Yorkton-Melville
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Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. Yorkton-Melville |
News Release |
Liberals Kill Debate on Parental Rights and Responsibility Motion
For Immediate Delivery
May 5, 1998
Ottawa Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, lost a battle in his war with the government over parental rights and responsibilities. Breitkreuz’ private members motion (M-33) was opposed by the government and dropped from the order of business. "M-33 would have given parents a few rights when it comes to determining what is in their children's best interests," said Breitkreuz.Motion M-33 called on Parliament to amend Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to:
(a) recognize the fundamental right of individuals to pursue family life free from undue interference by the state, and (b) recognize the fundamental right, responsibility and liberty of parents to direct the upbringing of their children, and urge the legislative assemblies of the provinces to do likewise.
"I’m disappointed that government bureaucrats will still be able to take children from their parents with little or no evidence and with little or no investigation to determine if the accusations against the parents are true or false. Children are suffering abuse as a result of the government’s gestapo tactics. Parents often spend months and thousands of dollars to prove the government made terrible mistakes. But by then the damage of removing the children from their parent’s love and care is already done." During his speech, Breitkreuz outlined a number of horror stories of children who have been victimized by overzealous bureaucrats.
Breitkreuz accused the government of sweeping this issue under the rug after his attempt to make his motion votable was rejected. The Liberals, Progressive Conservatives and N.D.P. all spoke against the motion. "This leaves only one political party left defending the family," Breitkreuz pointed out. "If my parental rights and responsibility motion were approved by Parliament today, the resolution would then be sent to the legislatures of the 10 provinces for debate. Having parental rights, responsibilities and liberty in the charter would ensure an appropriate balance between the fundamental freedom of parents to raise their kids and government’s role to protect children when parents fail to properly discharge their responsibilities," Breitkreuz told the House of Commons.
"This issue is not dead," declared Breitkreuz. I’ll continue to look for other legislative measures to give both children and parents more protection from these overzealous bureaucrats who defy the principles of fundamental justice. I will continue to defend families from the government’s social engineers who work behind parents backs using the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as their legal justification," promised Breitkreuz. "The process of amending the Charter can start in the federal Parliament or any provincial legislature. I encourage concerned parents and family members to encourage their Provincial Members of Parliament or Legislature to introduce a parental rights resolution. One way or another we will do what is right."
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For more information, please contact:
The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.
Yorkton: (306) 782-3309