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441-00019 (Justice)
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled
Whereas:
1. A CBC documentary revealed that ultrasounds are being used in Canada to tell the sex of an unborn child so that expectant parents can choose to terminate the pregnancy if the unborn child is a girl;
2. An Environics poll found that 92% of Canadians believe sex-selective pregnancy termination should be "illegal";
3. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Canadian Association of Radiologists strongly oppose the non-medical use of fetal ultrasounds;
4. There are over 200 million girls missing worldwide. This gendercide has created a global gender imbalance crisis resulting in violence and the human trafficking of girls;
5. The Three Deadliest words in the World are: It's a Girl.
Therefore we, the undersigned, call upon Canada's Parliament to condemn discrimination against girls occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Parliamentary Secretary Gary Anandasangaree
The Government supports women’s right to choose. Women – and women alone – have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. In its 1988 Morgentaler decision, which struck down section 287 of the Criminal Code, the Supreme Court of Canada held that forcing a woman, by threat of criminal sanction, to carry a fetus to term was a profound interference with her right to life, liberty and security of the person (section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms). This Government is committed to upholding all the rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including section 7.
We are focused on building a fairer, more equitable, and more equal Canada. All women in Canada have the right to safe and consistent access to reproductive health services and our government will always support that. The debate over a woman’s right to choose is over. We hope that all political parties will stand up for the rights of women and girls here at home and around the world, including their reproductive rights.
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Arnold Viersen
(Peace River—Westlock)
November 29, 2021 (Petition No. 441-00019) - Government response tabled
- January 31, 2022
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.