Constituency Referendum #6: M-312 (2012 Summer/Fall)
Summer/Fall 2012
News release from Scott Reid announcing M-312 riding referendum
News release from Scott Reid on the results of the M-312 riding referendum
On September 26, 2012, the House of Commons voted on Private Members’ Business Motion M-312 (Special committee on subsection 223(1) of the Criminal Code), sponsored by Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth (Kitchener Centre). The motion was linked to the matter of abortion.
The motion would have established a special committee of the House to review the declaration in Subsection 223(1) of the Criminal Code which states that a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth, and to answer questions set out in the motion, namely:
(i) what medical evidence exists to demonstrate that a child is or is not a human being before the moment of complete birth,
(ii) is the preponderance of medical evidence consistent with the declaration in Subsection 223(1) that a child is only a human being at the moment of complete birth,
(iii) what are the legal impact and consequences of Subsection 223(1) on the fundamental human rights of a child before the moment of complete birth, and
(iv) what are the options available to Parliament in the exercise of its legislative authority in accordance with the Constitution and decisions of the Supreme Court to affirm, amend, or replace Subsection 223(1).
Mr. Reid sent a mailer to each household in his riding, asking whether he should vote for Motion M-312.
In Vote No. 466, available in the House of Commons’ Journals of Wednesday, September 26, 2012, Mr. Reid voted against the motion, as instructed to do by a majority of his constituents who responded to his riding referendum mailer by the time of the vote. The motion was defeated by a vote of 91 for and 203 against.
Posted in: Constituency Referenda