A U.S. Supreme Court leak indicating a reversal of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling is prompting the Conservative Party of Canada鈥檚 leadership candidates to publicize their stance on abortion rights.
The draft opinion is reinvigorating a debate that is often part of the party鈥檚 leadership race discourse, bringing to light internal policy divisions.
Three candidates, Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis, and Scott Aitchison, all sitting members of Parliament, have been advised by leader Candice Bergen not to speak to the draft opinion as it remains before the U.S. courts.
Nevertheless, Aitchison about the developments.
鈥淭here will be many who say this is an American issue, but the blunt reality is that all too often, the political discourse we see in the United States becomes part of our politics too,鈥� he said.
Aitchison said Canada 鈥渕ust do better鈥� to cool the polarizing rhetoric present in the U.S. and act with 鈥渞espect and empathy鈥� when debating contentious issues.
He then went on to say he defends a woman鈥檚 right to personal choice regarding all reproductive health services.
鈥淟et me be clear: I will ensure that women have access to the resources they need to make their own informed reproductive healthcare decisions, without judgment,鈥� he said.
CTVNews.ca received a statement from Lewis鈥� campaign noting she won鈥檛 comment on the documents as they don鈥檛 represent a final decision but reiterated the candidate鈥檚 pro-life agenda, outlined in her 鈥淣o Hidden Agenda鈥� platform.
Meanwhile, Jean Charest that he is 鈥減ro-choice.鈥�
鈥淎 [government] under my leadership will not support legislation restricting reproductive rights. While I respect the democratic rights of MPs to bring forward private members bills on matters of conscience, I will not vote to support them,鈥� he continued.
Patrick Brown issued a press release earlier in the day echoing that while this is a U.S. matter, 鈥渋t鈥檚 important for leaders to commit to protecting women鈥檚 rights.鈥�
鈥淎bortion in Canada should be safe, legal, and, in my personal opinion, rare. That鈥檚 why my government will support women and families with policies that encourage other options, such as adoption and increased parental supports,鈥� he said.
"This is why it鈥檚 important for us to be clear where we stand. A Conservative Party led by me will not change Canada鈥檚 abortion laws. Period.鈥�
However, he said that Liberals and NDP will exploit the issue and use it to attack the Conservative Party.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly made a point of connecting the news out of the U.S. to the Conservative鈥檚 leadership race while addressing reporters earlier in the day.
鈥淲e also know that there is a leadership race happening as we speak within the Conservative Party and candidates are all trying to court the anti-choice vote. And so, we need to make sure that we do not reopen the debate,鈥� she said.
鈥淥ur government has been clear, steadfast in our support for women鈥檚 rights to choose.鈥�
Roman Baber said he doesn鈥檛 believe government has a role in how people 鈥渟tart or grow鈥� their families but that he will respect the right of every Canadian to 鈥渟eek nomination, introduce legislation, and vote freely鈥� on matters of conscience.
鈥淭he Conservative Party must welcome diversity of opinion,鈥� .
Poilievre鈥檚 team did not respond to CTVNews.ca鈥檚 request for a statement at the time of publication.
