For immediate release
Ottawa, ON – January 28th marks 34 years since the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s abortion law and unintentionally set off a lengthy era of zero abortion restrictions in Canada. “In 1988, the Supreme Court ruled that the specific abortion regime at that time was unconstitutional, and they looked to Parliament to find a less arbitrary way of restricting abortion,” explained Tabitha Ewert, Legal Counsel for We Need a Law, a national campaign dedicated to advocating for legal recognition of pre-born children. “Parliament failed to pass a new law, leaving Canada as the only democracy in the world with no legal protection for babies in the womb from abortion.”
Thirty-four years of unrestricted and accessible abortion has left its mark on Canada. “Every year there are approximately 100,000 abortions here in Canada,” said Ewert. “The impact goes even further, as unrestricted abortion leads to a devaluing of motherhood and born children who are then seen as a burden, a cumbersome and expensive responsibility.”
It has also had a distinct impact on how women facing an unintended pregnancy are treated. “True compassion reaches out to those who are hurting – those who are unwanted, abused, or alone. This includes women facing an unwanted pregnancy, who often feel frightened and like they have no other option than abortion. Abortion has become so accessible that no one needs to support women in motherhood anymore. No one needs to show compassion and care, both of which take a significantly bigger investment than abortion.”
We Need a Law hopes that Canada uses this anniversary of the 1988 Morgentaler decision to consider the real impact of abortion and to work to find ways to have a conversation about restrictions on abortion that recognizes both the humanity of pre-born children and what true compassion for women means.
– 30 –
For further comment please contact Tabitha Ewert (EDT) at 1-866-410-9625 // [email protected]