NEWS RELEASE
October
2, 2003
For
Immediate Release
MPs
DEFEAT MOTION VITAL TO THE HEALTH OF WOMEN CONTEMPLATING ABORTION
“The
government doesn’t know if abortions are medically necessary, and now
Parliament says it doesn’t care.”
Ottawa
–
It was a huge disappointment for Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, when
his Private Member’s Motion M-83 was defeated by a vote of 139 to 66 in the
House of Commons last night. On
Tuesday of this week, Breitkreuz introduced petitions signed by more than 10,000
Canadians. However, such an
outpouring of support for his common sense motion didn’t sway the majority of
MPs. “I want to thank each and
every Canadian who signed these petitions and all the MPs who spoke and voted in
support of my motion,” said Breitkreuz. “I’m
simply baffled why MPs would vote against women’s health.”
Breitkreuz’s
Motion M-83 stated:
That the Standing Committee on Health fully examine, study and report to
Parliament on: (a) whether or not abortions are medically necessary for the
purpose of maintaining health, preventing disease or diagnosing or treating an
injury, illness or disability in accordance with the Canada Health Act; and (b)
the health risks for women undergoing abortions compared to women carrying their
babies to full term.
“This
is the first Private Members’ bill or motion that I’ve had voted on in my
ten years in Ottawa. I was sure
that if MPs had read my motion and listened to both sides of the debate that the
vote would go our way. I was wrong
and this morning I am very discouraged,” said the Saskatchewan MP.
“The Members of Parliament who spoke out against M-83 claimed having
the Health committee study the risks associated with having an abortion would
lead to the recriminalization of abortion.
I’m surprised so many MPs bought such a complete distortion of the
facts. I’m surprised so many MPs
are so afraid of the truth.”
“The
Health Minister says that abortions are ‘medically necessary’ but neither
she nor her department can produce a shred of evidence to prove it.
The federal government and ten provincial and territorial governments
admit that they have never done a risk/benefit analysis on abortion
procedures,” reported Breitkreuz. “The
majority of clinical studies show there is a risk, but last night Parliament
voted as if it just doesn’t care.”
“It’s
going to be interesting to hear these 139 MPs who voted against M-83, and the
MPs who skipped out of the vote, explain their performance during the next
election,” mused Breitkreuz. “Common
sense arguments were defeated by irrational rhetoric in the House of Commons
last night. Every
woman and her family should know what these health risks are before they reach a
decision to have an abortion. Last
night, 139 MPs buried their heads in the sand in the false hope that the issue
will just go away. But it
won’t!” promised MP Breitkreuz. “The
government hides the truth about the full effects of more than 100,000 abortions
a year. One of these days, each and
every Parliamentarian will have to confront the awful truth of their failure to
fully investigate this annual tragedy.”
M-83
Voting Results – October 1, 2003
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/Article179.htm
M-83
- First Hour of Debate – May 12, 2003
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/speeches/may-12-2003.htm
M-83
- Second Hour of Debate – September 30, 2003
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/speeches/sept-30-2003.htm
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