NEWS RELEASE

November 1, 1996   For Immediate Release

ABORTION ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS LACK OF DEMOCRACY IN CANADA

"Breitkreuz supports protection for the fetus in Canadian law."

Yorkton - Today, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, said he shares Reform Leader Preston Manning's personal view that unborn children deserve added protection in Canadian law. "A national referendum would provide the opportunity for Canadians to thoroughly debate all aspects of the abortion/fetal rights issue and give voters the final say," said Breitkreuz. "This is really what this debate is about and the government should stop pretending it's not an important issue. Our laws should reflect what the majority of Canadians believe. The mishandling of the abortion issue by successive governments clearly shows that if we don't change the system we won't change much else in this country. People need to be given the tools to direct their politicians or else you're left with only wiggling tongues when the election is over."

"Right now, according to Section 223 of the Criminal Code of Canada, a baby does not become a "human being" until 'it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother'," said Breitkreuz. "Our definition of a human being is so inadequate that it allows a woman to shoot her baby in the head while it is still in her womb but the attempted murder charge may not stick because the baby is not considered a human being. Our laws allow a pregnant drug addict to continue to take drugs even though it is causing her baby to become permanently disabled. Our laws allow abortions to take place at any time during the pregnancy for any reason or for no reason at all. Surely, this is not what the majority of Canadians want. This is why we need a national debate about fetal rights and I'm proud that Preston Manning had the courage to engage Canadians in this debate."

Last May, Breitkreuz introduced Private Member's Motion 91 in the House of Commons which called for a national referendum to end tax-funding for medically-unnecessary abortions - a Motion which was opposed by the Liberals. Defunding of abortions has the support of the majority of people in Canada: 57% support in Ontario, 66% support in Saskatchewan, and the support of 73% of women and 69% of men in Alberta. During his twenty minute speech in the House, Breitkreuz explained how the Canadian definition of a human being and our hands-off policy on abortions contravenes both the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child and Section 3 of the Canada Health Act.

On September 26, 1996 the Globe and Mail headline read, Abortion edges to record levels, and reported the most recent data from Statistics Canada which showed 106,255 abortions were completed in 1994. This at a cost to Canadian taxpayers of over $50 million a year. "Frankly, I think it's time for a public debate about this important issue and I admire Preston Manning for raising it. The Reform Party's policy is clear: the abortion issue should be settled by a national referendum," explained Breitkreuz. "Personally I believe life begins at conception but my goal as a legislator is to make sure the Canadian laws reflect the democratic will of the majority. Ending tax-funded abortions and coming up with a more reasonable definition of when a baby becomes a human being, will save many lives and this is what this debate should be about." concluded Breitkreuz.

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For more information please contact:

The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309

Ottawa: (613) 992-4394