A conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate or use the notwithstanding clause on abortion, his office says.
Facing political pressure to clarify his stance as anti-abortion protesters gather in Parliament for an annual rally, Poilievre spokesman Sebastian Skamski denied suggestions from the federal Liberals and New Democrats that the federal Conservatives were leaving the door. open about the topic.
“A conservative government with common sense would not legislate on abortion and therefore would never use this section of the Constitution relating to this issue,” he said.
Her comments came in response to Minister of Women, Gender Equality and Youth Marci Ien questioning whether Poilievre’s recent comments on the notwithstanding clause, along with Conservative MP Arnold Viersen raising a petition against abortion in the House of Commons, was an indication of where the party was heading.
“When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. If a woman has the right to choose today, what will it be tomorrow? … This is, in my view, a slippery slope,” Ien told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday. .
Ien was accompanied by fellow Liberal cabinet ministers Mark Holland and Patty Hajdu, who on the eve of the “March for Life” also expressed concern about the Conservative Party’s opposition to the first phase of Pharmacare, which aims to provide free access to contraceptives.
Skamski called the ministers’ comments “outlandish” and said they “show the true desperation of Justin Trudeau and his agitated Liberals.”
Pointing to commitments Poilievre made during a debate on the party’s leadership, indicating that he believes in “freedom of choice on the issue”, he accused Ien of “spreading misinformation”.
Questions about Poilievre’s plans to use the notwithstanding clause arose last week after he said, during a Canadian Police Association event, that he would make his criminal justice proposals constitutional “using whatever tool the Constitution allows me to use.” “.
Liberals wondered if this could lead Poilievre to use what is supposed to be a measure of last resort in other circumstances. Skamski said that would not be the case.
The clause, also called Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, allows federal Parliament or provincial legislatures to pass legislation that overrides certain rights and freedoms set out in the Charter for periods of five years.
When asked about Poilievre’s stance, Ien denied suggestions his party was fear-mongering on the issue and said Canadians should know “who we’re dealing with.”
“It’s one thing to say, actions speak louder than words,” he said.
Abortion has long been a divisive issue in Canadian politics, and with pro- and anti-abortion demonstrations taking place on the lawn of Parliament Hill, debate over the issue erupted inside the House of Commons. Thursday.
“Reproductive rights are under attack… It is no coincidence that on the same day that conservatives, including Pierre Poilievre, voted against free contraceptiona Conservative MP came to the House to file a petition that violated the right to access abortion services,” said NDP MP Leah Gazan, noting that this is not the first time Conservative MPs have pushed these issues in the House. Parliament.
“It is also the Liberals who, despite being in power for almost eight years, continue to deny the right to access safe, trauma-informed abortion. And I say that because right now, in New Brunswick, there are not a single abortion clinic. It’s one thing to talk here at the microphone and on the platform about how you support reproductive rights. Another thing is to honor access to those rights,” he stated.
In an exchange with Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland accused the official opposition of preparing to “tear up the Bill of Rights.” Scheer responded that conservatives would learn no lessons from a government that has “trampled” on free speech.
Viersen was one of two Conservative MPs who spoke at the protest focused on pushing for the federal government to provide legal protection to “the unborn.”
Addressing the crowd adorning signs such as “pray to end abortion” and “choose life”, Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall said: “We in the House, as Conservatives, stand for equality between men and women, from the moment of conception.”
Across the lawn, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh came out to support those holding signs that said “abortion is healthcare” and “never again,” along with a drawing of a coat hanger.