Friday November 23, 2007
Internal Conservative Memo Suggests Canadian Government Open to New Unborn Victims Bill
By John-Henry Westen
OTTAWA, November 23, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Last year the Harper Conservative Government opposed a bill to recognize the life of a child in the womb when a violent act is committed against a pregnant mother. However a new version of the bill proposed this year by another MP has at least tacit approval from the Conservative leadership, as evidenced by an internal memo sent to Conservative Members of Parliament.
LifeSiteNews.com has learned of an advisory memo sent to all Conservative Members by the Prime Minister's Office regarding The Unborn Victims of Crime Act, Bill C-484, a private members bill introduced Wednesday by Conservative MP Ken Epp.
The bill would allow criminal charges to be laid in the death or injury of an unborn child when the child's mother is the victim of a crime.
In May last year, Conservative MP Leon Benoit proposed similar legislation which was blocked by the Conservative Government before it was even allowed to come before Parliament for a vote. (see coverage: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06062804.html )
However, the memo suggests that the bill will not be similarly blocked and Conservative members will be permitted a free vote on the issue in the House of Commons.
The memo advises MPs: "It is up to each member of parliament to decide whether they will vote in support or opposition to this private members bill."
Insiders suggest that a key factor in the change of attitude on the bill seems to be the fact that in the new version, abortion is specifically exempted from the proposed legislation.
Even though the previous bill and the current one have nothing to do with abortion, the second version states: "For greater certainty, this section does not apply in respect of (a) conduct relating to the lawful termination of the pregnancy of the mother of the child to which the mother has consented."
The measure has broad support among Canadians of all political stripes and even has the support of the majority of those who support abortion on demand.
Despite the indication that the new bill may be permitted to come before the full House of Commons for a vote, analysts doubt that the measure has enough time to become law prior to an election call expected early next year.
Nonetheless, some of the families of women who were victims of deadly violent crime while pregnant are urging Canadians to immediately contact their Members of Parliament to urge them to support the Unborn Victims of Crime Act - Bill C-484.
See the full text of Bill C-484:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/071123a.html
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