Motion to study when life begins defeated in Parliament

"Members of Parliament voted 203 to 91 against Motion 312, sponsored by Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth. The private member's motion sought to set up a committee to study how the Criminal Code defines when life begins. The provision, in the homicide section of the code, says a child becomes a human being when it has fully left its mother's body."

"Critics said the motion was an excuse to re-open the debate on abortion in Canada and set limits on the procedure. Woodworth had said he hoped having a debate would convince Canadians to oppose abortion. After the vote, Woodworth said he thought some of his colleagues voted against the motion out of respect for Harper."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/09/26/pol-woodworth-motion-to-study-when-life-begins.html

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Yay. So 203 members of parliament effectively represented the vast majority of people in Canada who think that the abortion debate was settled in 1988 (and even that took too long). On the other hand almost 1/3 of HOC supported the view of 20% of the population that still have issues with a womans right to choose.

Not surprising that Harper didn't (publicly) support the bill. Its not that he suddenly developed an ethical stance on his campaign promises (not to re-open the abortion debate), but rather because he knew it was loosing issue. At the end of the day, despite his 'fundi-ness', I think its still about the money. He knows he's done after the next election so he's going to focus pipelines, and undermining labor, environmental and regulatory power as his corporate masters' wish. Lets just hope that come 2015 (or sooner) voters remember who were among the 91 MPs who are anti-choice.

Roll call of how they voted:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/26/motion-312-is-defeated/