Scheer distances himself from anti-abortion comment
OTTAWA — The leader of the Conservative Party on Thursday distanced himself from comments by a candidate opposing abortion, remarks that could hurt his chances with female voters in the Oct. 21 federal election.
Andrew Scheer insisted he had no plans to reopen the abortion debate if he won the election.
“Nothing on this issue has changed for our party. We have always made it very clear ... that a Conservative government will not reopen this issue,” Scheer said at a news conference in Toronto.
Primer Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off the election campaign on Wednesday, with polls showing his Liberals only slightly ahead of the Conservatives.
Female voters are particularly important for the Liberals. A Mainstreet poll conducted for the ipolitics website last week showed 41.2 per cent of women back the Liberals, with only 29.4 per cent favouring the Conservatives.
The Conservatives have traditionally steered clear of the topic of abortion, fearing they could alienate progressive voters.
In Canada, unlike in the United States, abortion has not been a major political issue.
Scheer made his remarks after the Liberals circulated a video showing Rachel Willson, a Conservative candidate in Toronto, saying she was shocked at the lack of limits on abortion.
Liberal cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett, writing on Twitter, asked, “Is the abortion debate really closed, Andrew Scheer?” and noted he had decided to start his Toronto campaign alongside Willson.
Trudeau did not attack Scheer directly, telling reporters in British Columbia that every Liberal candidate would “defend women’s rights unequivocally.”
Scheer accused his opponents of fear-mongering in a bid to deflect attention from “their scandals and corruption.”
Last month, a top parliamentary watchdog ruled Trudeau had breached ethics rules by pressuring the former justice minister to ensure a major construction firm would avoid a corruption trial.
In brief remarks, Willson said she had never made a secret of her views on abortion, but would focus on issues that unite Canadians.