Despite the recent twist in the abortion debate in the United States, Canadian anti-choice activists turned out in fewer numbers than in the past as part of their annual protest on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill on Thursday. They nevertheless assure that their struggle is not over; Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall notably announced that she would return to the Commons next month.
The crowd on the lawn of the Parliament was much less dense than that observed in recent years. The several hundred pro-choice counter-protesters were even much louder at times, with anti-abortion activists listening quietly to speeches by event organizers.
The Campaign Life Coalition presented itself galvanized before the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, arguing that the probable invalidation of the judgment Roe v. wade by the US Supreme Court would help the anti-abortion cause north of the border. “People will be more open to the pro-life message,” said the organization’s director of political activities, Jack Fonseca.
As the “March for Life” has already attracted tens of thousands of people, the organizers hoped to bring together 3,000 as part of this 25and editing. It was this number, at most, that finally met in Ottawa. “It’s a good turnout, since it’s the first march since the pandemic,” said Fonseca on Thursday.
MPs in the crowd
Seven anti-abortion Conservative Party elected officials came to the microphone to greet the activists. Two of them spoke up to implore them to get involved in their party’s leadership race and put more candidates on their ballot — not just the one openly anti-choice candidate. , Leslyn Lewis.
The social fringe of the Conservative Party has thousands of members, whose influence has been felt in the outcome of the last two leadership races.
Mme Lewis was not present at the rally, having been unable to return in time from Edmonton, where a debate between the aspiring Conservative leaders was being held the day before. MP Cathay Wagantall read a short statement on behalf of her colleague: “I stand with you as you fight to be heard by your government, on behalf of the vulnerable and the unborn,” it said. she recited for Mme Lewis.
Mme Wagantall, who represents the Saskatchewan riding of Yorkton-Melville, meanwhile said she would introduce a new private member’s bill by the break in late June, which is then expected to be debated in the fall. It will be about “protecting women”, she vaguely indicated, while waiting to unveil it in the Commons. Last year, his bill to ban sex-selective abortions was defeated in the House, but won the support of 80 of his conservative colleagues.
Besides Mme Wagantall, MPs Garnett Genuis, Arnold Viersen, Kelly Block, Glen Motz, Damien Kurek and John Williamson were also present at the rally. The bottom four have lined up behind Pierre Poilievre in the leadership race, while Mr. Viersen and Cathay Wagantall are backing Leslyn Lewis.
Pro-choicers also mobilized
A few dozen meters from the anti-abortion rally, pro-choice activists were also brandishing posters and slogans.
Many of them fear seeing this debate revived in Canada, while the Supreme Court of the United States seems to be preparing to invalidate the decision that legalized abortion in our neighbors to the South. “That’s what’s scary, because we don’t want it to come here either. It would be a 50 year throwback. And we don’t want that in 2022”, launched Chantal Chénier, sign “My body, my choice” in hand.
Jaisie Walker, of Planned Parenthood, said she was “disgusted, furious, upset” upon seeing the headlines announcing the likely decision of America’s highest court. This year, “the stakes are higher, in terms of public discourse,” she said of the opposing protests on Parliament Hill.
“But at the same time, there has been an urgent need for abortion access in our communities for decades,” she noted.