January 17, 2003

Fetus Must be Protected Rules Manitoba Judge

Manitoba Judge Linda Giesbrecht has ruled that a child in the womb must be protected from the destructive actions of the mother. In ruling on a teen suicide case in the province, the Judge stated that the only thing that could have prevented the suicide was that the victim had been protected from the alcohol his mother consumed before his birth. Judge Giesbrecht said, “In light of the evidence at this inquest, the time may have come for legislators in this province to tackle this difficult issue in order to assist family service agencies to protect unborn children.”

“We applaud this ruling”, stated Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition. “Finally a Judge has the wisdom and fortitude to acknowledge the existence and vulnerability of a child in the womb.”

“We hope that this wakes up the Chretien government to finally enact legislation and not leave it up to the Courts,” Mr. Hughes continued.

Campaign Life Coalition praises the statement by Dennis Schellenberg, director of child welfare services in Manitoba who said, “the government is committed to doing what it takes to improve the child welfare system”. Campaign Life Coalition encourages the Manitoba government to draft the legislation.

Media Contacts:
Mary Ellen Douglas, National Organizer CLC –Kingston, Ont. 613-389-4472
Gillian Long, Campaign Life Coalition Toronto office 416-204-9749
Karen Murawsky, Director, CLC Ottawa Lobby Office 613-729-0379
Maria Slykerman, President, CLC Manitoba 204-452-2459

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