Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise on behalf of the constituents of Kelowna—Lake Country to table a petition that deals with the current federal criminal law where an unborn child is not recognized as a victim with respect to violent crimes and that studies show violence against women often begins or escalates during pregnancy.
Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation that would recognize unborn children as separate victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of an offence against their mothers and allowing two charges to be laid against the offender instead of just one.