On April 10, Parliament refused to give unanimous consent to Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth’s Motion 476 that called on MPs to “affirm that every Canadian law must be interpreted in a manner that recognizes in law the equal worth and dignity of everyone who is in fact a human being.”
Woodworth already used his one chance to bring a motion to debate this parliamentary session in 2012 with Motion 312 requesting the creation of a committee to examine the humanity of an unborn child. Therefore, the only way he could bring Motion 476 to a vote was if it received unanimous consent.
“This marks a dark and dangerous day for Canada,” said Woodworth. “Members of Parliament who voted against this motion have refused to endorse the essential principle of democratic governance which requires legal recognition of the equal worth and dignity of every member of the human family.”
