Kenney says he’ll pass on vote for protest-free zones at abortion clinics

The provincial government’s bill to create a protest-free zone around abortion clinics is a political game that doesn’t deserve a vote, says United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney.

Kenney, a vocal abortion opponent, told reporters on his way into the legislature Monday he will abstain from voting on the legislation, and most of his caucus will follow his lead.

Kenney said the NDP didn’t campaign on the rule change, and it is only being introduced now as a “transparent distraction tactic.”

“We’re not going to play games with divisive social issues. We’re here to focus on job creation, economic growth and market access for our energy products,” he said.

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman slammed Kenney for not defending a woman’s right to peace as she walks to a doctor’s appointment.

A government has fiscal, social, economic and ethical responsibilities, Hoffman said, “and this is us meeting those responsibilities to these women.”

Hoffman said her government has been working on the rule change for a year, since it was contacted by the Kensington Clinic in Calgary.

She said she’s not surprised Kenney will leave the chamber rather than cast a vote, but is disappointed.

“He’s not going to stand up for women who have asked that government take action on this. To me, that is essentially saying you refuse to stand with women,” Hoffman said.

“It’s disappointing that the official Opposition’s leader doesn’t feel like this is something of importance, because for all those women who have contacted me, this is very important.”

Kenney said there has been a bubble zone around abortion clinics for 20 years, and if anyone had a problem with it, they should have just gone to court.

Kenney has said in the past that, if elected, he won’t govern according to his personal opposition to abortion.

While in federal government, he voted in 2012 to study the definition of life, in opposition to Stephen Harper. In 2003, he voted Yes to examine if abortion is medically necessary and examine the definition of a human from the moment of conception.

Hoffman said Kenney abstaining from the vote is an attempt by the UCP leader to keep his perfect anti-abortion voting record.