July 25, 1988 (33rd Parliament, 2nd Session)

Mr. Crosby:

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment of the time of the House to explain this Bill entitled the Canada Abortion Law Interim Measures Act. As you are aware, the House is about to begin debate on abortion law in Canada, and I wanted to say very clearly and categorically in a Bill what I perceive to be the position that the House can take if it desires to prohibit abortions to the extent permitted by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to draft and present to the House a Bill which prohibits abortion except where medically necessary.
It also contains an important exemption which I think allows for compliance with the Canadian Charter of Rights.
Even more important, the Bill also contains a provision requiring the Prime Minister to convene a conference of First Ministers to consider an amendment to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect the life of the unborn. This would complete the right and privilege of making laws with respect to abortion so that a more effective law can be made in the future.