Prime Minister Stephen Harper must disavow Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott’s false and misleading statements about abortion, Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville said today.
“Mr. Vellacott persists in spreading propaganda about abortion that is not based in any scientific fact – adding to his history of denigrating women and their rights and freedoms,” said Ms. Neville. “This misinformation is highly damaging to women – yet the prime minister continues to be silent on the matter.”
Mr. Vellacott has once again attacked a woman’s right to choose in an article in Le Devoir today, where he repeats his assertion that abortion causes breast cancer. The World Health Organization, Canadian Cancer Society, and American Cancer Society have all rejected this position, having found that abortion does not increase the risk of cancer.
His latest outburst repeats the claim he made back in November when he praised the shortage of doctors performing abortions in Saskatoon. The member for Saskatoon—Wanuskewin also stated that “pro-life feminists have come to see abortion as part of a male agenda to have women more sexually available.” (Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Nov. 24, 2009)
“Mr. Harper’s refusal to rein in his MP and publicly refute Mr. Vellacott’s repugnant public statements – as well as the equally outrageous anti-abortion statements made by members of his cabinet – means we can only conclude that he agrees with these views, which should alarm all Canadians.”
“Enough is enough – Mr. Harper, it is well past the time you put a stop to these kinds of attacks against women. There is no place for this in today’s political discourse – women deserve better from their elected representatives.”
