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Conservative Leader Harper Talks Abortion and Gay Marriage in Convention Speech

MONTREAL, March 18, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, in is address before thousands of delegates at the Conservative Convention Friday touched on issues of concern to social conservatives. 

Regarding homosexual marriage Harper said, "As prime minister, I will bring forward legislation that, while providing the same rights, benefits and obligations to all couples, will maintain the traditional definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

On abortion, Harper said, "as prime minister, I will not bring forth legislation on the issue of abortion."

He added, "as your leader, if you disagree with me on these matters, I will not call you stupid or label you a threat to Canadian values.  As leader, I care less about your views on these matters than whether you are prepared to respect the views of those who disagree with you."

He also reiterated his promise to allow MPs to cast free votes on moral issues. "And that's why I will always allow all of your MPs to vote freely on matters of conscience," he said.

To resounding applause Harper noted the party's popular policy on providing benefits to families who choose to sacrifice a dual income to have one parent raise children at home. "Our government will support Canadian families.  We will increase the childcare choices available to parents, not make marijuana more available to children," he said.

Finally Harper used other sound bites to speak the language of social conservatives.  "It (the Party) must embrace all cultures and faiths, and the Conservative values of family and freedom that are the heritage and destiny of all humanity," he said.  Ending his speech with "God bless Canada."

See the full speech online:
http://www.conservative.ca/documents/20050318-ConventionAddress-Harper.pdf

jhw

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