WHEREAS, Canada's Criminal code does not recognize the unborn child from conception to birth as a human being, and

WHEREAS, A recent Environics poll has shown that the majority of Canadians support legislation to make it a separate crime to injure or kill a fetus during an attack on the mother, and

WHEREAS, The Unborn Victims of Crime Act, Bill C-484, a Private Members Bill introduced by MP Ken Epp, recognizes unborn children as crime victims, and

WHEREAS, The Catholic Women's League of Canada recognizes the humanity of the unborn child from the moment of conception. Therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Hamilton Diocesan Council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada in 88th annual convention assembled urge members to support Bill C-484 and to speak to their MPs, urging them to also lend their support to this bill. And be it further

RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the Ontario Provincial Council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada for consideration at their July 2008 annual convention

BRIEF:  Support for the Unborn Victims of Crime Act

The Unborn Victims of Crime Act, Bill C-484, (1-Epp) is a Private Members Bill introduced by MP Ken Epp, to recognize unborn children as crime victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of an offence against their mothers.

Recent polls (2-Environics) show support from Canadians for families who suffer from a violent attack resulting in the loss of an unborn child. In the past three years five pregnant women have been violently attacked and murdered in Canada, the most recent a 25-year-old Toronto woman whose seven month fetus was killed. (3-CBC)

The present Criminal Code of Canada (4 Criminal Code) states that babies in the womb are not persons until birth.

In September of 2007, LifeCanada commissioned Environics Research Group to conduct a poll of Canadians' opinion on several important issues for the work of Pro-Life groups across Canada. The poll was conducted between September 17 and October 14, 2007

The following is an excerpt from that poll released October 2007 (2-Environics)

"Seven in ten Canadians support legislation making it a separate crime to injure or kill a fetus during an attack on the mother.

In this question, Canadians were told that in the past two years there have been three cases in Canada where pregnant women have been murdered. They were further told that currently in Canada, the Criminal Code does not recognize a fetus as a human being, so someone who injures or kills an unborn child during an attack on the mother cannot be charged with two crimes.

When asked if they support or oppose legislation making it a separate crime to injure or kill a fetus during an attack on the mother, a large majority (72%) support such legislation, while two in ten (22%) are opposed."

The Catholic Women's League of Canada recognizes the humanity of the unborn child from the moment of conception and thus must support changes to the Criminal Code which would make every person who causes the death of a child during birth or at any stage of development before birth, while committing an offence against the mother, guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment.

References

1. Epp, Ken, The Unborn Victims of Crime Act, Bill C-484, Government of Canada, 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, Private Member's Bill. Visit:   http://www2.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Bills/392/Private/C-484/C-484_1/C-484_1.PDFC
2. Environics Research Group, Canadians' Attitude Toward Abortion Issues, released October 2007, p. 17. Visit:  www.lifecanada.org/html/resources/polling/2007PollReport.pdf
3. CBC News, October 3, 2007. Visit:  www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/10/03/tto-murder.html
4. Criminal Code of Canada Part VIII, Section 223, When child becomes human being. Visit:  http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cs/C-46

Action plan:  Members are encouraged to:

1. Meet with Your MP -- Call your MP's office and make an appointment. Explain why you want him or her to support the Unborn Victims of Crime Act C-484.
   
   
2. Call Your MP's Office -- If you can't meet with him or her in person, speak via telephone. State your name and that you are a constituent in the riding. Explain why you want him or her to support the Unborn Victims of Crime Act C-484
   
   If your MP is not available when you call, leave your name and phone number and request that your MP call you. If he or she does not respond within a few days, call again until you are able to speak directly to your MP.
   
   
3. Write a Letter to the Editor of Your Local Paper in support of the bill -- The two most popular pages in a newspaper are the front page and the "Letters to the Editor" page. Published letters are a powerful means to inform others about an issue, and influence public opinion.

Bibliography

1. CBC News, October 3, 2007; http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/10/03/tto-murder.html
2. Criminal Code of Canada Part VIII, Section 223 When child becomes human being; http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cs/C-46
3. Environics Research Group, Canadians’ Attitude Toward Abortion Issues, released October 2007, pp. 17; http://www.lifecanada.org/html/resources/polling/2007PollReport.pdf
4. Epp, Ken, The Unborn Victims of Crime Act, Bill C-484, Government of Canada, 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, Private Member's Bill; http://www2.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Bills/392/Private/C-484/C-484_1/C-484_1.PDF
5. LifeCanada, Almost three-quarters of Canadians support fetal protection law: poll, LifeCanada Press Release, October 19, 2007; http://www.lifecanada.org
6. LifeCanada, Canadian women don't support current abortion policy, LifeCanada Press Release, October 31, 2007; http://www.lifecanada.org
7. United Mothers, Fathers & Friends, Unborn Victims of Crime Act, Newsletter, Nov 29, 2007; http://www.unitedmothers.ca
8. United Mothers, Fathers & Friends, Unborn Victims of Crime Act, Newsletter, Dec 21, 2007; http://www.unitedmothers.ca

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