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441-00252 (Justice)
- Keywords
- Abortion
- C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion)
- Sexual discrimination
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons
We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:
Whereas, sex selection abortion is legal, as Canada has no legal restrictions on abortion;
Whereas, regardless of their views on abortion, a 2019 DART & Maru/Blue poll, conducted for the National Post, showed that a majority (84%) of Canadians believe that it should be illegal to obtain an abortion if the family wants the child to be a certain sex;
Whereas, sex selective abortion is discriminatory and opposes equality between men and women;
Whereas, international organizations including the World Health Organization, United Nations Women, and United Nations Children's Fund have identified unequal sex ratios at birth as a growing problem internationally;
Whereas, the United Nations Population Fund estimates 126 million women and girls were missing in 2010 due to gender-biased sex selection;
Whereas, Canada's health care profession recognizes sex selection as a problem.
Therefore, your petitioners, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Ensure that female pre-born children are not treated unequally and aborted solely due to their sex; and
2. Support and quickly pass Bill C-233, The Sex Selective Abortion Act, which will end this persistent form of sex-based discrimination.
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)
March 23, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00252) - Government response tabled
- May 6, 2022
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.