The latest pornography legislation introduced by the Progressive Conservative government omits a vital clause which until now has prevented abortionists from advertising their services.
Bill C-54 introduced by Justice Minister Ray Hnatyshyn in May, is the second attempt by the present government to revise Canadian pornography laws. This time around, several sections of the existing legislation have not been rewritten, but instead have been removed completely.
The clause in the existing legislation which prohibits abortion advertising reads as follows: “Everyone commits an offence who knowingly, without lawful justification or excuse…offers to sell, advertises, publishes an advertisement of ,or has for sale or disposal any means, instructions, medicine drug or article intended or represented as a method of causing abortion of miscarriage…”
This section has been entirely removed from the proposed legislation, leaving no reference to abortion advertising as a prohibited offence.
The national organizations of the pro-life movement plan to lobby federal MPs to have an amendment put to the legislation reinstating the deleted section. However, amendments may not be made until the bill has passed second reading. Following this, the bill will go to committee where amendments may be proposed. The bill received automatic first reading after its introduction and will be debated at second reading sometime this fall.
