Liberal MPs are calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to assure Canadians that he won’t change Canada’s long-standing tradition of recognizing women’s reproductive rights and access to contraception as part of his maternal health initiative, and will work in full partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
Conservative MP Brad Trost has petitioned the House of Commons to cut Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funding to the IPFF.
Liberals are concerned that Stephen Harper’s maternal health initiative will not fund organizations that advance women’s rights to reproductive choice and access to birth control. This follows a news story today that reports the Conservatives have cut 99 percent of funding to the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, Canada’s member of the IPPF, down from $1.3 million in 2006.
“Judging by the Harper government’s record, we fear continued encroachment on women’s rights,” said Liberal Health Critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett. “Members of Mr. Harper’s caucus have been outspoken in Parliament in their campaign to end CIDA funding to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an organization that provides reproductive health counselling and services around the world.”
“Access to the full range of reproductive health services is an integral part of a strategy that empowers women,” said Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville. “Without reproductive choice or access to birth control, women are less able to benefit from education or economic opportunity, and remain susceptible to child marriage, sexual violence, and female genital mutilation.”
“This government has shown that it’s willing to cut funding to aid groups, like KAIROS, that dare to speak out against the Conservative party line,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. “So we want a clear commitment that women’s reproductive rights – and the organizations that promote them – will not be jeopardized by the Conservative caucus.”
Conservative MPs against women’s rights to reproductive choice
October 2009 – Brad Trost, Conservative MP, Saskatoon-Humboldt launches a Petition to Stop Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood:
“Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present in the House today petitions… They are calling upon this House to promote the values they cherish, which are Canadian values in support of pre-born life. They are particularly calling upon the Government of Canada to stop the funding of Planned Parenthood by CIDA, the Canadian International Development Agency, believing that CIDA should be concentrating on dealing with fighting poverty instead of concentrating on destroying human life.” (MP Brad Trost, Hansard, October 5, 2009)
“In Trost’s opinion, the government has continued funding IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation) because of ‘inertia.’ ‘The bureaucracy’s done it before and no one wants to rock the boat,’ he explained. ‘… I’m encouraging people to let their voice be spoken so that the unelected government, i.e. the bureaucrats in CIDA who support Planned Parenthood, don’t get to dictate where people’s tax dollars go.’ He is encouraging people to write the Prime Minister and CIDA’s Minister, Bev Oda. He would like those who write ‘not only to oppose it because abortion is wrong, period, but also because there’s other better ways to spend … Canadian international development aid money.” (Lifesitenews.com, November 2, 2009)
“[Conservative MP Brad Trost] presented a petition in the House calling for CIDA to stop funding IPPF saying it ‘promotes the establishment of abortion as an international human right and lobbies aggressively to impose permissive abortion laws on developing nations.’” (Saskatoon Leader Post, November 4, 2009)
Maurice Vellacott, Conservative MP, Saskatoon – Wanuskewin:
“Saskatoon’s doctors should be commended for the leadership they are showing by reducing the availability of abortion in our city and for supporting real alternatives for women in need.” (MP Maurice Vellacott, “Outspoken MP Slams Canada’s ‘Abortion Regime,’ LifeSiteNews.com, November 27, 2009)
“[MP Maurice Vellacott] says pro-life feminists view abortion as ‘part of a male agenda to have women more sexually available,’ and adds abortion has been used to cover up the sexual abuse of young girls.” (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, November 24, 2009)
Stockwell Day, Conservative MP, Okanagan Coquihalla:
“The thinking is, if you can cut a child to pieces or burn them alive with salt solution while they’re still in the womb, what’s wrong with knocking them around a little when they’re outside the womb?” (MP Stockwell Day arguing in 1988 that abortion leads to child abuse, Edmonton Journal, March 10, 2000).
Jim Flaherty, Conservative MP , Whitby-Oshawa:
“On abortion services he [Jim Flaherty] said, ‘I would not change that status quo. Would I expand it? No. . . . I would not authorize the creation of any more clinics.’” (LifeSite Daily News, February 11, 2002)
Jason Kenney, Conservative MP, Calgary Southeast:
“Mr. Harper’s Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has compared abortion to child abuse and slavery, saying that if politicians refuse to take a political stand against abortion, people should ‘ask them if they’re personally opposed to child abuse, ask them if they’re personally opposed to slavery.’” (Canadian Catholic News, May 24, 2004)
Cheryl Gallant, Conservative MP, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke:
“We saw that young American (in Iraq) have his head literally cut off in front of the cameras, but what’s happening down there is absolutely no different!” (MP Cheryl Gallant referring to an abortion clinic, CBC, May 13, 2004)
Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative MP, Yorkton Melville:
Mr. Breitkreuz introduced Private Members Bill M-83 in the House of Commons: “That the Standing Committee on Health fully examine, study and report to Parliament on: (a) whether or not abortions are medically necessary for the purpose of maintaining health, preventing disease or diagnosing or treating an injury, illness or disability; and (b) the health risks for women undergoing abortions compared to women carrying their babies to full term.” (Private Member’s Business, voted on October 1, 2003)
“Since sending me to Ottawa in 1993, I’ve been working on two issues vital to the vast majority of my constituents – democratic reform and rights for the unborn.” (MP Garry Breitkreuz News Release, March 31, 2003)
“In 1996, Breitkreuz called for a national referendum on tax-funding for abortions.” (MP Garry Breitkreuz News Release, March 14, 1996)
“I was active in the pro-life cause before I got into politics, and it has been one of my top priorities for the 10 years I have been in Ottawa.” (MP Garry Breitkreuz, Calgary Herald, July 9, 2004)
Gary Goodyear, Conservative MP, Cambridge:
“‘I always have hope, I’ll never give up hope,’ Goodyear added after calling on anti-abortion groups to continue striving for a new law.” (The Standard, May 12, 2006)
“I’m pro-life and that’s the answer to the question.” (MP Gary Goodyear, Cambridge Times Friday, June 11, 2004)
Rob Nicholson, Conservative MP, Niagara Falls:
“When this issue was before the House the last time I voted against the bill. I could not in good conscience give approval to something that I have always fought against in my life. I have fought for the protection of unborn children and I fought against the abortion law that was in place in Canada for many years.” (MP Rob Nicholson, Hansard, May 23, 1990)
Vic Toews, Conservative MP, Provencher:
“Vic Toews told the National Pro-Life Conference on Sept. 8, 2004, in a speech entitled ‘Abuse of the Charter by the Supreme Court,’ that the right to abortion is a result of ‘activist judges’ abusing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to develop and implement their own social policy… ‘Do not look at the issue of abortion as an issue that stands alone… this issue has a much broader significance in areas related to the policy of government concerning marriage, the family, and the response of government to social problems generally.’ (Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/action/conservative-danger.html)
