Big 180 on C-484

Wow, how quickly things can change. The debate and scorn for Conservative MP Ken Epp's private members bill, Bill C-484, a bill that many have argued would be a backdoor route to making abortion illegal. Many Conservatives have long argued that this bill, which would make it a separate offence for killing an unborn child when a pregnant woman is slain, wouldn't do that. Of course that's gone over as well as a lead balloon and has lead many, including Liberal Leader Stephane Dion last week in Oakville, to ask Prime Minister Stephen Harper what his stand on his members bill was. Well this afternoon, we got our answer courtesy of the Globe and Mail:

"The Harper government cut loose a contentious private member's bill that would have made it a crime to take the life of a fetus just as election speculation hits fever pitch. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced Monday that the government will draft a new bill to replace Bill C-484, the Unborn Victims of Crime Act, so that it closes the debate about fetal rights and focuses instead on penalizing criminals who harm pregnant women. The act, which was introduced last year by Tory MP Ken Epp of Edmonton and passed a free vote in the spring, would make it a separate offence for killing an unborn child when a pregnant woman is slain.

Pro-abortion advocates have denounced it for giving the fetus some human rights. Last week, the Canadian Medical Association voted to oppose the bill, and Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion spoke out against it, challenging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to clarify his own views on abortion.

"We've heard criticism from across the country, including representatives of the medical community, that Mr. Epp's bill as presently drafted could be interpreted as instilling fetal rights. Let me be clear. Our government will not reopen the debate on abortion," Mr. Nicholson said.

"For this reason ... I'm announcing that the government will introduce legislation that will punish criminals who commit violence against pregnant women but do so in a way that leaves no room for the introduction of fetal rights."

Mr. Nicholson said the new bill will expand the list of aggravating factors to be considered by a sentencing judge to include the fact of a women's pregnancy. Other aggravating factors currently on the books include spousal abuse, violence against people under 18, and if the crime is motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or other similar factor.

But with an election looming amid Mr. Harper's complaints that Parliament is dysfunctional, it's unclear if the new bill will ever seen the light of day."

Wow, talk about a 180 there. If you wanted a sure sign of what Stephen Harper is going to do in regards to an election next week, you just got it. This bill would have been a millstone around the neck of the Conservatives and would have highlighted the "hidden agenda" topics all over again on probably the most divisive issue out there. But this announced move, saying that they will write a bill that would not instill fetal rights, doesn't ring true. I'm not a lawyer, but I have a hard time picturing how one can write a bill that "punishes criminals who commit violence against pregnant women" and doesn't actually give the new victim, the fetus, rights. Frankly, I don't think that it can be done, but that won't stop the Conservatives from saying that they can do it. Also, how do you think that the hardcore Christian Conservatives in his party are going to take this news??? Probably not well, but I'm betting that Mr. Harper is banking on those voters having no where else to go to park their vote.

No matter how you slice it, it looks like Stephen Harper is trying to clean up the riffraff before he goes against the spirit of his own fixed-date election laws. If that's true, it makes his supposed consultations with the other party leaders over the next week nothing more than a show and completely disrespectful of what he said he was going to do. But that doesn't come as a surprise to most, as Stephen Harper doesn't care about how he reaches his goal, just as long as he gets there.

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