Voting Harper isn’t voting pro-life
WASHINGTON – JANUARY 23: A pro-life activist stands in front of pro-choice activists with the National Organization For Women at a vigil outside the U.S. Supreme Court on January 23, 2012 in Washington, DC. The vigil was held to mark the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
This election shouldn’t be about abortions, because the debate has ended
An Ipsos exit poll from the 2011 federal election revealed that Christians were more likely to vote Conservative. It seems that pro-life and “rejection of the culture of death,” as various evangelical papers put it, is the main issue for many devout Christians.
Canada has no legal restrictions against abortion. As it stands, pro-choice is the status quo. Now, a portion of the pro-life community has been attacking Trudeau for his pro-choice stance and his barring of Liberals voting against all anti-abortion bills. However, is this really a fair criticism? Insofar as other parties are concerned, the NDP have the same restrictions and the Conservatives allow MPs to vote their conscience. Based on this, the pro-life contingents believe they should vote for Harper as the lesser of the three evils. However, that is not the case.
I fully reject the notion that abortion is an issue this election. Stephen Harper and the Conservatives do not want to open the debate on abortion. In fact, Harper has said, “As long as I’m prime minister, we are not reopening the abortion debate,” which means he will go along with the status quo — a woman’s right to choose. With that in mind, abortion is clearly not an issue in this election, as not one party is going do anything to prevent abortion, because nobody has promised to introduce bills to eradicate abortions or spoken out against the woman’s right to choose. Therefore, voting Conservative will not make a difference within one’s pro-life beliefs.
As well, for those attacking Trudeau I ask you: Do you really think that Trudeau’s being pro-choice is a reason to vote against him? The easy answer, again, is no. Abortion, for all intents and purposes, has been removed from debate in Canada. Harper has even quashed efforts of Conservative MPs who tried to introduce anti-abortion legislation. So, in this election, do not let those who celebrate the Conservative’s vague openness to allowing pro-life convictions influence you. Rather, research various party platforms and decide who you’ll vote for based on actual promises and platforms.
Agenda-setting is something the party in power has much more power over than the opposition parties. Harper has been successful in making the economy, oil, and pipelines part of the debate, however, he has not even tried to make pro-life or even limited restriction of abortion issues enter the debate. Harper and his Conservatives are guiltier than the Liberals and NDP, who are up front about their views. Instead of standing up for life, he hides and avoids the debate, evidence of a guilty conscience. Not only does he know there is an issue being hidden, he actively tries to ensure it remains that way.
The Conservative stance is flimsy, and siding with the status quo is tantamount to being pro-choice itself.
