*Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe has been quoted saying his party supports gay ‘marriage’ since it is a human rights issue. * Belinda Stronach who ran against Stephen Harper for the Conservative Leadership was featured on CBC Sunday night where she said she supported abortion – was “pro-choice” and it was noted that she supported homosexual ‘marriage’ * Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin has said he would resign in two years if he fails to improve Canada’s health care system; enhance living conditions in cities; and maintain social programs without going into deficit. * There are seven small parties fielding candidates nationally: Canadian Action, Christian Heritage, Communist, the Green, the Marijuana Party, the Marxist-Leninists and the Progressive Canadian Party. * The only federal party with a pro-life policy is the Christian Heritage Party * A Campaign Life Coalition leader reports that each of the 3 candidates in the riding of Sault Ste. Marie will claim to be pro-life. Each is an active member of a Christian congregation. Each has responded to the CLC questionnaire in one manner or other. Liberal MP Jerry Pickard in Trouble The May 29 London Free Press reported there are more signs that Liberal MP Jerry Pickard (Chatham-Kent-Essex) is in trouble. Pickard claims to be pro-life, but, in 2003, voted for the anti-life Bill C-13, which now provides for the killing of live human embryos in order to extract their stem cells for experimental purposes. Pickard is rumoured to be furious with Campaign Life Coalition for reporting on his recent anti-life record in a report card that CLC sent to his constituents last month.
Now Pickard has another headache. One of his former Liberal colleagues from the House of Commons, Rex Crawford (MP for Kent from 1988-1997), has endorsed his Conservative opponent Dave Van Kesteren. Crawford, who had a strong pro-life record in Parliament, represented the Chatham area, which Pickard needs to win in order to be re-elected. “It’s time for a change,” said the 71 year old Crawford, explaining his support for the pro-life Van Kesteren this way: “When I heard him speak I said, ‘This is what we need in Ottawa.’” Pickard’s response to the loss of Crawford’s support: “I can’t judge why Rex made the decision he has made…That’s his choice.” Crawford hasn’t completely abandoned his old party, however. He plans to vote for the re-election of pro-life Liberal MP Rose Marie Ur who is running in Middlesex-Lambton-Kent.