OTTAWA, October 1, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The vote on Canadian Alliance MP Garry Breitkreuz’s pro-life motion M-83 is set for this evening. Yesterday, the final hour of debate on the motion saw some excellent pro-life statements made in the House of Commons and an initial voice vote on the motion was negated by a request by more than five Members that a recorded vote be taken. Those MPs voting against the very simple pro-life motion will be considered by many as having identified themselves as strongly pro-abortion. M-83 asks the justice committee to examine whether abortions are medically necessary as defined by the Canada Health Act and to compare the health risks of women undergoing abortions compared to women who carry their babies to full term. Speaking on the motion, Canadian Alliance MP Ken Epp (Elk Island) said, “The dilemma for Canadians is that we are all required to pay taxes and, through our taxes, to fund abortions in an environment in which medical funding is limited.” Epp also pointed out that abortionists themselves have admitted the health risks to the mothers who undergo abortion. Liberal MP Paul Szabo (Mississauga South) also addressed the motion noting that “in the past year the U.S. secretary of health and human services amended the definition of child for U.S. health services purposes. The definition of child in the United States today is a person under the age of 19, including the period from conception to birth.”
Szabo, who championed the opposition to the reproductive technologies Bill C-13, pointed out that even “Bill C-13, protects the unborn child, being the embryo, from the 14th day forward. Why do they do that? They do it because even the medical profession acknowledges that the 14th day is when the primitive streak occurs. It is when twinning is not possible. It is when there are some physical features, pain can be felt, et cetera. Even the medical profession does not agree with the legal precedent, which is a person is not a human being until it is born and severed from the umbilical cord.” Szabo also quoted, Dr. Françoise Baylis, the vice-chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research board of governors, who “declares clearly that the human embryo is a member of the human species and that is an uncontested biological fact.” He encouraged Members “to stand and represent their beliefs and their concerns about the rights of the unborn, the future of Canada, who will never have a chance, those who have no voice in Canada.” PC MP Elsie Wayne noted that the concern over public funding of abortion was of great concern to New Brunswick where abortionist Henry Morgentaler is attempting to force funding for his private abortuary. “All Dr. Morgentaler cares about is the money he puts in the bank. He does not care about the baby in the womb. He does not care about the person who is having the abortion. I wish to congratulate our premier and our provincial government for not paying for these abortions,” she said. Wayne emphasized her work with pro-life causes and the parliamentary pro-life caucus and said, “As this House knows, I strongly believe that abortion should not be allowed in Canada. As a mother, a grandmother, and a member of Parliament, I do not believe that Canadians should have the choice to end a life that has just begun. It is a human life they are taking.” Canadian Alliance MP Dr James Lunney (Nanaimo-Alberni) also supported the motion saying, “We hear emotional debates about a woman’s right to choose, but we also hear debates which ignore that what is in the womb is a pre-born human being from the moment of conception.” Adding a touch of wisdom and humor to the debate Lunney concluded, “I would like to say that this whole concept of human conception has been degraded sadly in the debate and in this whole argument about choice. It is the marvel of human existence and of human procreation, the marvel that brought each one of us into this room, dare I say, as there may be the odd one who has come here some other way, and I know there are many members who question which planet they come from.” Two pro-abortion MPs spoke against the motion. BQ MP Christine Gagnon from Quebec and NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis from Manitoba. To contact any of the MP’s that spoke to the Motion: Ken Epp (CA-AB): [email protected] Paul Szabo (LIB-ON): [email protected] Elsie Wayne (PC-NB): [email protected] James Lunney (CA-BC): [email protected] Garry Breitkreuz (CA-SK): [email protected] Christiane Gagnon (BQ-QC): [email protected] Juldy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP-MB): [email protected] For an easy to read online version of the debate, go to: https://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/speeches/sept-30-2003.htm