MP proposes bill to make sex-selective abortion illegal

An MP from Saskatchewan recently proposed federal Bill C-233 and a woman from southern Manitoba is sharing her personal story of why she disagrees with sex-selective abortion.

Tracy Suzanne from rural Manitoba recently signed the petition saying that sex-selective abortions should be illegal in Canada. This is also a bill that MPs from each political party are standing behind, for various reasons. 

MP Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville) proposed Bill C-233 recently which is an act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion).

If it passes, it would make it an offence for a medical practitioner to perform an abortion knowing that the abortion is sought solely on the grounds of the child’s genetic sex.

"I just assumed [the bill] recently came forward but it's actually been around for a little while. We learned about it because we were watching an online church service and the pastor made mention of it," says Suzanne.

She feels she has a personal stake in laws such as Bill C-233 because Suzanne was adopted. 

"There's an online petition as well. When I signed it earlier this week there weren't even 4,000 signatures, and this is federal, which affects every Canadian."

Suzanne says that this isn't about religion but rather a matter of human rights. 

"You don't have to be a Christian or religious. You can just care about the fact that females shouldn't get aborted because they're females."

Right now there are no laws in Canada against abortion of any kind. If Bill C-233 passes it will be the first one since 1988.

"I am super passionate about this topic because I am a female that was not aborted. I am a very blessed adoptee."

Suzanne says it's hard for her to imagine how much her birth mother went through, carrying her to term and then giving her up after nine months. 

"A scared young woman decided that my life was worth something, and decided not to end it. To give me the ability to have a phenomenal life, and I have. I am adopted by loving parents and I have a sibling as well."

Suzanne believes more people would sign the petition if they knew about it, and says she is praying it gets to 10,000 signatures. 

The petition for people agreeing there should be a law against sex-selective abortions is available to sign until April 10.