Document Information

Date: 1981-03-12
By: Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Canada, House of Commons Debates, 32nd Parl, 1st Sess, 1981 at 8160-8161.
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COMMONS DEBATES — March 12, 1981

THE CONSTITUTION

RIGHT TO LIFE OF UNBORN CHILDREN—MOTION UNDER S.O. 43

[Page 8160]

Mr. Girve Fretz (Erie): Madam Speaker, I rise to move a motion under the provisions of Standing Order 43. Recognizing that Clause 7 of the proposed charter of rights purports to guarantee “everyone the right to life” but that in the recent case of Dehler v. Ottawa Civic Hospital, on which leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada has now been denied by that court, our courts have indicated that unborn persons are not recognized as protectable persons, and fearing that the entrenchment of the proposed wording would render it unconstitutional for the Parliament of Canada to enact legislation to protect unborn Canadians, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Grey-Simcoe (Mr. Mitges):

That Clause 7 be amended to read as follows:

Everyone, including unborn human beings, has the right to life. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

[Page 8161]

Madam Speaker: Is there unanimous consent for this motion?

Some hon. Members: Agreed.

Some hon. Members: No.