VANCOUVER, Dec 19, 2000 (LSN.ca) – Statements clarifying the Liberal Party of British Columbia’s position on abortion have shed light on the political landscape in the province. While the ruling New Democrats have been open about their extremist pro-abortion position, the provincial Liberal party has historically sidestepped the issue in an attempt to remain open to pro-life support. The pretense ended last week when the Vancouver Sun reported Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell’s abortion position in an interview with Vaughn Palmer.
Asked if he would he make any moves to restrict access to abortion, Campbell responded, “a Gordon Campbell government is not changing policy on access to abortion services. … They’ve been deemed to be medically necessary. They are not on our agenda. They are a federal responsibility.” Campbell also revealed that he would not tolerate a referendum or allow free votes for his party members on the issue. “It would be inappropriate for there to be a provincial referendum on it – it is a federal responsibility,” he said. “It is not going to come up as a free vote. … It’s not on our agenda and it’s something that we’ve said clearly to people. I know everyone understands that. That would be a betrayal of what we’re saying to people. It’s not coming up.”
He emphasized that his position on the matter was firm and unchangeable saying, “This is the position I would take as premier. … this is the position our government would take. And therefore if anything else came up it would be a matter of confidence in the government.” These revelations narrow the alternatives for pro-life British Columbians who will only support like-minded candidates for political leadership.
(Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, Tuesday 12 December 2000)