Activist Bill Whatcott, who fought against abortion and homosexuality in Canada, has moved to the Philippines. Whatcott, whose wife is a Filipina, has settled in the province of Batangas. The former nurse has spent the past decade engaged in vocal, aggressive activism on a range of topics, from abortion to homosexuality, in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

In his own words, “he was forced out” of Canada under the pressure of a series of ordeals as a price for upholding his religious convictions. In his battles, Bill Whatcott took on many lobbies and eventually admitted his defeat.

The National Post reported that Whatcott left Canada, “after being hounded, fined and made practically unemployable by his strident views on homosexuality”. Making his views candid, Whatcott wrote an open letter on March 10, which was published on “Free North America”, in which the Saskatchewan activist announced the reasons for his refuge in the Philippines.

Whatcott wrote: “I have pretty much given the last quarter-century of my life to fighting for a Judeo-Christian vision for Canada, especially in the areas of life, sexuality and family. I also fought very hard for free speech and religious freedom for social conservative Christians … While the path I chose was somewhat controversial, devastating to my secular career prospects in Canada and indeed a path that rendered me a pariah in the eyes of many, I am quite happy with some of what I accomplished.

On the abortion front I am very happy there are a number of children alive as a direct result of my graphic abortion sign and sidewalk counseling ministries.” Whatcott and his wife, Joni, who is from the Philippines, are not very rich.

Whatcott said he was also unable to obtain permanent residency for his wife, Joni, in Canada. The couple met in 2007 and married in Singapore, four years later. Joni has been a constant support for him in his campaigns including his race for mayor of Edmonton in 2007.