Reduce, don’t ban abortion

Re: Anti-abortion group stumps for Tories, Dec. 5. Nominating anti-abortion Conservative candidates would achieve nothing other than to reduce the overall support of the Conservative party. Poll after poll shows that Canadians do not want to ban abortions. The latest poll by Angus Reid on this subject was conducted in January, and it shows that a dismal five per cent of Canadians want to ban abortions. Interestingly, 65 per cent indicate that they are uneasy about abortions. It seems to me that the message is clear; try to reduce the number of abortions, but not by banning them.

An obvious way to avoid abortions is to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Therefore groups, like Campaign Life Coalition, who wish to reduce the number of abortions, should promote sexual education and they should distribute free condoms. Sadly, groups opposed to abortion tend to be against sexual education, consequently defeating their own stated goal.

It is not by accident that Prime Minister Stephen Harper refuses to debate a ban on abortions. He knows that there is practically no support for such a measure in Canada. It is unlikely that the next prime minister will feel any differently, and even if he or she did, getting a majority of MPs to ban abortions would be a herculean task. Therefore, Campaign Life Coalition should not waste its time taking steps that would likely weaken the party that is most sympathetic to their goal.

FRED MAROUN, Ottawa