EFC Election Kit 2008: Fact Sheet on Family Integrity

What is a family?

God has established families to provide physical, emotional and spiritual care for their members.

The Bible teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman. It is the primary relationship within which children are born and nurtured. Marriage forms the foundation of families. God showed his intent for marriage in creation, and Jesus’ teaching upheld this union of a man and a woman in marriage.

Canadian families are increasingly under stress. Family breakdown is common, with 37 per cent of marriages statistically projected to end in divorce within 30 years. Common-law relationships fare worse — approximately 60 per cent of common-law relationships break apart. Children are experiencing their parents’ separation at increasingly younger ages.

The average age of Canadians is increasing as the “baby boom” generation reaches retirement years. As the Canadian population ages, parents become increasingly dependent on their adult children (often parents themselves) for assistance.

Questions to ask on this issue:

• Do you support a formal government review of how federal programs and policies have impacted the family?
• What policies do you propose to reduce the stress on families and decrease the rate of family breakdown?

Protection of Children

As Christians, we are called to care for the vulnerable and to uphold human dignity. The Old and New Testaments include instructions to care for “the widow and the orphan,” those who were powerless and vulnerable in their society.

Questions to ask on this issue:

• Do you support maintaining and enforcing the existing laws to provide greater protection for children?
• What new steps will you take to support the protection of children from abuse?