Baby Heathrow funeral renews call for safe-haven legislation

Ontario needs legislation to help mothers who might be thinking about abandoning their babies, says the head of the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness (CCAA). 

CCAA CEO Ellen Campbell has been lobbying the province for "safe haven" legislation for the last four years.

• Partial remains of newborn found at Toronto's Heathrow Park

Child abandonment is "a very serious problem," in Ontario, she said. 

"There are two or three newborn, deceased, full-term babies that are abandoned and they die in the elements, they're thrown in the garbage … every year," she said, speaking to CBC News at the funeral, held Wednesday, for the infant known as Baby Heathrow. 

The partial remains of the infant girl were found in Heathrow Park, in a sewer drain. Police believe she was under a month old. 

Campbell said safe-haven legislation has made a difference in some U.S. jurisdictions, where a mother can leave a baby at a safe place, a hospital or even a fire station, and not be charged.

"They've saved over 2,000 babies over 10 years," she said. 

Baby Heathrow's case is still open. Investigators say they still don't know what happened to her or why.

"The unknown is what troubles you and keeps you thinking and makes you want … to solve the case," said Toronto police Sgt. Nick Nei.