"Bill C-17 gives animals more protection in the Criminal Code than unborn children."

"The government has defined an ‘animal’ in Bill C-17 as ‘a vertebrate, other than a human being, and any other animal that has the capacity to feel pain.’ So, the Liberals are saying it’s wrong for an animal to feel pain but okay for an unborn child to feel pain and with absolutely no consequences for those causing the child’s pain or even death!" Breitkreuz pointed out that the reason unborn children don’t have any protection in Canadian law is because of the way a ‘human being’ is defined in the Criminal Code of Canada. Section 223(1) states: " A child becomes a human being within the meaning of this Act when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother whether or not (a) it has breathed, (b) it has an independent circulation, or (c) the navel string is severed."

"Anyone causing ‘unnecessary pain’ to an animal in C-17 ‘is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.’ But causing unnecessary pain to, or even killing, an unborn child, even in the ninth month of pregnancy, is subject to no punishment whatsoever," exclaimed Breitkreuz. "Clearly, Justice Minister Anne McLellan’s priorities are all out of whack."

"We should be debating the definition of a human being in Parliament – not the definition of an animal," recommended Breitkreuz. He offered his own Private Member’s motion as a possible amendment to Bill C-17. M-360 states: "That, in the opinion of this House, the government should bring in legislation defining a "human being" as a human foetus or embryo, from the moment of conception, whether in the womb of the mother or not and whether conceived naturally or otherwise and making any and all consequential amendments required."

"Bill C-17 will have a huge negative impact on acceptable practices of farmers, ranchers, hunters and fishermen but will have no impact on the cruel practices of the abortion industry. Only the Liberal Cabinet would put cruelty to animals ahead of cruelty to unborn babies. Canadians on both sides of the abortion debate see the absurdity of this ridiculous piece of Liberal legislation." Breitkreuz concluded, "And what really rubs salt into our wounds is that we are forced to pay for this pain and suffering by having to fund private abortion clinics with our scarce health care dollars. This is a national tragedy looking for a common sense solution."

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