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Topic: Boycott Pro-Life BMO Mastercard

Eugene Plawiuk
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8162

posted 28 March 2005 11:47 PM

Here is something insidious, the Bank of Montreal (BMO) Mastercard has a co-sponsorship program for organizations in Canada. Its called the Mozaik program. It's latest partner is the Pro-Life movement, the Anti-Abortion fundamentalist fanatics who would deny a woman's right to choose. The credit card allows Lifecanada to collect fees from users.

This group wants to end any funding for abortions making it a fully privatized medical service. Cause they claim it's a womans 'personal choice', choice shmoice, its a neccisity. Which is still not a fully funded medical service.

And no the BMO is not offering the same deal for Planned Parenthood Canada, so they really are choosing sides.

Life Canada is not a chairty it is a Political Lobby group to end a woman's right to safe public medical services.

Red Between the Lines

From: Edmonton Alberta | Registered: Feb 2005 | IP: Logged

Amy
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2210

posted 28 March 2005 11:58 PM

There's a thread on this here. "New Anti-Choice Bank of Montreal Mastercard "

From: the whole town erupts and/ bursts into flame | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Amy
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2210

posted 29 March 2005 01:07 AM

I am curious though, the blog you linked to said that the oppurtunity wasn't offered to Planned Parenthood Canada. One of the criteria for getting the fundraising credit card, according to the mastercard website, was that there has to be at least 15,000 members nation-wide, with a decent prospect for a lot of them getting the cards.

Can you become a member of PPC? I looked on the website but only saw links for 'how to get involved' and 'make a donation', and neither of them had info on becoming a member, although that doesn't necessarily indicate anything.

From: the whole town erupts and/ bursts into flame | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

beibhnn
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3178

posted 29 March 2005 04:07 PM

Yes, you can become a member of your local Planned Parenthood chapter. Usually they request a small donation for membership but in my experience it can be waived if people are interested in becoming members and getting more involved.

If you can't find any information on the web, try the phone book and call the local group. Planned Parenthood will be delighted to benefit from your donation, your membership, and hopefully your volunteer contributions.

From: in exile | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

scooter
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5548

posted 30 March 2005 10:59 AM

I heard that BMO was a bit surprised by the press against the "life canada" group. BMO stated that they have been doing this for ten years and its only now that someone has complained.

From: High River | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

Kinetix
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5296

posted 30 March 2005 01:06 PM

Yeah, and all those pro life organizations should boycott BMO Mastercard because the NDP has an affinity card with them (and had one first with them, BTW). Give me a break. BMO has no political agenda with these cards. Any qualifying organization gan generally get one if they're inclined.

From: Montréal, Québec | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

presca
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6450

posted 04 April 2005 03:37 PM

I agree that the BMO probably has no political agenda - but I'm thinking about dropping my account with them anyhow - and letting them know why. If enough people pressure them, they may consider cutting their ties with LifeCanada. It seems like such a small, insignificant, action to take; but I'm sure that if the BMO had an affinity card for Morgentaler's clinics, the pro-life groups would protest in scores; and that the BMO would stop carrying such a card.

From: mtl | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289

posted 13 April 2005 01:28 AM

It worked, whoooo hooo!

LifeSiteNews.com
Tuesday April 12, 2005

Bank of Montreal Caves to Media Pressure and Cancels 15 Year Old MasterCard Affinity Program With Pro-Life Group

TORONTO, April 12, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Bank of Montreal has officially declared that it will cease to support a pro-life affinity MasterCard when the agreement expires on July 2006 because of a "small number" of complaints.

The BMO President and CEO of the Personal and Commercial Client Group, Robert W. Pearce, replied to a Globe and Mail article entitled "When affinity is really an affront" (April 2). The letter to the editor, entitled "end of an association" and dated Saturday, April 9, 2005 stated that "As a commercial enterprise, Bank of Montreal does not want to be involved in a controversy over what so many consider to be personal and private decisions. Unfortunately, providing a strictly commercial affinity card to LifeCanada (a card we have provided for the past 15 years) has created the false perception recently that we may, in some manner, endorse a particular point of view. From the outset, that has never been our intention. We always have remained neutral on this issue."

The letter then indicated that "Following a review of our affinity-card policy, we have decided to end this particular commercial relationship at the conclusion of our contractual agreement."

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/apr/05041206.html

From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

Hailey
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6438

posted 13 April 2005 01:49 AM

Clearly I have a position on abortion that varies from most here but I find it puzzling that persons interpret it as an endorsement of the prolife movement. I'd have imagined that if the prochoice had applied for a card they'd have gotten it as well. I don't think that the prolife would have boycotted (I can't speak on behalf of millions but that's my guess!) Their decision to not renew though will obviously lead persons with those values to feel more comfortable with businesses that model more respect for them.

An interesting question would be who are the 160 businesses that have such a mastercard. If any of them are controversial it would be of interest to make opponents on the other side of the issue aware so that they can revise their banking practices. I understand the NDP has one - which may or may not be of interest to conservatives. But, I'm sure it's bigger than that.

It'll be interesting.

From: candyland | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289

posted 13 April 2005 03:35 AM

Hailey, it is this way, if the pro-life crowd can push their weight around and say they have the moral authority to try to make Canada a theocracy and to strip women of their rights, then they will find out how little authority they have.

Most of us pro-choice people actually want to live in peaceful coexistence, with all freedoms and equality respected for EVERYONE. For too long it seems we thought others would respect that right for all too. Now it seems not.

We got pushed, and they got pushed back. It seems lines are drawn and we will not let Canada go the way of the USA.

From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

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