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MARKHAM, Ontario, August 28, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A coalition of community groups in the city of Markham, situated just north of Toronto, wants the Canadian government to pass Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth’s Motion 312 to re-examine the definition of human life.

The second hour of debate on Motion 312 is scheduled for Friday, September 21. The final vote on the motion is scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, 2012, according to Stephen Woodworth’s office.

At a press conference held August 27th, The Coalition in Support of Motion 312 announced an open letter has been sent to the prime minister and all members of parliament stating that the current 400-year-old definition of when human life begins is indefensible in the light modern medical evidence, and calling for Parliamentarians to work for legal protection of all human life.

Currently Subsection 223(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada states that a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth.

“After careful examination and much thought,” the signatories assert, “we are of the opinion that the rationale behind the current definition as stated above can no longer stand before the present day medical evidence. Current medical research shows that a fertilized ovum contains human chromosomes that have the embedded characteristics of a human being, and develops the parts of a human being that become obvious even at as early as the third week.”

The Coalition’s letter points out the irrationality inherent in the denial of the humanity of a pre-born child by noting that even though the offspring of a butterfly goes through metamorphosis it is still recognized as a “butterfly” throughout its various stages, and a frog is still recognized as the offspring of a frog in its stages of development.

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“Therefore, it is irrational we should treat our own species differently and say that such a life form inside the mother that comes out and continues to grow with the same genetic and basic physical characteristics should be called otherwise,” the letter states.

Addressing legislators, the signatories state that Canadian law “attempts to protect human beings,” but charge that, when certain human beings are not legally recognized as such, they are “deprived the protection and privileges that they should have.”

Canada is “a crusader of lawful justice and human rights and is proud of being a pillar and protector of the human rights of citizens,” the Coalition members observe. “A human life put in danger just because an outdated law makes them ‘non-human’ should not be tolerated by the lawmakers of such a country.”

“We therefore urge you, our leaders and lawmakers in the Parliament and protectors of the lives and well being of every Canadian citizen, to kindly support and pass this Motion 312,” the signatories conclude.

Signatories of the groups forming the Coalition include David Kong of the Toronto Chinese Catholic Task-force, Dr. Jason Kwok of the Knights of Columbus, Raphael Wu of the CMCC Pro-Life Group, Jeff Gunnarson of Campaign Life Coalition, Teresa Pierre of Parents As First Educators, William Kwok of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, Lou Iacobelli of the Parental Rights in Education Defense Fund, and other pro-life and pro-family leaders.

The Coalition in Support of Motion 312 has initiated a petition that states:

“Whereas Canada’s 400 year old definition of a human being says a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to twenty-first century medical evidence;

“And whereas Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says some human beings are not human;

“Therefore, we call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending Section 223 of our Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect twenty-first century medical evidence.”

Organizers of the Coalition in Support of Motion 312 press conference, Edwin Lok and Peter Chan, said that MP Stephen Woodworth has been given over 4,000 signed petitions to be presented to the House of Commons.

Lou Iacobelli of Parental Rights in Education Defense Fund urged Canadians to “do what you can to support this motion and bring back the debate about the definition of life in Canada.”

“For too long now, since 1969, we have had no law to defend the unborn or any restriction on abortion whatsoever,” Iacobelli said.

“Let’s re-build a culture of life in Canada and not allow the culture of death to continue to flourish. This is a country that has for decades now, without saying so, declared war on its own children. Together, with God’s help, we can stop it.”

The Petition Form is available here and the text of the Coalition in Support of Motion 312 open letter is available here.

Contact information for all federal MPs is available here.