NEWS RELEASE

April 18, 2002                                                                                                   For Immediate Release

PARLIAMENT WILL DEBATE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR UNBORN CHILDREN

“Is the current definition of a human being adequate or does it need to be amended? asks Breitkreuz.”

 

Yorkton – Today, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, appealed to Canadians to write their MPs in support of his Private Member’s Motion M-392 that calls for the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to prepare a report on the laws protecting unborn children.  “I understand that not all Canadians hold opinions similar to mine that life begins at conception; therefore, I want to use the democratic process to determine what the majority of Canadians do think about this important issue,” said Breitkreuz.  The Saskatchewan MP has raised this issue in Parliament on a number of occasions since being elected in 1993.  His most recent motion is tentatively scheduled for debate on May 22nd.

 

M-392 states: That the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights review the current definition of "human being" in section 223(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada and report (a) whether the law needs to be amended to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child so as to provide appropriate legal protection for a child before as well as after birth; and (b) whether the law should be amended so that an unborn child is considered a human being at the point of conception, when the baby's brain waves can be detected, when the baby starts to move within the womb, or when the baby is able to survive outside the womb. 

 

Breitkreuz explained, “The purpose of my motion is to determine the extent of legal protection for an unborn child in Canadian law and whether the law needs to be amended.  Before M-392 goes into debate, I need as many Canadians as possible to send me the answers to some key questions.”

 

1.  Are you satisfied with the definition of a human being as it is currently written?  YES   or   NO

Section 223(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada states: “A child becomes a human being within the meaning of this Act when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother whether or not (a) it has breathed, (b) it has an independent circulation, or (c) the navel string is severed.” 

 

2.  If you think the definition of a human being needs to be amended, when do you think an unborn child should be considered a human being or deserves legal protection?

(a) At the point of conception?

(b) When the baby's brain waves can be detected?

(c) When the baby starts to move within the womb?

(d) When the baby is able to survive outside the womb?

(e) At some other point during the pregnancy?  Please explain: ____________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

“Please send a copy of your reply (postage free) directly to my Ottawa office and a copy to your own Member of Parliament.  After 14 years without any legal protection for unborn children, it’s time to find out if Canadians are satisfied with the status quo,” concluded Breitkreuz.

 

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