e-4445 (Justice)

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled

• Private Member’s Bill C-311, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (violence against pregnant women) creates an “aggravating circumstance” clause in the Criminal Code to allow for greater penalties when a pregnant person is attacked;
• Abortion Rights Coalition Canada wrote an opposition paper where they argue that Bill C-311 is an anti-abortion bill, their arguments are as follows;
• The bill is redundant as other clauses in that Criminal Code can cover pregnant victims;
• Judges already have the discretion to apply greater penalties for aggravating circumstances;
• Judges are not required to apply these clauses, only consider them;
• The government can do better things to address gender-based violence than pass a criminal law;
• No anti-violence group has expressed support for this bill, it is supported only by anti-choice groups and individuals;
• The bill was introduced by MP Cathay Wagantall;
• She introduced two defeated anti-abortion bills C- 233 and C- 225;
• MP Wagantall’s website has both pro-choice and “pro-life” petitions in favour of this bill;
• Both petitions mention abortion but the “pro-life” petition also uses language like “preborn children”; and
• Anti-choice groups have been promoting Bill C-311 as a means to recognize two victims, this is a route to establish fetal personhood in law and if this bill passes, it would be leveraged for that purpose.