News/Publications

Paul Steckle

MaterCare Canada is pleased to support The Honourable Paul Steckle in his efforts to protect the unborn Canadian child and commend him for his strength in this ongoing and essential battle. All Canadians, prolife and prochoice, were once viable pre-born children deserving of legal protection when unable to protect themselves.

“In the 1988 decision striking down Section 287 of the Criminal Code, the Supreme Court clearly said that Parliament was well within its right to place reasonable limits on what the medical community can do by way of ending a pregnancy in favour of measures directed at protecting the unborn. For almost twenty years, we have failed to act upon that call and I am proud to say that Parliament will finally be debating this matter once again,” said Steckle. In the 1988 Supreme Court of Canada ruling, in Section 162, one Justice wrote, “I am of the view that the protection of the foetus is and, as the Court of Appeal observed, always has been, a valid objective in Canadian criminal law. I have already elaborated on this objective in my discussion of the principles of fundamental justice. I think Section 1 of the Charter authorizes reasonable limits to be put on a woman’s right having regard to the state interest in the protection of the foetus.”

Further details on proposed Bill C338 are available by this address: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06062105.html

Please read the Q & A in particular for extremely clear responses to frequently asked questions on this issue.