A Conservative government will focus on promoting adoption rather than banning abortion, party leader Pierre Poilievre said in a letter to a pro-life group member.
He made the comments in a Sept. 11 letter to Dan Plemel, a member of the pro-life group Campaign Life Coalition. In the letter, Poilievre said that legislation promoting adoption and helping pregnant women in crisis will do “greater good” than prohibiting abortion.
Poilievre’s letter was in response to a Sept. 6 letter sent by Plemel, accusing Poilievre of switching from being pro-life to pro-choice.
Poilievre responded by saying that pro-life Canadians are welcome in the Conservative Party.
“The Conservative Party of Canada is a big tent with a strong tradition of free votes of conscience and I intend to maintain this status quo,” he wrote in the letter, which was provided to The Epoch Times.
“There are many other ways to support women who want to bring a child into the world,” he said in the letter. “I do not believe abortion should be the only option available to women faced with an unexpected pregnancy.”
Poilievre said he will “stand up” against government attempts to “attack” organizations that help pregnant women.
The Liberals’ 2021 election platform included a pledge to deny charitable status to organizations that provide “dishonest counselling to women about their rights and about the options available to them at all stages of the pregnancy.”
In his letter, Poilievre said, “We can ease the challenges of putting a child up for adoption by supporting women through all nine months of pregnancy.
“I believe focusing on bills that promote adoption and help pregnant women through crisis would do greater good.”
The Conservative leader also wrote that his government will not introduce or pass a law that bans abortions.
Poilievre has been clear on his position on abortion, spokesperson Sebastian Skamski told The Epoch Times in an email.
He said a Conservative government will be a “small government that minds its own business” and lets Canadians make their own decisions about everything from their lives and bodies to speech and beliefs.
Skamski also said that Conservatives support adoption and will offer support to parents who choose to adopt.
Poilievre has talked publicly about his own adoption story, saying he was born to a 16-year-old who was not able to raise him.
“One of the most beautiful gifts anyone can give, in fact, the greatest gift I’ve ever been given was for my parents to adopt me,” he said.
Pete Baklinski with Campaign Life Coalition told The Epoch Times in an email the group is pleased to see Poilievre’s support for pregnant women and pro-life pregnancy centres. However, Baklinski added that the politician’s plans are “far from what justice for the pre-born demands.”
“We’re glad that pro-life advocates are still permitted to run as candidates in the Conservative Party. This is something the Liberal Party has not permitted for a decade, making the entire Liberal Party pro-abortion,” Baklinski said in the email. “We’re grateful for the about 40 conservative MPs who are fully pro-life and who vote pro-life.”
“Our government must intervene to avert population collapse by passing pro-family policies and creating incentives for families to have more children,” Baklinski said.
The Liberals have been critical of the Conservatives on the issue, accusing them on different occasions of being anti-abortion.
Earlier this year, when Poilievre said he will use the notwithstanding clause on a criminal justice matter, the Liberals claimed he will use the clause to ban abortion.
“He would pick which rights people have. ... This is deeply concerning,” Freeland said.
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth Marci Ien also said the Tories would roll back abortion access.
The Tories dismissed the claims, saying they’re meant to distract from the Liberals’ performance in polls.
