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(OTTAWA) – “This
is a victory for Canadian women and children, for victims’
families, and indeed for all Canadians,” said MP
Ken Epp, reacting to today’s vote in the House
of Commons on his Private Members Bill C-484, the Unborn
Victims of Crime Act.
Members of Parliament voted 147 to 132
in support of allowing the Bill to proceed to Committee
Stage. "Since 72% of Canadians support this legislation,
I will continue to work hard to persuade my Parliamentary
Colleagues that I have no sinister motives, and that
they should support the Bill at further stages,"
Mr. Epp said. "Canadian women who choose to give
birth when they are pregnant should not have to stand
alone to protect the child within that they are eagerly
awaiting."
“I want to thank my Colleagues
in the House today for doing the right thing, for standing
up for pregnant women and the babies they want to protect
from violence,” said Mr. Epp. “It is so encouraging
to see the outpouring of support from thousands of Canadians
right across the country who have urged their MPs to
support this legislation, who have signed petitions,
and who have spoken out in defense of pregnant women
who have chosen life for their children.”
Mr. Epp continued, “In the midst
of their grief, I hope Mary Talbot and Aydin Cocelli
and others who have lost loved ones to this type of
crime, can experience some measure of consolation today,
knowing that many, many Canadians are united with them
in the quest for justice for unborn victims of crime.
Although justice will never be served for the crimes
committed against their own family members, there is
real hope today that other families in future will be
spared the injustice of being told that the child they
loved and wanted to live never even existed in the eyes
of the law.”
Mr. Epp concluded, “I look forward
to continuing to work with these families, with my Colleagues
in the House from all parties, and with Canadians to
move this cause forward in the weeks and months ahead.”
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