For Immediate Release:

OTTAWA, ON— Cathay Wagantall, Member of Parliament for Yorkton—Melville, has welcomed the endorsement of her private member’s bill, C-233: the Sex Selective Abortion Act, by United Sikhs.

“This is a wonderful endorsement from the Canadian Sikh community and another clear indicator that Canadians stand shoulder to shoulder on human rights and gender equality for those who don’t yet have a voice,” said Wagantall. “Canadians of all backgrounds, faiths, and political perspectives oppose the practice of sex-selective abortion in our country.”

The United Sikhs is a U.N.-affiliated, international non-profit, non-governmental, humanitarian relief, human development and advocacy organization aimed at empowering those in need; especially disadvantaged and minority communities across the world. The letter of endorsement, signed by Sukhwinder Singh— the Canadian National Director of United Sikhs— notes that C-233 “proposes a reasonable limit that would reflect Canada’s respect for human rights at all stages of life.”

“The practice sex-selective abortion takes place in Canada and it is our duty to defend those whose lives would be ended simply because of their sex,” the letter stated.

Wagantall hopes that the public endorsement of United Sikhs will encourage other concerned groups to come forward in support of her bill.

“C-233 is a simple bill that aims to accomplish one thing: to ban abortion sought solely because of the sex of the child,” continued Wagantall. “It shouldn’t take place in our country, and Canadians agree. I applaud United Sikhs’ leadership in recognizing the need for a law.”

To read the United Sikhs letter of endorsement, click here.

To learn more about bill C-233, visit www.cathaywagantall.ca/c233.

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