Abortion re-enters the CPC conversation

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This article was published 05/05/2022 (1494 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CONSERVATIVE leadership hopeful and Ontario MP Scott Aitchison nailed it.

Aitchison suggested on Twitter that even though the potential that the United States could be overturning Roe v. Wade is an American issue, “the blunt reality is that all too often, the political discourse we see in the United States becomes part of our politics, too.” (Aitchison went on to pledge full support to defending women’s right to choose — also, nailing it.)

But the potential erosion of abortion rights in the United States demonstrates just how precarious these rights can be. On Monday, Politico was provided a leaked initial draft of a majority opinion written by U.S. Justice Samuel Alito on Roe v. Wade, which repudiates the 1973 decision providing federal protection of abortion rights. This was later largely upheld in 1992 with Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Alito writes that: “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.” He goes on to suggest, “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”

On Tuesday, the abortion debate was brought back to life in Canadian politics, with MPs of all stripes trying to make political points on the issue. The NDP, Bloc and Liberals took the opportunity to address the issue in Parliament, while Conservative MPs were instructed not to discuss the issue.

Interim Conservative leader Candace Bergen said in a statement, “It would be inappropriate to comment on matters before the U.S. Courts. That is why Conservatives will not be commenting on the leaked opinions from the Supreme Court of the United States.” Of course, that didn’t stop Aitchison (and I say, good for him).

The abortion question follows the announcement that there are now six verified candidates running for the Conservative Party of Canada leadership. Among them, Leslyn Lewis is the strongest social-conservative voice, and she may be able to use the uproar over Roe v. Wade to her advantage.

Lewis has been the calm, rational face for pro-lifers everywhere. In a recent interview, Lewis told CTV’s Evan Solomon she’s friends with lots of people who are pro-choice, and they agree with her belief in supporting women who want to keep their babies (and who would argue against that?).

But she’s also been very clear that she wants “coerced” abortions to be criminalized, and that’s where the slippery slope begins.

Lewis says in her Facebook campaign page: “When I had just completed Law School and was starting my law career, articling on Bay Street, I got pregnant. From a career perspective, this was the worst possible timing. Who would hire a law student walking around pregnant? How was I even going to study for and pass the bar exam?

“The pressure to have an abortion was immense. Friends went ahead and booked abortion consultations on my behalf. People told me that I didn’t have a choice. It was my future, or my baby.”

Is this what she means by coerced abortions? Does she want police arresting Planned Parenthood counsellors? Klinic staff? Doctors? Family members? She comes across as reasonable, until you start to ask questions.

Lewis did reasonably well in the last leadership race, coming in third behind winner Erin O’Toole and Tory veteran Peter MacKay; O’Toole promised to give her a large role in his cabinet, then sidelined her over some of her more contentious views on vaccinations.

Social conservatives in the 2020 leadership race helped Lewis raise about $2 million, and after the second ballot, she had more raw votes than either O’Toole or MacKay. She also had solid support in western Canada. Even if she were to lose the leadership race this time around, she is a voice that no Conservative leader can afford to ignore.

Which means that abortion, and relatedly the Roe v. Wade issue in the United States, are likely going to have a hand in Canadian politics and the next federal election. Because as Warren Kinsella wrote in the Toronto Sun on Tuesday: “…Abortion is back. And abortion kills — Tory political careers.”

Shannon Sampert is the former politics and perspectives editor at the Winnipeg Free Press and a communications consultant. She was the Eakins Fellow for the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada for winter 2022.

shannon@mediadiva.ca