Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau stated in no uncertain terms that he will not support the nomination of any prospective Liberal MPs who are anti-abortion, saying Wednesday, 鈥淚t is not for any government to legislate what a woman chooses to do with her body.鈥�
Speaking to reporters, Trudeau said would-be Liberal candidates who are anti-abortion will be flagged and barred during the nomination process.
鈥淚 have made it clear that future candidates need to be completely understanding that they will be expected to vote pro-choice on any bills,鈥� he said.
The beliefs of long-time Liberal MPs who are opposed to abortion 鈥渨ill be respected to a certain extent,鈥� Trudeau said.
The Liberal leader was asked about abortion ahead of Thursday鈥檚 annual "March for Life," in which people who are anti-abortion protest on Parliament Hill.
The Liberal party did not have an official position on abortion until the 2012 national convention, where delegates voted in favour of a resolution that endorsed a woman鈥檚 right to choose.
It鈥檚 for this reason that Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner said he feels 鈥渃omfortable鈥� with Trudeau鈥檚 rule.
鈥淗e鈥檚 reflecting a policy that came from the membership, that came off the policy floor in 2012,鈥� Cuzner said in an interview on CTV鈥檚 Power Play on Wednesday. 鈥淲e鈥檝e long been a party of choice.鈥�
John McKay, one of a handful of anti-abortion Liberal MPs, said Wednesday that he鈥檇 likely have a 鈥渇ew awkward moments鈥� being in the minority on the issue.
鈥淓very MP has some points of estrangement between he and his party or she and her party,鈥� he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Trudeau said the Liberals are placing a discerning eye on prospective candidates鈥� views on many issues ahead of a federal election in 2015, including on same-sex marriage and the Charter of Rights.
鈥淲e make sure that the people who are stepping forward are consistent with the Liberal party as it is now, as it stands under my leadership and under the feedback we鈥檙e getting from Canadians across the country,鈥� Trudeau said.
Opposition parties, however, suggested that the Liberal leader is going too far.
NDP Deputy Leader Megan Leslie said on Power Play that Trudeau is creating 鈥渢wo tiers鈥� of support for choice and women鈥檚 rights.
鈥淗e鈥檚 saying, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got to sign a paper saying you鈥檙e pro-choice.鈥� I think that鈥檚 a problem,鈥� she said.
The expectation is that if a candidate is joining any political party, they hold the same 鈥渃ore values鈥� anyway, Leslie said.
Conservative MP James Rajotte said the rule alienates people who are politically minded.
鈥淚f they say, 鈥楾here鈥檚 not a home for me there whatsoever, that I can鈥檛 even express my view, hold my view and be a Liberal,鈥欌�� Rajotte said on Power Play. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a mistake on their party politically.鈥�
The Conservative Party will 鈥渃ontinue to accept people who are pro-choice and pro-life,鈥� Rajotte added.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he won鈥檛 re-visit the issue of abortion in the House of Commons, and has taken action in the past to prevent backbencher Conservatives from putting forth private members鈥� bills on the matter.
With files from The Canadian Press
