Dear Mrs. Wagantall,
We would like to express our support for your private member’s bill, C-311, the Violence Against Pregnant Women Act.
When the courts consider factors that make a crime more serious and influence sentencing, Bill C-311 would specifically include knowingly abusing and harming a pregnant woman as an aggravating factor.
The gravity of a criminal offence is reflected in sentencing. This bill would signal that knowingly abusing a pregnant woman is a serious crime and may result in a harsher sentence.
We commend your efforts to denounce and deter violence against pregnant women.
Sincerely,
Julia Beazley, EFC director of public policy