NDP leader Thomas Mulcair speaks to the media at the National Press Theater September 27, 2012, in Ottawa, Ontario. (QMI Agency/ANDRE FORGET) Conservative backbenchers say PMO too controlling Tory backbench upset with PMO over abortion motion Committee finds sex-selective abortion motion non-votable

OTTAWA - Opposition parties are slamming a Tory backbencher's motion against sex-selective abortion as a cynical bid to re-open the abortion debate.

But Tory backbencher Mark Warawa argues it's about protecting girls from "the worst form of gender violence - gendercide."

The motion, tabled by the B.C. MP in September, reads: "That the House condemns discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination."