Vote to reopen abortion debate
Posted Sep 25, 2012 10:38:27 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Kitchener-Centre MP Stephen Woodworth’s controversial Motion 312 is up for final vote Wednesday night in the House of Commons.
It essentially re-opens the abortion debate, by asking Parliament to form a 12-member committee to study the definition of what constitutes a human being.
The Canadian Criminal Code currently considers a child a human being once it is born.
Waterloo region based advocates for the pro-choice and the pro-life sides of the debate will be watching closely when the vote starts at 6:00 PM.
On the pro-life side, President of Right to Life KW, Jane Richard told Motion 312 could help establish “person-hood” for the unborn child.
Richard believes women have domain over their bodies, until the moment they become pregnant, “There is a child there, if she doesn’t want to be pregnant, then she shouldn’t be pregnant. But, once the child is there, in the womb, then it has to be considered,” Richard said.
Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region spokesperson Shannon Dea told 570 News if Motion 312 passes, it could end up being used to limit the reproductive freedoms of women.
Dea said “If it aint broke, don’t fix it,” as Canada has one of the worlds lowest abortion rates as it is.
“What we do know, is that in countries where abortion is criminalized, poor and vulnerable women end up with injury and death as the result of back-alley abortions,” said Dea.
Mr. Woodworth has said he isn’t certain his motion has enough support to pass, but he will be lobbying other MP’s throughout the day leading up to the vote.
