Grits fail to tolerate diversity of opinion

The federal Liberals purport to embrace diversity, particularly when it comes to women — especially our prime minister, who is fond of calling himself a feminist.

What then, to make of the display Tuesday at the House of Commons standing committee on the status of women?

All the Liberal MPs who sit on the committee stood up and left the meeting in protest.

They were outraged that the Conservatives recommended Alberta MP Rachael Harder as a candidate to chair the committee.

Harder’s sin? She previously told a pro-life group that she’d vote in support of legislation that restricts access to abortion.

To the Liberals, the NDP and the prime minister, Harder’s ideological perspective made her unsuitable to participate in a committee that studies and reviews government programs and policies related to the status of women. So they left, ending the meeting. Which is troubling.

The laws around abortion in Canada have long been settled by the courts.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1998 that abortion is legal in this country and guaranteed by our Charter of Rights.

Polls have consistently shown most Canadians support the right of women to choose.

That shouldn’t mean that no Canadian, including devout Catholics and adherents of other faiths, can’t have deeply held personal or religious views about abortion.

Nor should it mean holding such views automatically disqualifies any individual, especially elected public servants, from participating in government.

Such a position is objectionably intolerant, insulting and discriminatory. Again, the issue isn’t about abortion. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer made that point, stressing that divisive debate has been settled.

“I think it’s certainly unprecedented that the prime minister would interfere, and block the nomination of a democratically elected member of Parliament to serve as chair of a committee,” Scheer told reporters. “I think it shows a lack of respect for the parliamentary process; it’s very unfortunate,” he said.

Under Trudeau, Liberal MPs are required to hold pro-choice views. The Conservatives permit MPs to vote their conscience.

Conservative Senator Linda Frum framed the incongruity of the Liberal position well on social media: “I’m a Conservative woman. I’m pro-choice: for abortion rights but also freedom of conscience. Anyway I thought diversity was our strength.”