March 4, 2004
Senate Committee Approves Bill C-6

On March 3, 2004, the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology unanimously passed Bill C-6 (an Act Respecting Human Reproduction and Related Research). This legislation allows the use and killing of human embryos in scientific experimentation and, in spite of assurances to the contrary, does not ban cloning. The term “human being” is not defined in a bill which deals with the reproduction of human beings!

The committee refused to hear presentations from Campaign Life Coalition even after three formal requests were made. They also rejected a presentation from Life Canada, the educational wing of the movement. “Why the haste to pass this legislation,” said Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition. “People have a right to express their concerns on such vital legislation. Justice has not been served”.

“There seems to be a political desire to complete the passage of this Bill before an election call. We find this to be a frivolous and unreasonable cause when the lives of human beings rest upon the timing - not of war, nor natural disaster, nor plague - but of a pending election” said Karen Murawsky, Public Affairs Director of the CLC Lobby Office in Ottawa.

Campaign Life Coalition calls upon the Senate of Canada to reject the urgency that certain lobby groups are using to plead for quick passage of the bill and to take the time for further in-depth considerations of Bill C-6.

Media Contacts:
Karen Murawsky, CLC Public Affairs Office, Ottawa, ON 613-729-0379
Mary Ellen Douglas, CLC National Organizer, Kingston, ON 613-389-4472
Gillian Long, Campaign Life Coalition Toronto, ON 416-204-9749

Campaign Life Coalition is Canada's national pro-life organization.