The Facts

C-484, a Private Member’s Bill was tabled in the House of Commons by Conservative Ken Epp, on November 21, 2007, may bring Canada back several decades and reopen a debate that was ended 20 years ago.

Purpose of Bill C-484 (Unborn Victims of Crime Act), is to amend the Criminal Code so that charges can be laid in all cases causing the death of an unborn child. This could, implicitly, give legal standing to the fetus, which has none under the current legislation. Such status would mean that the murder of a pregnant woman could, for example, carry a double term of imprisonment. 

It should be remembered that on January 28, 1988, after 20 years of judicial wrangling and 15 months of deliberations, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down section 251 of the Criminal Code. Would Bill C-484 be a subterfuge to grant separate legal status to the fetus? If so, this would be equivalent to wiping out at a single stroke 20 years of jurisprudence with regard to women’s choice and legal rights to dispose of their bodies as they wish.

We would like to make ourselves clear: a violent crime against anyone is heinous and unacceptable. Even if we could consider a violent crime against pregnant women be double, such statement does not justify the adoption of a bill that could disrupt the existing balance in women’s rights.

If Bill C-484 passes, it could open the door to all kinds of demands or legal proceedings calling for the recriminalization of abortion. It is clear that, under such circumstances, health professionals, including many medical specialists could, ipso facto, find themselves in the dock.

Before it becomes to late…

Bill C-484 passed second reading on March 5, 2008 in a climate of virtually total indifference.

We must not let Bill C-484 be adopted in third reading and moreover, never obtain Royal Assent.

Bill C-484 represents a definite setback for our society. Endorsing this Bill would be equivalent to reopening a debate with an unpredictable outcome, yet with all the attendant consequences for medical practice.

What have done the Members of the House of Commons?

On March 5, 2008, at the second reading of the Bill, 147 Members of Parliament voted in favour of it, 118 of them were Conservatives. A majority of members of the Opposition voted against Bill C-484, though in an insufficient matter.

The Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party issued party’s guidelines opposing to Bill C-484.

Conservatives gave its members freedom to vote.

Since no clear guidelines were issued, members of the Liberal Party of Canada voted as they wished. Their leader, who is also Leader of the Opposition, was absent from the House of Commons for this vote.

You can help:

Let Opposition Leader Stéphane Dion know time is important in this matter:
He must give clear guidelines to his members in order to block Bill C-484.

Three simple ways to give your support against Bill C-484!

Sign the petition against Bill C-484. The petition will be deposited at the House of Commons before Bill C-484 gets to the third reading.

Send a message to your House of Commons representative, to the Leader of the Official Opposition, Stephane Dion or to the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

Spread this information around you; invite your colleagues, relatives and friends to sign the petition.