would have contributed to the future of Canada is a disgrace, not an honour." Now 85, Morgentaler, a Polish Holocaust survivor who immigrated to Montreal after the war, opened his first abortion clinic in 1969 and performed thousands of procedures, which were illegal at the time. 'It's great to hear that he is finally being recognized for his hard work and dedication to Canadian women's rights.'

Morgentaler tale must-see history (make you proud to be Canadian). Calgary Sun, Jan 5, 2005