OTTAWA, June 4, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Prime Minister Paul Martin, a “devout Catholic” according to media reports, called a press conference late yesterday afternoon to highlight the differences between himself and main opponent Stephen Harper on abortion and homosexual ‘marriage’. Martin went as far as to say that if MPs voted to support the use of the notwithstanding clause to counter court-imposed decisions mandating abortion or homosexual marriage, “I would not do it.”
Martin pointed to his anti-life and anti-family and even anti-democratic stand as a clear difference between himself and Mr. Harper. “I think that you trifle with the Charter of Rights at great peril to the social cohesion of this country,” Mr. Martin said. “And my refusal to use the notwithstanding clause, whether it be for a woman’s right to choose, whether it be for gay marriage, or whether it be for other acquired rights, is a very clear indication of the depth of the gulf between Mr. Harper and myself.” Martin said that procedural rules forbade him from blocking private member’s bills restricting abortion or from refusing a free vote on the issue. He said however that he would force the cabinet to vote against anti-abortion legislation. He also said he would come down hard on any Liberal MP putting forward anti-abortion legislation. “I would certainly indicate very strongly to that MP that the bill that he wants to bring forth is contrary to party policy,” he said. See the Globe and Mail coverage of Martin’s press conference: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040604/ELECLIB04/TPNational/Canada