Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. Yorkton-Melville

News Release

For Immediate Delivery

October 7, 1998

GOVERNMENT URGED TO REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO PARENTAL RIGHTS

"National Family Week is good time for all governments to make parental rights paramount."

Ottawa – Today Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, introduced a Private Member’s Motion (M-478) calling on the federal government to reassure Canadian families that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child will not be used to undermine the rights and responsibilities of parents, and further, parental concerns that the government intends to remove section 43 from the Criminal Code are unwarranted. "It’s only fitting that I introduce this motion during National Family Week," commented Breitkreuz. The lengthy motion also asks the government to reaffirm thirteen statements respecting parental autonomy in the raising of their children.

In May, Breitkreuz’ previous motion (M-33) which proposed to add parental rights, responsibilities and liberty to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was opposed by the government and dropped from the order of business for the House of Commons. "A Motion to add parental rights to the Charter could still be introduced by a Member of any provincial legislature," informed Breitkreuz. "Anyone interested in making sure there is Charter protection for the proper balance between parental rights and the power of the state to determine what is in the best interests of the child, would be well advised to work on their own MLA to introduce such a motion."

Not one to give up easily, the Saskatchewan MP continues to introduce petitions supporting parental rights and responsibilities. He has introduced 241petitions with 4,261 signatures opposing various sections of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and 10 petitions with 920 signatures of Canadians who support the current wording of Section 43 of the Criminal Code.

"If my new motion is approved by Parliament, it will serve as the first democratically approved guide to all bureaucrats in the country demonstrating the high priority placed on parental autonomy in the raising of their children," said Breitkreuz, "Particularly in the areas of academic education, religious instruction, medical treatment and discipline."

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For more information please contact
The Office of GarryBreitkreuz, M.P.

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309
Ottawa: (613) 992-4394