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CALGARY, November 1, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Among the scores of policy resolutions to be discussed at the Conservative Convention taking place in Calgary is a short notation from the Langley, British Columbia, riding of MP Mark Warawa, under the heading of “Canada’s Social Fabric, Section K-70-Women” – but beneath that innocuous title is legislative dynamite. It states, “The Conservative Party condemns discrimination against girls through gender selection.” (CSF 1-26-157, pg. 34)

Although abortion is not mentioned in the policy resolution, the inclusion of the topic of gender selection in the convention program harkens back to Mr Warawa's September 2012 introduction to Parliament of a motion calling on the House to condemn sex-selective abortion of girls.

Mr Warawa's Motion 408 read: “That the House condemn discrimination against females occuring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.”

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“Recent studies have shown that the practice of aborting females in favour of males is happening in Canada,” said Warawa in a press release at the time. “92 percent of Canadians believe sex-selective pregnancy termination should be illegal.”

“Gender selection has been strongly condemned by all national political parties,” he added. “The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada have vehemently opposed sex-selection pregnancy termination.”

Despite the popular support for Mr Warawa's motion asking the government to condemn the killing of unborn girls for no other reason but that they are girls, in March 2013 Motion 408 was declared non-votable in a move critics saw as an ongoing joint effort by the Conservative government and the Opposition to keep anything abortion-related out of Parliament.

Jim Hughes, national president of Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), called the quashing of the motion “shocking and unprecedented,” adding that it was “anti-democratic and a violation of MPs rights to be heard in parliament.”

“Motion 408 calls for protection for women and girls. Who can be opposed to such a motion?” asked CLC’s Mary Ellen Douglas when news of the refusal of Parliament to vote on the motion was revealed. “Canada presents itself as being a defender of human rights here and around the world, and yet our own MPs are not free to bring forward private members motions without being censured by their own Parliament.”

Although Mr Warawa appealed the decision rejecting his motion to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, accusing the subcommittee members of breaching Parliament's rules, in the end he decided not to pursue appeals as far as he could have.

By choosing not to file further appeals, Warawa said he will be able to bring other motions or bills forward, and keep his place in the order of precedence.

Another timely policy resolution to be discussed at the Conservative Convention comes from Saskatoon Humboldt MP Brad Trost's riding association. Section CSF-1-21-130 (pg.29) proposes that “The Conservative Party will not support any legislation to legalize euthanasia or assisted suicide.”

Information on the Conservative Party of Canada Convention is available on the convention website.

Contact information for all MPs is available here