The government abortion bill C-43 has passed second reading and been sent to committee. The vote, 164 in favour and 114 against, does not represent the feeling of MPs on the legislation. Many pro-life MPs voted in favour of the legislation hoping that it would be amended before third and final reading.

The prospects for any pro-life amendments, however, are thought to be nearly non-existent, and the vote on third and final reading is expected to be very close. A number of commentators predict the bill’s defeat.

Of the 164 MPs who voted in favour of second reading, 60 have been identified previously as being pro-life. For some of these 60, their vote marks a caving in to pressure from the Prime Minister, who has declared that all cabinet ministers must support the legislation. There are further reports that backbench MPs also are under considerable pressure to support the bill.

Jake Epp

Perry Beatty, the Health Minister, and Jake Epp, the Minister of Energy and Mines, both spoke in the House of Commons stating their support for the legislation in its present form. Epp made it clear that he was not satisfied with the contents of the bill: “The bill allows abortions for too wide a variety of motives… That prospect troubles me deeply.” But he went on to defend his decision to support the bill because society does not respect human life and “the law cannot reform the human heart.” As he spoke, Epp’s voice cracked with emotion while he tried to assure listeners that “My views on abortion have not changed.”

Despite claims by some MPs that the bill could be amended, and despite the apparent complete surrender of pro-life cabinet Ministers, nine pro-life Conservative MPs voted against the bill. One of them, Bruce Grey MP Gus Mitges, warned fellow MPs that they had merely delayed the test of their convictions. Stating that he could not see the bill being significantly altered, Mitges told reporters that at the next reading MPs will have to decide “if they are just make-believe pro-life or if they believe in their convictions.”

John Turner

Only three Liberal MPs voted in favour of the bill. One of them was party leader John Turner. In 1969, as Justice Minister, he guided through Parliament the first bill which legalized abortion in Canada.  In his speech to the House of Commons, the Prime Minister was full of praise for the Leader of the Opposition. Mulroney spoke about the need for “accommodation” and praised Turner for having recognized that when he first legalized abortion.

Fewer than 30 of the MPs who supported the bill on second reading need to change their vote in order to have the bill defeated. Twenty-two of them have already told the Toronto Star that they intend to do just that if the bill is not amended. But Justice Minister Doug Lewis has repeatedly said that there will be no substantial amendments.

Only four pro-lifers are on the committee of 14 MPs who will be empowered to amend the bill. The chairman of the committee, Quebec Conservative Marcel Danis, has already said that though some amendments may be made, “You can’t make that bill… a pro-life bill.” This has given pro-life groups a reason to redouble their efforts to seek the bill’s rejection.

Campaign Life Coalition has distributed almost 400,000 flyers urging Canadians to defeat the abortion bill. They are not leaving anything to chance and are working flat out over the next few months. “Canadians must understand,” said Jim Hughes, “that this bill is worse than no law at all. This law would enshrine abortion on demand for years to come.”

Defeat possible

Pro-life activists believe that the bill will be defeated. Eight MPs are needed to sink the bill in addition to those who have already declared their opposition.

Final reading is expected some time in March or April. It could come earlier. The committee will be receiving submissions from various groups beginning January 30. Most likely this will all be smoke and mirrors. After considering any amendments, the bill will be sent to the House of Commons for third and final reading. At that time, MPs will have a final chance to introduce amendments.

The Conservative members of the committee are the chairman Marcel Danis, Benno Friesen, Brian O’Kurley, Lise Bourgault, Gabrielle Bertrand, Barbare Greene, John Reimer and Peter McCreath. Quebec MP Pierrette Venne will serve as a substitute. The Liberal members are Mary Clancy, Robert Kaplan, Shirley Maheau and Rey Pagtakhan. Sven Robinson and Dawn Black will represent the New Democrats. Only Friesen, O’Kurley, Reimer and Pagtakhan are identified as being pro-life.