Harper Throws Unborn Victims to the Wolves

by Rod Taylor
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Justice Minister Rob Nicholson have shown once again their penchant for cold and calculating strategy by abandoning Bill C-484 (the Unborn Victims of Crime Bill) and its author, fellow-Conservative MP Ken Epp. In a move designed to ensure that they cannot be accused of defending innocent human life, Mr. Nicholson announced his intention to introduce legislation this fall which would effectively scuttle C-484. Mr. Epp, by contrast, has been heroic in his efforts to establish legal protection for the unborn child in the case of a violent attack on its expectant mother where her right to choose life is violated.

The alternate legislation proposed by the Conservative insiders, besides being redundant, suggests only that pregnancy be considered as a factor in sentencing. It does nothing to recognize the loss of a wanted human life, as in the case of Olivia Talbot and her unborn son, Lane, who both died as the result of a gunshot to her abdomen. The attacker in her case testified that he wanted to "get the baby". Olivia's mother is left grieving for her daughter as well as the grandson she will never know. No charges can be laid in the death of the child because no legal recognition exists.

Mr. Harper's motives are clear enough. He is expected to force an election soon and doesn't want the voters to think that he shares Mr. Epp's views on the sanctity of human life. Although C-484 was never about abortion and contains language clearly excluding abortion from its purview, the Justice Minister took the bait offered by its pro-abort attackers and declared (once again): "Our government will not reopen the debate about abortion." I have news for him---the debate has never been closed. Abandoning the most vulnerable members of society cannot be confused with leadership and throwing your friends overboard for crass political advantage does not elicit trust.