Excerpted from the July 2000 CLC National News
Thank you to all who joined the Canadian Alliance in order to elect a prolife leader.
Throughout the years, CLC has always urged pro-life voters to support pro-life candidates,
regardless of party affiliation. This spring, CLC provincial groups across the country
encouraged and assisted their supporters to get involved in the one-member, one vote
leadership process that was established by the Canadian Alliance.
Very early in this campaign, it became very clear that there were only two candidates worth
considering from the pro-life perspective: Preston Manning and Stockwell Day.
On the crucial issue of legislative protection for the unborn, both Stockwell Day and Preston
Manning have essentially the same position. Both claim to be willing to initiate a “debate”
on the issue, but neither would introduce legislation in the House of Commons to make
abortion a crime under the Criminal Code, claiming that MPs cannot “impose” their will on the
public on the issue of abortion.
Although neither Manning nor Day would permit a majority of MPs to pass a law prohibiting
abortion, they would allow a national referendum on the issue, where a majority of Canadians
could decide to extend legal protection to the unborn. Again, neither Manning nor Day would
initiate such a referendum, but they both support Canadian Alliance policy, which would allow
Canadians to petition for a referendum to be held. Both Day and Manning have promised to
campaign on the pro-life side of any such referendum campaign.
Even though Stockwell Day and Preston Manning have been unwilling to make a determined
commitment to enact a pro-life law, I am optimistic both Manning and Day would take other
actions on the pro-life, pro-family issues. Both support the right of the provinces to decide
on the de-funding of abortion services. Both would oppose euthanasia and assisted-suicide
measures, and both Day and Manning have been critical of judicial activism and court
decisions permitting the possession of child pornography.
From the pro-life perspective, what distinguishes Day from Manning?
As an opposition leader, Manning has occasionally spoken out on life issues, and did mention
the unborn in his response to the Throne Speech last September. Day, as a government MLA and
cabinet minister in Alberta, has broken ranks with his own party and government in efforts to
de-fund abortion in that province. Day has also led the charge for the use of the
notwithstanding clause to overrule anti-family decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada.
The pro-life movement has had more exposure to Day than to Manning. Over the years, Day has
been accessible to pro-lifers, developing strong relations with pro-life activists in Alberta
and speaking at national pro-life conferences. Manning has, on occasion, met in private with
pro-life leaders, but has allowed his staff and advisors to obstruct regular and meaningful
access to him. Even during this leadership contest, the Day campaign has been for more
aggressive in courting pro-life voters, while Manning has kept his distance.
Throughout this leadership campaign, both Manning and Day have often not properly explained
the pro-life position, hiding behind “the will of my constituents”. Still, while neither has
denied the pro-life label, Day has been more willing to proclaim himself pro-life and has
repeatedly acknowledged that human life begins at conception. During the Monday, June 13
debate, Day was especially forthright and refreshingly unapologetic about his pro-life
position. The other candidates were either emphatically pro-abortion or embarrassingly
evasive on the question.
Notwithstanding my reservations about the approach they take on pro-life legislation and the
referendum process, I do believe both Manning and Day are pro-life. I like and respect them
both. I also believe that the Canadian Alliance, led by either Manning or Day, will attract
a significant number of pro-life candidates for the federal election expected within the next
year.
Based on their records in public life, on their accessibility to the prolife movement, and on
their willingness to be identified with the pro-life cause, Stockwell Day is clearly the
better choice for Alliance leader. Regardless of the outcome of this leadership contest, we
will continue to urge our supporters to vote for the most pro-life candidate, regardless of
party affiliation, and we will ensure that pro-life voters are kept informed as to the
positions and records of the various candidates in their area.