Commons set to face more complex abortion debate, this time over sex selection

OTTAWA – Another Conservative MP is stirring the debate over abortion rights with a motion that doesn’t actually mention abortion at all.

Mark Warawa’s private member’s motion would ask the House of Commons to condemn the practice of sex selection before birth.

Sex selection occurs when a woman aborts a fetus after determining the gender through an ultrasound.

Warawa says the issue is one of discrimination against women and he can’t imagine why he wouldn’t get unanimous support.

But the leaders of the NDP and Liberal parties say the motion is just another attempt to limit women’s reproductive rights.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says Warawa’s bill must be viewed in the context of when it was tabled, the same week that a previous abortion motion was defeated in the House.