“I am personally pro-life,” says Scheer, vowing not to reopen abortion debate

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said today he was personally opposed to abortion – but a government led by him would not budge to restrict access to the procedure.

Speaking to reporters in New Brunswick, Scheer, a practicing Catholic, said that even if he opposed abortion, a government led by him would not pass any government laws to prohibit the procedure or support abortion. efforts of a backbench Conservative MP to curb the practice.

His statement comes a day after three of the party’s top leaders pressured Scheer into a French electoral debate to say publicly what he personally thinks about abortion. Scheer dodged the question last night, saying only that the abortion debate in Canada is over.

“My personal position has always been open and consistent. I am personally pro-life but I have also made a commitment that as leader of this party it is my responsibility to ensure that we do not reopen this debate, that we focus on issues that unite our party and Canadians, ”Scheer said Thursday in an announcement regarding tax credits for volunteer firefighters.

“And that is exactly what I am going to do and that is why I will be voting against measures that attempt to reopen this debate.”

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who led the charge against Scheer’s position on abortion in the debate, said today that Scheer’s assurances were not enough.

“I’m going to fight for everyone, and I think women can see it. Andrew Scheer won’t be there to stand up for their rights and that’s very important. It’s very important to understand the kind of leadership that women have. different leaders have to offer, ”said Trudeau, campaigning today in Montreal.

When asked about an article from 2011 who described Trudeau as a Catholic who “is personally very opposed to abortion, but still believes that no one can tell a woman what to do with her body,” a spokesperson for the Liberal Party said Justin Trudeau was unmistakably “pro-choice”.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Scheer should have been candid with voters when he got the chance on the debate stage.

“The fact that he said it today but did not say it during the debate, when asked questions directly, shows a lack of courage,” Singh said during the debate. a press conference in Toronto.

Scheer has a long history of social conservatism

Scheer has long identified himself as a social conservative. In 2005, he spoke out against same-sex marriage in a speech in the House of Commons.

While Scheer has so far refused to participate in one of the country’s pride parades, he recently said the debate over same-sex marriage in Canada is over.

Rosemary Barton asks Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer about his changing perspective on LGBTQ rights. 2:10

Scheer also said he supports equality between gay and straight blood donors – current rules require men who have sex with men stay single for three months before you can donate.

The Tory leader also said he would support a legislative ban on conversion therapy, a discredited pseudo-scientific practice that attempts to right gays.

During his run for the party’s leadership in 2017, Scheer told anti-abortion group RightNow that he would allow “freedom of conscience” for backbenchers.

“I think that’s one of the things that makes the Conservative Party stronger, that we allow a diversity of views on these issues within our own caucus and we don’t tell anyone that they should park their car. conscience or their faith at the door, ”he said, according to a transcript of the interview.

In this interview, Scheer also said that he has always voted in favor of “pro-life” legislation.

“I can assure you that I support the right of individual MPs to speak out and bring forward, to present issues that are important to them, but our party policy is clear on this and I believe that to maintain the ‘unity of our caucus, it is important that the Prime Minister respect this, “he said.

Scheer has said he will allow Conservative MPs to bring forward legislation they wish to pursue, while saying that as leader he will vote against legislation to limit access to abortion.