The Conservative Occasion Non-public Members of Parliament Invoice from Saskatchewan sparked a debate about abortion in Ottawa.
The invoice, generally known as Invoice C-311, encourages judges to think about bodily or emotional hurt to a pregnant sufferer as an aggravating think about sentencing.
Cathay Vaganthol, a Conservative MP from Yorkton Melville, mentioned the Violence Towards Pregnant Ladies Act, which she authored, is solely for the safety of pregnant girls.
“(The invoice is to make sure that the act of knowingly assaulting a pregnant lady and inflicting bodily or emotional hurt on a pregnant lady is taken into account an aggravating circumstance within the sentencing course of,” Wagantoll mentioned.
However the Liberal Occasion and abortion rights teams consider there may be an underlying motive within the invoice, and there’s no point out of abortion anyplace within the invoice itself.
The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada is asking on MPs to vote no.
“The way in which folks can impose restrictions on abortion is that if a fetus is outlined as an individual, so now we have an issue with this invoice,” mentioned Paige Mason of the Canadian Abortion Rights Coalition.
The coalition additionally known as the invoice redundant, saying it was pointless as a result of judges have already got the discretion to impose more durable penalties for aggravating circumstances.
Trudeau’s authorities has the same opinion.
“How disappointing to see the Conservative Occasion, totally backed by Pierre Poilyevre, reopening the abortion debate and championing a lady’s proper to decide on,” mentioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“We aren’t a authorities that methods folks into locations that limit girls throughout our nice nation from accessing abortion,” reiterated Marcy Lehn, Minister for Ladies and Gender Equality.
A spokesman for Conservative Occasion chief Pierre Poilliev didn’t affirm whether or not he would vote for the invoice.
The abortion debate heated up forward of the second studying of the payments, which was ultimately postponed.
“There isn’t a purpose for anybody within the Home of Commons to not assist this,” Wagantoll mentioned.
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