André Schutten
André Schutten is General Legal Counsel with the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA) Canada since 2011. He has the mandate of equipping the Reformed Christian community for political action on a broad range of issues. He also conducts regular analysis on the implications of different government bills and court judgments and acts as ARPA's chief Parliamentary lobbyist. André completed his Master of Laws degree in Constitutional Law through Osgoode Hall Law School in 2013. He lives in Gatineau, Québec with his lovely wife Karyn VanDooren, an accomplished artist and art consultant. They are active members of Jubilee Church where André is church organist.
Bio last updated December 8th, 2021.
Articles by André Schutten
Chief Concern With Conversion Therapy Law
By André Schutten
December 8, 2021
Drawing on history and imagination, André Schutten “interviews” former Conservative Prime Minister John Diefenbaker about Conservative Party failure to properly oppose the new legislation.
In reflecting on the past week, one of my thoughts is how far the leadership of this conservative party has fallen from more principled days in opposition, like those of the Right Honourable John Diefenbaker In less than 30 seconds, a bill that will profoundly impact religious communities and members of the LGBTQ community, and threatens to undermine fundamental freedoms in disturbing ways, skipped over the entire Parliamentary procedure of the House of Commons: second reading and debate, Justice committee study with experts and stakeholders, report stage, final debate and the third reading vote JD: “[T]he experience of history has been that only a strong and fearless Opposition can assure preservation of our fundamental freedoms and of the rights of the individual against executive and bureaucratic invasions of those rights JD: You should really get your readers to read my whole speech on the role of the opposition JD: “There have been tremendous changes in government in the last fifty years but it is nonetheless true now as it was at the beginning of this century that only with an organized and effective Opposition can democracy be preserved Parliament will only remain the guardian of freedom and our free institutions so long as His Majesty's Loyal Opposition is fully responsible and effective in the discharge of its functions But here too, the criticism from the opposition in any province or in Parliament seems only that the government has not abrogated freedoms enough
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The HandMAiD’s Toll
André Schutten and Anna Nienhuis
February 9, 2021
As the Senate studies Bill C-7’s dramatic expansion of medical assistance in dying, Anna Nienhuis and André Schutten warn of a MAiD copycat effect on those tempted to suicide.
As the Senate continues its review of Bill C-7’s dramatic expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD), possibly proposing amendments before sending it back to the House of Commons, Senators should consider the evidence for copycat and coupling effects when it comes to suicide, and how that will ...
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Carter, Charter, and Magna Carta
André Schutten
June 1, 2015
In striking down laws against physician-assisted suicide, the Supreme Court of Canada used the Charter of Rights to eviscerate 800 years of legal wisdom first captured in the Great Charter—or Magna Carta—and based on the immutable link between God and the rule of law.
The appellants, in their successful bid to strike down Canada's absolute prohibition on assisted suicide, argued not only that the prohibition violated the right to life, liberty and security of the person (protected under section 7 of the Charter) but also that it violated the section 15 equality r...
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Imposing On Whom?
André Schutten
August 26, 2013
So, if Christian Horizons, as an effective institution doing good work at a good price, should nevertheless be banned from engaging in the work they do simply because they are a group of Christians (instead of a more nebulous, indistinct group), then what is the deeper implication of such a policy? ...
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A Long Way from Inclusive
André Schutten
June 19, 2013
One need only look to religious schools, an obvious manifestation of the "false" public and communal type of religion outlined by Sullivan, to see how unaccommodating the Rest of Canada can be The accommodation of religion in the "Rest of Canada" is not that stellar ...
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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda in Whatcott
Albertos Polizogopoulos and André Schutten
June 1, 2013
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on hate speech could have been better — but it also could have been a whole lot worse, say Albertos Polizogopoulos and André Schutten.
Many free speech advocates were hoping that the Supreme Court of Canada would overturn its earlier decision in Taylor and strike out the hate speech provisions of the Code as being an unconstitutional violation of freedom of expression While the Criminal Code definition of "hate speech" in Keegstra ...